(WWJ) The closures of a 15-mile stretch of freeway could cause some headaches for drivers in metro Detroit this weekend.

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced that the I-75 modernization project will resume Friday, Feb. 28, with a weekend closure for bridge demolitions and prep work for a future traffic shift in Oakland County.

THIS WEEKEND:

Beginning at 11 p.m. on Friday, northbound I-75 will be completely closed from 8 Mile Road to Square Lake Road; and southbound I-75 will be completely closed from I-696 to 8 Mile Road.

TOTAL CLOSURE this wknd I-75 NB btwn 8 mile Rd & Square Lake Rd ..I-75 SB CLOSED btwn I-696 & 8 mile Rd to prep for the traffic shift onto the NB side @AfternoonsWWJ @JasonScottWWJ @JPaigeWWJ listen here : https://t.co/qJmqsC7d8n pic.twitter.com/vXXrYCQgz2 — WWJTraffic (@WWJTraffic) February 25, 2020

MDOT says the full closure is needed to demolish the Meyers Road, Woodward Heights Boulevard, John R. Road turnaround, and Harry Avenue bridges over the freeway in the city of Hazel Park, and to prep for an upcoming traffic shift from 13 Mile Road to Coolidge Hwy.

While this may be annoying to some people, the goal, says MDOT spokesman Rob Morosi:

"It's trying to get these traffic shifts in place and get the bridge demolition done in early March, so we're not closing freeways as we approach things like Opening Day or major concerts or major festivals. We have a bit of a window this early March and it allows us, essentially, to be more efficient and get this knocked out of the way."

"We just feel like it's more efficient to get this done as soon as possible," he told WWJ's Sandra McNeill,

Prior to the freeway closure, crews will begin closing the left lane on southbound I-75 and entrance ramps at 9 p.m. and start freeway lane closures at 10 p.m.

Both directions of I-75 will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday, March 2.

During the closure, northbound I-75 traffic will be detoured west on 8 Mile Road to northbound M-1 (Woodward Avenue), then eastbound Square Lake Road back to northbound I-75. Southbound I-75 traffic will use westbound I-696 to southbound M-1, then eastbound 8 Mile Road back to southbound I-75. In addition to the full closure, the left lane of southbound I-75 will be closed from Coolidge Highway to 13 Mile Road over the weekend.

STARTING MONDAY:

Drivers should also take note of a more long-term piece of this project: Beginning at 5 a.m. Monday, March 2, both directions of I-75 will have only two lanes open between 8 Mile and Coolidge Highway until the end of the 2020 construction season.

"So, starting Monday morning it will feel like construction has already started up, because we're losing a lane in each direction," Morosi said.

All of this work is weather-permitting.

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