michigan interchange
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 – Starting October 21, 2019 and ending in fall 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. Information on traffic detours, road closures and detailed map of the construction areas can be found at our Detours and road closures.
- 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.
I-75 Closure
As construction of the Michigan Interchange begins for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, we will require the temporary closure of Interstate-75 in both directions from Springwells Street to Clark Street to allow for demolition of three road bridges. Dates of this temporary closure will be announced in advance.
Detour Routes:
- Local traffic can continue to exit northbound I-75 at Springwells Street and enter northbound I-75 at Clark Street. Southbound I-75 traffic can exit at Clark Street and enter southbound I-75 at Springwells Street.
- West Fisher Service Drives between Springwells and Clark, on both sides of the Interstate, will remain open.
- Regional traffic traveling toward Detroit from Toledo, Ohio on I-75 will be directed to take I-275 north to I-96, then I-96 east in order to reconnect with northbound I-75.
- Traffic traveling to Toledo from Auburn Hills, Michigan on I-75 will be directed to take I-96 west to I-275, then I-275 south in order to reconnect with southbound I-75.
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 – Starting October 21, 2019 and ending in fall 2020
Road Closures
Springwells Street road bridge area closures (fall 2019 – fall 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 – Starting October 21, 2019 and ending in fall 2020
Road Closures
Livernois Avenue road bridge area closures (fall 2019 – fall 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 – Starting October 21, 2019 and ending in fall 2020
Road Closures
Clark Street road bridge closures (fall 2019 – fall 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.
