Northville and Novi commuters heading out for Labor Day weekend will hit lane restrictions and closed ramps on I-96 and M-14.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is suspending work on 91 of its 156 active projects statewide to ease holiday traffic, MLive reported Thursday, Sept. 3. The relief window runs from 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, through 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. But several restrictions along the I-96/M-14 corridor between Sheldon Road and Beck Road will remain in place the entire time.
What stays closed
On M-14/I-96, two eastbound lanes will be open from Sheldon Road to Newburgh Road. Westbound, two lanes will be open from Levan Road to Beck Road.
Three interchange ramps connecting I-275 and M-14 will also stay closed through the weekend:
- Southbound I-275 to westbound M-14
- Westbound M-14 to southbound I-275
- Northbound I-275 to westbound M-14
Those ramps are key connectors for westbound M-14 traffic. Drivers will need alternate routes.
On Old M-14, also known as Ann Arbor Road, one lane will be open in each direction between Ann Arbor Trail and Levan Road.
The Sheldon Road ramp to westbound M-14 was already closed as of late August and is expected to remain closed until late fall, according to The Oakland Press.
Holiday relief elsewhere
MDOT said it is pulling back construction barrels on nearly 60% of its active projects for the holiday, as Radio Results Network reported Wednesday, Sept. 2. State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich acknowledged that some work zones cannot be cleared.
"Even though we've pulled back the barrels in the majority of our work zones, there are still some cases where that just isn't possible," Wieferich said. "So drivers, remember to slow down, put away those devices and focus on the task at hand."
Construction equipment, traffic shifts and other configurations may remain in place even where work has been suspended. MDOT's full list of active restrictions is available at Michigan.gov/Drive.
Normal restrictions resume at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8.
