Editing Interstate 696 (section)

===Since completion===
As part of the overall rehabilitation to the Mixing Bowl interchange, a new interchange at Franklin Road was to be constructed in 2006.<ref name=AK>{{cite news |first = Aram |last = Kalousdian |date = January 7, 2006 |title = Michigan Construction Will Increase |work = Michigan Contractor and Builder |publisher = Reed Business Information |access-date = July 13, 2012 |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140705701.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140921192959/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140705701.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = September 21, 2014 |url-access = subscription }}</ref> An exit ramp from I-696 eastbound to American Drive opened in April 2006. An entrance ramp from Franklin Road to I-696 westbound opened in July 2006. The Franklin Road overpass, which had been closed during this time, re-opened in October 2006.<ref name="i-696 m-10 brochure">{{cite web |author = Oakland Transportation Service Center |url = http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MDOT_I-696_M-10_154121_7.pdf |publisher = Michigan Department of Transportation |date = March 22, 2006 |access-date = May 30, 2006 |title = I-696/M-10 Reconstruction from Lahser Road to Beck Road (Project brochure) |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061107105303/http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MDOT_I-696_M-10_154121_7.pdf |archive-date = November 7, 2006 }}</ref>

On November 9, 2006, the speed limit was increased from {{convert|65|to|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} along the length of I-696.<ref name=helms>{{cite news |first= Matt |last= Helms |date= October 11, 2006 |title= Speed Limit Rises To Match Habits |work= [[Detroit Free Press]] |page= B3 |issn= 1055-2758 |id= {{oclc| 10345127| 137343179}} |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21790345/speed_limit_rises_to_match_habits/ |access-date= July 12, 2018 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180712091942/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21790345/speed_limit_rises_to_match_habits/ |archive-date= July 12, 2018 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=greenwood2006-06-19>{{cite news |last= Greenwood |first= Tom |date= June 19, 2006 |title= Metro Speed Limits on the Rise |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1125FB239C2AC508&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work= [[The Detroit News]] |page= 2A |issn= 1055-2715 |id= {{oclc| 10345127| 137343179}} |access-date= October 22, 2012 |via= ProQuest Archiver |url-access= subscription |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140821084659/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1125FB239C2AC508&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date= August 21, 2014 |url-status= live }}</ref> During speed enforcement patrols in August 2022, the Michigan State Police gave out 77 citations during one 4-hour period including six arrests.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Powers |first1=Sara |title=MSP Give Out 77 Tickets During I-696 Speed Enforcement |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/msp-give-out-77-tickets-during-i-696-speed-enforcement/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |work=CBS Detroit |publisher=WWJ-TV |date=August 31, 2022 |location=Southfield, Michigan}}</ref> One motorist was driving at {{cvt|101|mph|km/h}}, while others were cited at {{convert|99|,|94|, and|91|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=MSP Hands Out 77 Tickets in I-696 Speeding Crackdown; One Driver Clocked Going 101 MPH |url=https://www.audacy.com/wwjnewsradio/news/local/driver-clocked-going-101-mph-on-i-696-during-msp-crackdown |access-date=December 11, 2022 |work=WWJ Newsradio 950 |publisher=[[WWJ-AM]] |date=August 30, 2022 |location=Detroit |language=en}}</ref>

==== Restore the Reuther ====
After many years of patch work and small repairs, it was clear that greater action was needed. As a result, MDOT started "Restore the Reuther" to repair the freeway in Oakland County and reconstruct the section between Dequindre Road and I-94 in Macomb County. This project also involved some pavement repairs and minor structure repairs on the section from I-275/M-5 to Dequindre. In 2019, reconstruction started on the section between Dequindre Road and I-94. This involved two phases. In phase 1, the westbound lanes were closed and detoured. In phase 2, the westbound lanes remained closed, but eastbound lanes were shifted on the westbound lanes. No entrance ramps were open, however there were limited exit ramps open. These ramps were Dequindre, Mound, and Groesbeck Highway. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Moving Macomb |url=https://www.movingmacomb.org/_files/ugd/343f0d_7b0acfcee0414c9ea7a09b5049e93eee.pdf }}</ref>

