Westbound I-696 ramps reopen Monday after weekend freeway closure
MDOT will close westbound I-696 between I-75 and M-10 this weekend, then reopen nine westbound ramps Monday, Oct. 12. The Woodward off-ramp follows Saturday, Oct. 17.
By OCJ Staff
Drivers who have spent months detouring around closed I-696 ramps in south Oakland County are about to get most of them back, but first they will have to get through one more weekend without the westbound freeway.
The Michigan Department of Transportation will close westbound I-696 from I-75 to M-10 starting at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, until 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12, according to FOX 2 Detroit. The freeway and all ramps between the two highways will be closed during that time.
MDOT said the closure will let crews move westbound traffic back to its original side of the freeway now that the roadway work is complete. The closures for repairs date back to February.
Ramps reopening Monday, Oct. 12
When the freeway reopens Monday morning, these westbound ramps are scheduled to reopen:
- I-75
- Campbell/Hilton and Bermuda/Mohawk
- M-1/Woodward (on-ramp only)
- Coolidge
- Greenfield
- Southfield
- Evergreen
- Lahser
- US-24/Telegraph
The westbound M-1/Woodward off-ramp is the only ramp not reopening Oct. 12. It is scheduled to reopen Saturday, Oct. 17.
Eastbound still closed
Eastbound I-696 remains closed, and detours remain in effect. MDOT said crossover work must be finished first, and it expects that work to be done by the end of 2026.
What this means for residents
For south Oakland County commuters who use I-696, the reopening should restore direct westbound access at most of the interchanges that have been closed. Drivers heading west this weekend should plan alternate routes from Friday night through early Monday, and anyone using the Woodward exit should expect to keep detouring until Oct. 17.
Eastbound travelers should continue to follow posted detours for the rest of the year. With MDOT targeting the end of 2026 for the crossover work, eastbound drivers face at least a few more months of detours.
Quick timeline
- 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9: Westbound I-696 and all ramps between I-75 and M-10 close.
- 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12: Westbound freeway reopens, along with nine westbound ramps.
- Saturday, Oct. 17: Westbound M-1/Woodward off-ramp reopens.
- By end of 2026: Crossover work expected to be finished, MDOT said; eastbound remains closed until then.
This story uses reporting from FOX 2 Detroit and information from the Michigan Department of Transportation.