MDOT Begins 'Emergency Repairs' On I-696, I-75, Telegraph Road; Expect Backups

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Michigan Department of Transportation is doing some "emergency repairs" on pothole-riddled roadways across metro Detroit.

"What is expected is we're going to be able to take care of some of the worst of the pavement that has been crumbling. We're doing pavement repairs with these emergency crews that we're setting up," said MDOT spokeswoman Diane Cross.

Cross said on Tuesday, crews began work on the eastbound lanes of I-696 eastbound from Dequindre to Ryan Road, along with southbound I-75 from Coolidge Hwy. to 12-Mile Road. (On Monday, the work impacted southbound Telegraph Road from Orchard Lake to Square lake Road, with only one lane open to traffic).

WWJ's Ron Dewey asked Cross about the short notice and the timing for these projects.

"Unfortunately, because we can only work when it's dry weather, we can't have any rain or snow on the ground when we're working that part of the roadway," Cross explained. "So once we have dry weather we have to work as many hours a day as we possibly can — and that is going to cut into our rush hour."

Expect long backups, plan accordingly, give yourself extra time, and stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 for live updates during traffic and weather on the 8s, 24 hours a day. [See live traffic maps, here].

Detailed information from MDOT:

Locations:
EB I-696 between US-24 and I-94 repaired first, followed by WB 696 from Dequindre to US-24.
I-75 between 12 Mile and Coolidge, SB is being done first, followed by NB.

Tuesday:
- EB I-696 in Macomb from Dequindre to Mound only
-7 am - 9 am: 2 right lanes open, 2 left closed
-9 am – 3 pm: 1 right lane open, 3 left closed
-3 pm – 7 pm: 2 right lanes open, 2 left closed
- SB I-75 from Coolidge to Wattles:
-7 am - 7 pm: 1 right lane open, 2 left closed
-US-24 from Orchard Lake to Square Lake:
- 8 am – 7 pm: 2 right lanes open, 2 left closed

[More information from MDOT at Michigan.gov/drive].