In 2023, MDOT started a complete reconstruction of I-696 from I-275 in Farmington Hills to US&nbsp;24 (Telegraph Road) in Southfield. The eastbound lanes were reconstructed in 2023, and the westbound lanes were reconstructed the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Major Construction Project on I-696 Kicks Off Tomorrow: Here Are the Closures |url=https://www.wxyz.com/news/major-construction-project-on-i-696-kicks-off-tomorrow-here-are-the-closures |access-date=April 13, 2023 |publisher=WXYZ-TV |date=March 8, 2023 |location=Detroit |language=en}}</ref> During the reconstruction of the westbound lanes in 2024, I-696 had two lanes shifted onto the [[M-10 (Michigan highway)|John C Lodge Freeway]] resulting in a temporary concurrency. This is the first time in the history of I-696 that a concurrency with the Lodge freeway had been in-place.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Dane |date=2024-02-19 |title=I-696 traffic shift in Oakland County now active through fall: What to know |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/traffic/2024/02/19/i-696-traffic-shift-in-oakland-county-now-active-through-fall-what-to-know/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=WDIV |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025, MDOT began a two-year project to completely rebuild the middle section of I-696. It involves a complete and brutal two-year closure of the eastbound lanes starting from Exit 8 until the I-696/I-75 interchange. The westbound lanes would remain open with minor lane reductions. It was decided to close the eastbound lanes because the exit ramp to M-10 has two lanes of road capacity so it can more easily handle the load than if the westbound lanes were closed (as traffic would need to be routed onto the single lane ramp on the I-696/I-75 interchange).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carr |first=Brandon |date=2025-02-27 |title=Metro Detroiters face commuting challenges amid I-696 closures |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2025/02/27/metro-detroiters-face-commuting-challenges-amid-i-696-closures/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=WDIV |language=en}}</ref>

During an open house in Oak Park, residents shared concerns about traffic cutting through local neighbors and asked why they couldn't keep both directions of travel open like MDOT did with the project in Farmington Hills. MDOT said it would be difficult for emergency crews to get to the scene of an accident when one occurs if both sides of the freeway were to remain open. Brian Travis, an MDOT construction engineer, said "It's really a safety concern for us, this is the safest and most efficient way to build the project."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-24 |title=I-696 closing soon -- Learn more about project at Monday open house |url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/i-696-closing-soon-learn-more-about-project-monday-open-house |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=FOX 2 Detroit |language=en-US}}</ref>

As part of the project, 60 bridges will be repaired, including the rebuilding of the Church Street Plaza bridge that contains Victoria Park. During that rebuilding, a walkway detour will be in place. The project will also include pavement upgrades and updates to 1,100 drainage structures, according to MDOT.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Powers |first=Sara |date=2025-02-21 |title=Part of I-696 to close this weekend ahead of major 2-year construction project |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2025/02/21/part-of-i-696-to-close-this-weekend-ahead-of-major-2-year-construction-project/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=WDIV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2025 |title=Eastbound I-696 closing M-10 - I-75 beginning March 1; project open house tonight in city of Warren |url=https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/news-outreach/pressreleases/2025/02/24/eastbound-i-696-closing-m-10---i-75-beginning-march-1 |website=MDOT}}</ref>

Once the eastbound lanes are reconstructed, westbound traffic will be shifted onto the eastbound lanes. It is unknown if any exit ramps during this shift will be open as the service drives in both directions are expected to remain open. The eastbound lanes are not expected to reopen until Fall 2026.

The closures were initially scheduled to begin on March 1st, but were rescheduled to March 3rd because of the weather.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booth-Singleton |first=DeJanay |date=2025-02-27 |title=I-696 construction project delayed to March 3 due to weather - CBS Detroit |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/i-696-construction-project-delayed/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2027, MDOT planes to finish the project by reconstructing I-696 from the I-75 interchange to Dequindre Road. The project will then be completed.