The Michigan Department of Transportation is getting closer to shutting down I-275 for repairs.
Diane Cross of MDOT said, "It is going to be pretty tough for drivers to make their way through that area."
There isn't a start date just yet as multiple contractors continue bid on the $80 million project. The area is between 5 Mile and the I-96/I-696/M-5 interchange, also known as the Mixing Bowl.
MDOT recently launched a website www.Revive275.com to post updates on the project and announce detours. Keep in mind that the detours might add some extra time to your drive.
"Our statewide detour taking drivers on I-96 and 696 is quite a few miles out of your way," Cross explained. "But it keeps all that very large volume of freeway traffic moving freeway to freeway."
That part of I-275 sees about 175,000 drivers a day like Slava Kosurkan. She said, "I-275 is going to be closed. I have to go to Chicago back and forth. So how do you think I feel? It's very frustrating."
"I'm all for them closing it down to fix it because I'd rather ride on the good pavement than the terrible pavement," added driver Jackie Davis.
First, the southbound side will shut down for repairs. By summer, the north bound lanes will be closed.
Even though MDOT does not have an official start date for the I-275 project, they hope to have it finished by this fall.
