Eliza has been busy! Check out these images of the shaft site at I-696 and our first look inside the tunnel. Pictured in the photo are the rail tracks that help miners move materials safely in and out of the tunnel as Eliza bores through the ground. The other photo shows a miner working on the track system inside of the tunnel, as well as the overhead lighting and ventilation pipe to provide fresh air for the workers underground; and utility lines that provide water, compressed air and electricity to Eliza.   Eliza has now traveled over 1,300-ft north from the I-696 Shaft Site (northeast corner of the I-75/I-696 interchange), placing her just north of the Hudson Avenue  and  northbound service drive intersection.  For more information on Eliza and the drainage tunnel please visit our Project Highlights page  http://modernize75.com/Project-Highlights-Tunnel.   

Although much of the mainline work has stopped for the season, there is still progress being made along the service drives and embankments.  Check out this flyover footage from earlier this month to see how it is coming along. 

Southbound I-75 from I-696 to Woodward Heights will have a daily single left lane stationary closure Tuesday, December 22nd at 10 a.m. until Wednesday, December 23rd at 2 p.m.

Southbound I-75 from Woodward Heights to 9 Mile Road will also have a daily double left lane stationary closure during this time.

Crews will be repairing pavement in these areas. Completion of the work will be contingent upon the weather.

We recently shared footage of the progression of the vehicular bridge over I-75 at Meyers Avenue; in this video you can see the progress of a pedestrian crossing.  The Harry Avenue Pedestrian bridge was demolished in the spring of 2020 and rebuilt for use by the fall.  The pedestrian bridges throughout the corridor are a vital part of the community, and we are very happy to see the new structures being used. 

As part of the corridor modernization, vehicle and pedestrian crossings are being replaced.  In this Meyers Avenue bridge video, you can see the construction progression from the existing structure demolition, to rebuilding the new structure, and finally reopening the bridge to traffic. 

The 2021 construction season has a lot of improvements in store throughout the project! Although the schedule is subject to change, some of the planned work planned for next year includes:

North of M-102 (8 Mile Road) to I-696:

• The southbound lanes of the I-75 freeway and the southbound service drive will be rebuilt
• Shevlin Avenue Bridge will be rebuilt
• Pedestrian Bridges to be rebuilt: Highland Avenue and Browning Avenue
• The drainage tunnel work will continue 
• Sound wall construction along SB I-75

To achieve this, southbound I-75 traffic from I-696 to 8 Mile Road will be shifted to the newly completed northbound lanes. The configuration will mimic what was done in 2020 with a traffic shift to maintain two lanes in each direction.

North of I-696 to Coolidge Highway:

• Rebuilding southbound I-75 from north of 13 Mile to north of 12 Mile roads, including replacing the southbound I-75 bridge over 13 Mile Road.
• The 11 Mile Road vehicular bridge and Bellaire pedestrian bridge will be rebuilt
• Sound wall construction work will be continued in the vicinity of Wattles Road
• Signal installation and completion of the diverging diamond interchange at Big Beaver and 14 Mile Roads
• Landscaping from 13 Mile Road to Coolidge Highway
• Final (Punch-list) items to complete the section between 13 Mile and Coolidge Highway

An open house is tentatively scheduled for February 2021 to primarily address the 2021 active construction work, ahead of the construction season, where additional details will be provided.  Stay connected with the project by following us on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to our email list for announcements http://www.modernize75.com/find-information/contact-us/.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) today released a video on YouTube updating some of the state-of-the-art advancements included on the current I-75 modernization project in Oakland County.

In addition to a brief overview, the I-75 modernization project video explains the benefits of the new diverging diamond interchanges (DDI) being built at 14 Mile and Big Beaver roads. Several DDIs have recently been built in the state, including one in Oakland County at the I-75/University Drive interchange in Auburn Hills. MDOT has found these interchanges improve driver safety by eliminating conflict points, such as turning in front of oncoming traffic.

The most unique characteristic of the project, a 4-mile-long drainage tunnel, is featured. This tunnel is being built 100 feet below the northbound service drive from just north of Meyers Avenue to just north of 12 Mile Road. When completed, the drainage tunnel will collect rainwater from the freeway and surface street structures through drainage shafts and it will store and strategically discharge the collected water into the county drain located near 12 Mile Road. This unique design will prevent freeway and local community flooding issues during heavy rain events.   

As a follow-up to our October update on Eliza, we wanted to share the latest information.  Eliza has now traveled over 500-ft north from the I-696 Shaft Site (northeast corner of the I-75/I-696 interchange), placing her near the northbound service drive and Brockton Avenue intersection.  Eliza will continue to head north towards the 12 Mile Road Pump Station Shaft that is currently under construction.  Since October, crews installed the remaining sections of “trailing equipment” that includes electrical, hydraulics, communication and ventilation lines.  Eliza will continue her journey to the 12 Mile Road Pump Station Shaft working 20 hours a day.  Once she arrives at the 12 Mile Road Pump Station Shaft in the summer of 2021 she will be relocated back to the I-696 Shaft Site and relaunched, heading south to the Meyers Avenue Shaft Site, which is anticipated to take nine months to complete. 

To learn more about Eliza and the work being done for the Tunnel, please view our Tunnel Highlights page here: www.modernize75.com/Project-Highlights-Tunnel

I-696 Shaft Site, located in the northeast corner of the I-75/I-696 interchange

The following roads will have single right lane stationary closures Tuesday, December 1st, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

• Southbound I-75 from 12 and a half-mile to Gardenia
• Eastbound 11 Mile Road from Helene Avenue to the northbound I-75 Service Drive

In addition:

Southbound I-75 Service Drive from Mace Avenue to Middlesex Avenue will have a single left lane stationary closure Tuesday, December 1st, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Eastbound 13 Mile Road from Stephenson Highway to Montpelier will have a daily single right lane stationary closure Tuesday, December 1st at 9 a.m. until Wednesday, December 2nd, at 3 p.m. 

Crews will be doing guardrail repairs and other work in these areas. Completion of the work will be contingent upon the weather.

The southbound I-75 Service Drive from north of 9 Mile Road to John R Road will have a single right or left lane intermittent closure daily from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Friday, December 4th, 2020. 

Eastbound and westbound 9 Mile Road from Berdeno Avenue to John R Road and northbound and southbound John R Road from Pearl Avenue to 9 Mile Road will also have single right or left lane intermittent lane closures daily during this time.

Crews will be constructing curbs and gutters in the area. Completion of the work will be contingent upon the weather.