The Gordie Howe International Bridge project requires significant construction activity, including the demolition and removal of existing infrastructure, reconstruction of select roadways and bridges, and construction of new project infrastructure.
One of the project components is the Michigan Interchange connecting to Interstate-75. Approximately three kilometres or 1.8 miles of I-75 between Springwells Street and Clark Street will require modifications to accommodate the ramps connecting to the US Port of Entry (POE). The ramps are designed to minimize the impact interstate/international traffic may have on local roads located in the vicinity of the US POE.
Michigan Interchange activities also include associated local road improvements. Over a dozen roadway and pedestrian bridges crossing I-75 and ranging in length from 30 to 518 metres or 100 to 1,700 feet will need to be constructed.
The Michigan Interchange activities are being constructed along a three kilometer/1.8 mile section of I-75 between west of Springwells Street to east of Clark Street.
Read our fact sheet on the Michigan Interchange Activities
Michigan Interchange
The Michigan Interchange activities will be delivered in four phases.
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Phase 1 – Scheduled to begin in fall 2019 and ending in winter 2020
- The Springwells Street, Livernois Avenue and Clark Street road bridges, and the Solvay Street pedestrian bridge crossing I-75, will be removed and rebuilt.
- The I-75 shoulder will be widened near the road bridges.
- Construction of the connecting ramps, including pier construction along the I-75 median for the ramps will begin.
- Reconstruction of I-75 between approximately 1,200 feet west of Springwells Street to Green Street.
Phase 2 – Scheduled to begin in winter 2020 and end in spring 2022
- The Green Street road bridge and the Beard Street pedestrian bridge crossing I-75, will be removed and rebuilt.
- Reconstruction of I-75 West Fisher Service drives (northbound and southbound) between Green Street and Livernois Avenue.
- Construction of ramps connecting I-75 with the US POE will continue.
Phase 3 – Scheduled to begin in spring 2021 and end in winter 2022
- The I-75 northbound West Fisher Service Drive and the I-75 shoulders will be rebuilt between Green Street and Livernois Avenue.
- The I-75 southbound West Fisher Service Drive will be rebuilt from Junction Street to Livernois Avenue.
- The southbound I-75 onramp at Clark Street, northbound I-75 onramp from Livernois Avenue, and northbound I-75 offramp to Campbell Street will be completed during this phase.
Phase 4 – Scheduled to start in winter 2022 and end in winter 2023
- Reconstruction of Fort Street, Jefferson Avenue, and Clark Street.
- The northbound I-75 exit ramp at Clark Street and the southbound entrance ramp from Clark Street will be removed.
- Work on the I-75 West Fisher Service drives will be completed between Junction Street and Clark Street.
- The I-75 will be widened in the area of the I-75 northbound and southbound exit ramps at Clark Street.
Information on traffic detours, road closures and detailed maps of the construction areas can be found at our detours and road closures.
Phase 1 Activities
The Michigan Interchange activities will be delivered in four phases. Starting in fall 2019, the road bridges crossing I-75 at Springwells Street, Livernois Avenue, and Clark Street will be removed and rebuilt. A new pedestrian bridge at Solvay Street also will be constructed. It is anticipated that this work will be completed in winter 2020.
The road bridges at Green Street, Waterman Street, Dragoon Street, and Junction Street will remain open and operational during Phase 1.
Springwells Street
Road Closures
Springwells Street road bridge area closures (fall 2019 – winter 2020)
- Springwells Street, including the crossing bridge, from Olivet Street south to 400 feet • south of M-85/Fort Street
- Springwells/West End Street from M-85/Fort Street south to Melville Street
- I-75 northbound and southbound on and off ramps to Springwells Street
- I-75 northbound West Fisher Service Drive from Springwells Street to 100 feet west of Green Street
- I-75 southbound West Fisher Service Drive from Springwells Street to 50 feet west of • Green Street
- I-75 south and northbound shoulders from 700 feet west of the Springwells Street crossing bridge to 100 feet west of Green Street
Detours
Springwells Street road bridge detours
- I-75-bound vehicles that previously entered at Springwells Street are encouraged to use nearby onramps at Livernois Avenue
- From I-75, vehicles can exit the Interstate via nearby offramps at Livernois Avenue
- Traffic on Springwells Street, Glinnan Street, Central Avenue, Solvay Street, and Wheelock Street, all north of I-75, can use West Lafayette Boulevard to reach Green Street and the Green Street bridge to cross I-75 and access M-85/Fort Street and points south of the Interstate.
