I-94 in Detroit to close for 5-mile stretch for bridge demolition

Michigan road crews will shut a 5-mile stretch of I-94 in Detroit this weekend to demolish part of the Gratiot Avenue overpass and the entire Chene Street bridge and make way for reconstruction.

The demolition, which is weather-dependent, is set to begin at 9 p.m. Friday and last until 5 a.m. Monday.

Rob Morosi, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said the two structures are so old that there is no way to repair them other than reconstruction.

"Both bridges were constructed in the 1950s," Morosi said. "They've reached their design life. There's no more maintenance that can be done on these bridges. They need to be replaced."

With new engineering, he says that the replaced roads and bridges will last up to 80 years with routine maintenance.

I-94 will be shut from Conner Avenue to I-75. All ramps between the two roads will be closed, along with the following ramps:

Eastbound I-96 to eastbound I-94

Northbound and southbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway) to eastbound I-94

Northbound and southbound I-75 to eastbound I-94

All entrance ramps to westbound I-94 from 9 Mile Road to Chalmers

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Surface street ramps will begin closing at 7 p.m. Friday and freeway ramps will begin closing at 9 p.m.

The bridge projects are the first of several planned for I-94 this year, Morosi said.

"Later this summer, it is expected that we will open up for competitive bidding a project to replace the Concord Avenue and the French Road bridges over I-94," Morosi said.

Contact Brandon Patterson: BPatterson2@freepress.com Follow him on twitter: iAmBrandonPatt