I-75 Closed In Southwest Detroit For Demolition Of Damaged Bridge
DETROIT (WWJ) - Avoid the area if you can. All lanes of southbound I-75 near the Ambassador Bridge in Southwest Detroit are closed Wednesday for partial demolition of a bridge.
MDOT spokeswoman Diane Cross says an inspection of the I-75 bridge at Junction Street found that a portion of it must come down and be replaced after it was struck by a gravel hauler on Tuesday.
Southbound I-75 was shut down Wednesday afternoon, with all lanes merged into one to exit at Clark Avenue. The service drive had only one lane open, and drivers were strongly advised to the westbound I-96 detour to get around the closure.
Cross said the southbound lanes are expected to be reopened before Thursday morning's commute. Then, beginning at around 9 p.m. Thursday, Cross said northbound I-75 would be closed at Livernois for further work on that side. That part of the project should wrap up sometime Friday.
"We have to test for asbestos," Cross said. "We have to make sure there's no utilities in there; there's a number of things that have to be done."
"Plus we are over a live construction zone that's already in the works," she added, noting that southbound I-75 is already closed from Springwells Avenue to Northline Road as part of an ongoing I-75 rehab project.
Cross said motorists traveling in the area should expect big backups and proceed with caution.
"Drivers need to realize that there's people out there working, and while it is very frustrating to them, they're driving, you know, safely within a vehicle; that they're protected," Cross said. "Workers who are out there with barrels and vests, trying to do their best to keep the road safe for drivers."
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