David Veselenak

hometownlife.com

It looks like area residents will have a chance to have some fun on a reconstructed I-96 after all.

Michigan Department of Transportation engineer Jeff Horne said the agency is planning to have a "family fun day" on the westbound portion of I-96 between Newburgh and Stark.

The event, taking place 2-4 p.m. Sunday, will give area residents the chance to run, walk, bicycle, skateboard and traverse the freeway with no fast-paced vehicles for the first time in more than the 40 years since the freeway first opened.

"We have everything pretty much finalized," Horne said. "It's a really unique opportunity to go down on the freeway while it's closed off."

Those interested in coming down to the freeway can drive to Madonna University and park their vehicles on the far west end of the parking lot on the south side of campus, Horne said. Police officers will be on hand to help people cross Schoolcraft so they can enter the freeway by going down an exit ramp between Levan and Newburgh, Horne said.

Police presence

Police officers will also be at either end of the 1.75 mile-stretch of the freeway open to pedestrians to make sure no one enters construction zones.

Also planned for the event are some driverless cars that will be down on the freeway. Horne said some automotive companies are expected to bring the vehicles down, although he was unsure what type of activity they would be involved in.

"I would assume they will be in motion at some point of time," he said.

Horne, who said last week there was a chance no celebration could take place, said the event was finalized between MDOT and Dan's Excavating Tuesday afternoon. There was initial liability concern of having people on the freeway, but Horne said a deal was made to allow for the event to happen.

The freeway has been closed to traffic since early April as contractors and inspectors work to rebuild the seven miles between Telegraph in Redford to Newburgh in Livonia. The freeway is currently scheduled to open sometime around Sept. 30, although Horne said it could open before then.

MDOT event

While MDOT is in charge of the event allowing for area residents to come down and pay a visit to the freeway, Horne said the time planning and running the family fun day is being done on a volunteer basis with no taxpayer dollars going toward it.

"Everything is volunteer or donated. There will be no taxpayer dollars spent on this event," he said. "All our time will be volunteer."

Despite the project taking place through Redford and Livonia, Horne said the event is open to anyone who wants to experience running or walking on the interstate, especially since its unknown when the opportunity would come again.

"It's not limited to Redford or Livonia residents," he said. "If you live in Plymouth Township or Southfield, feel free to come and down."

dveselenak@hometownlife.com | 734-678-6728 Twitter: @DavidVeselenak