Spanning Oakland and Macomb counties, just north of the city of Detroit, I-696 connects the major arteries of I-275 and I-94, and is itself a crucial corridor for the region, carrying an estimated 150,000 vehicles per day. The project limits run from the I-275 interchange in Oakland County to the I-94 interchange in Macomb County—a 28-mile section. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) decided to organize the project with a full closure of one side of I-696 with a full managed detour route for westbound traffic. MDOT's goal is to be able to hand a new I-696 to its drivers by November.
