Closure begins Monday for big I-275 construction project

The major construction on I-275 that will last into early fall will begin on Monday, May 2, MDOT officials say.

MDOT is replacing a 13 mile stretch of road on I-275 from north of Five Mile Road to the I-96/I-696/M-5 interchange -- and the detour isn't exactly convenient. Traffic will redistribute to as far east as M-39, west to US-23 and south to I-94, and throughout southern Oakland County and western Wayne County.

The southbound side is up first for repairs.

"From the north end - although it's southbound we're closing - near I-96/M-5/696/Grand River, through that interchange all the way south, almost to the interchange with 96 and M-14. That whole southbound side is going to close," Diane Cross with MDOT says.

Interstate-275 had a facelift back in the late '90s-early 2000s, but that work didn't last as long as was hoped.

"Unfortunately we learned some painful and expensive lessons when it comes to some of the concrete mix. The standard at the time ... was unfortunately a mixture and the concrete did not turn out to be long-lasting," Cross says.

The $75 million project needs to happen sooner than later. If they wait longer, Cross says the cost could possibly double.

The first phase of the project is expected to end in July, and the northbound side project is expected to end in September.

You can read further details about the big project here.