Construction Activities
Springwells Street construction activities
- Construction of the new Springwells Street crossing bridge will begin in fall 2019 and is anticipated to last until late 2020. As part of this work, I-75 on and off-ramps to Springwells Street in both directions will be reconstructed.
- Springwells Street will be rebuilt with a new alignment in the section from M-85/Fort Street north to I-75.
- Reconstruction of Springwells Street north of I-75 will be conducted in a phased approach so businesses located along the street remain accessible.
- Springwells Street/West End Street will be reconstructed from Melville Street north to M-85/Fort Street. This may cause temporary delays, however West End Street will remain open through Phase 1 construction and access will be maintained to Jefferson Avenue and Springwells Court.
Livernois Avenue
Road Closures
Livernois Avenue road bridge area closures (fall 2019 – winter 2020):
- Livernois Avenue, including the crossing bridge, from the south edge of southbound I-75
- West Fisher Service Drive south to the norther boundary of northbound I-75 West Fisher Service Drive
- I-75 southbound shoulder from 100 ft west to 100 ft east of Livernois Avenue crossing bridge, and from 500 ft west to 900 ft east of Clark Street
- I-75 northbound shoulder from 600 ft west to 300 ft east of Livernois Avenue crossing bridge, and from 700 ft west to 600 ft east of Clark Street.
NOTE: West Fisher Service Drive sections in this area will remain open through Phase 1 of construction,
Detours
Livernois Avenue road bridge detours
Work on the Livernois Avenue crossing bridge will start in fall 2019 and end in winter 2020. Nearby road crossing bridges at Green Street, Waterman Street, Dragoon Street (one-way, northbound), and Junction Street will remain open during this phase. Livernois Avenue will be partially reconstructed from M-85/Fort Street north to I-75 during this phase.
Construction Activities
Livernois Avenue construction activities
Work on the Livernois Avenue crossing bridge will begin in fall 2019 and is anticipated to last until winter 2020. Nearby road crossing bridges at Green Street, Waterman Street, Dragoon Street (one-way, northbound), and Junction Street will remain open during this phase. Livernois Avenue will be partially reconstructed from M-85/Fort Street north to I-75 during this phase.
Clark Street
Road Closures
Clark Street road bridge closures (fall 2019 – winter 2020)
Removal and construction of the new bridge requires that Clark Street be closed from the south edge of southbound I-75 West Fisher Service Drive south to the northern boundary of northbound I-75 West Fisher Service Drive.
Work on Clark Street will begin in fall 2019 and is anticipated to last until winter 2020. BNA will remove and rebuild the crossing bridge at Clark Street. Nearby bridges at Green Street, Waterman Street, Dragoon Street (one-way, northbound), Junction Street and West Grand Boulevard will remain open during this phase. No construction will occur along the shoulders of I-75 in the vicinity of Clark Street.
Detours
Clark Street road bridge detours
Drivers that used the Clark Street bridge to cross I-75 will now be directed to use the Junction Street bridge (west of Clark Street) or the West Grand Boulevard bridge (east of Clark Street) as alternatives to cross in either direction.
Construction Activities
Clark Street construction activities
Work on Clark Street will start in fall 2019 and end in winter 2020. Nearby bridges at Green Street, Waterman Street, Dragoon Street (one-way, northbound), Junction Street and West Grand Boulevard will remain open during this phase. No construction will occur along the shoulders of I-75 in the vicinity of Clark Street.
Other Activities
Utility Relocations
Prior to the demolition of the Clark Street Bridge, work is required to install utility poles and underground conduits in that area. The work requires temporary closure of lanes on nearby West Fisher Service drives, both northbound and southbound.
