I-96, Southfield Freeway closures begin as crews repair sinkhole in Wayne County
Sinkhole repairs to begin on Southfield and I-96
Crews are expected to begin fixing the large sinkhole at I-96 and M39 beginning on Tuesday - which should last a month.
WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - As repairs continue on a sinkhole that formed on the local lanes of eastbound I-96 near Southfield Freeway, drivers in the area will encounter lane and ramp closures.
From the morning of Feb. 2 until early March, these closures and restrictions will be in effect:
- Eastbound I-96 local lanes at Southfield closed – Detour I-96 express lanes or Southfield Freeway.
- Eastbound I-96 local lane traffic between Telegraph Road and Southfield Freeway will be able to access Southfield Freeway or eastbound I-96 express lanes only.
- Eastbound I-96 express lanes ramp to I-96 local lanes at Southfield Freeway closed.
Lane and ramp closures previously in place will remain through early spring:
- The northbound M-39 ramp to the eastbound I-96 local lanes is closed.
- Southbound M-39 can only access the ramp to the eastbound I-96 express lanes.
MDOT Spokesperson Diane Cross spoke about the repair project and said drivers will have to leave early.
"You are going to find that you can only use the express (lanes), you will have to get off at the Davison, to get around that," Cross said. "So in response to what we're doing, will have to prepare with extra time.
"In a sense, what MDOT is doing, is trying to make the roads safer. If the ground were to collapse beneath your vehicle, nobody would want to risk that kind of danger to the public.
"Closing this is for the public's safety until we can get this fixed."
Eastbound I-96 local lanes can be accessed from Greenfield Road and further east.