Road Closures
September 3 to 27, 2019
September 3 to 27, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily:
September 4 to 27, 2019
In order to provide Detroit PLD crews safe access to areas surrounding the Clark Street Bridge, the following road closures are scheduled to occur on these dates and times:
September 14, 2019:
Vibration Monitoring
Zones where construction may cause vibrations above project limits
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With any major construction activity, the use of heavy machinery may cause noise and vibration above existing levels and beyond the project footprint. The Gordie Howe International Bridge project team understands the concern that those living and working adjacent to the construction areas have regarding noise and vibration and will make every effort to reduce impacts to residents, historical structures and businesses.
The predicted levels of vibration indicate that no structural damage is expected as a result of construction activities. However, the project team, in accordance with the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD), is implementing a vibration monitoring program for the owners of properties located within 150 feet (approximately 45 metres) of specific construction zones at the site of the US Port of Entry (POE) and the Michigan Interchange activities.
Vibration monitoring determines the current condition of structures and shows if construction activities adversely impact them during construction activities. The program includes the completion of pre-construction, construction and post-construction foundation surveys as well actual vibration monitoring.
The vibration monitoring program is scheduled to commence in September 2019 and will continue throughout construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.
Four areas identified as sites for potentially high vibration activity and properties within those zones are eligible for the vibration monitoring program.
Areas of Work
Springwells Street road bridge area
Livernois Avenue road bridge area
Clark Street road bridge area
Zone 1
Properties Affected
Approximately 20 properties in the area of the Springwells Street road bridge, the Livernois Avenue road bridge and the Clark Street road bridge, all crossing Interstate-75 (I-75).
Timeframe
Construction will start in fall 2019 and is anticipated to be completed in fall 2020.
Zone 2
Properties Affected
Approximately 80 properties in the area from Green Street road bridge crossing I-75 east toCampbell Street and in the area of the Clark Street road bridge crossing I-75.
Timeframe
Construction is scheduled to start in winter 2020 and is anticipated to be completed in spring 2022.
Area from the Green Street road bridge east to Campbell Street
Clark Street road bridge area
Zone 3
Properties Affected
Approximately 40 properties in the area of the Junction Street road bridge crossing I-75.
Timeframe
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2020 and is anticipated to be completed in winter 2023.
Zone 4 - Historic
Properties Affected
Five properties at Historic Fort Wayne and one property at West Fort Street and Campbell Street.
Timeframe
Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2021 and is anticipated to be completed in winter 2023.
Properties at Historic Fort Wayne
Property near West Fort and Campbell
What are the steps for the vibration monitoring program
- Members of the project team will directly contact owners of identified properties within the four zones. Owners of properties that are not located within 150 feet of these areas will not be contacted.
- Identified property owners who wish to participate in the program are required to complete, sign and return a Property Owner Authorization Form. In cases where the property owner agrees to participate in the vibration monitoring program but does not occupy the property, the occupant needs to complete and sign an Occupant Authorization Form.
- Once authorizations are in place, The Gordie Howe International Bridge team will work with the property owner to schedule an initial survey which is used to determine the condition of the property prior to the start of construction. In cases where someone other than the owner occupies the property, BNA will work with both the owner and occupant to schedule an appointment for the initial property survey.
- A second appointment will be arranged to return to the property during the construction period to assess if any changes have occurred.
- Once construction in a particular zone is complete, a third appointment will be arranged to assess for any changes from the initial visit.
- Should any damage be discovered, the Gordie Howe International Bridge team will work with property owners participating in the vibration monitoring program to assess the cause and extent of any damages to their property.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge team will not enter properties without an appointment and all team members will carry identification cards.
Read our fact sheet on the vibration monitoring program.
For more information of the vibration monitoring program, please call the project team at 1- 844-322-1773, email info@wdbridge.com or visit our southwest Detroit Community Office, 7744 Vernor Highway, Detroit, MI between the following hours:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
First Saturday of each month: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
