We want to thank everyone for their patience over the last several years as we worked to modernize this corridor. With the project now reaching substantial completion, the Modernize 75 project social media, e-mail updates, and website updates will now be discontinued. For future information, you can follow @MichiganDOT on Facebook and Threads, follow @MDOT_MetroDet on Twitter/X, visit www.Michigan.gov/Drive, or call the MDOT Oakland Transportation Service Center (TSC) at 248-451-0001.  

The I-75 Modernization Project team is excited to share this video on the history and completion of the project. Construction started in June 2016 and reached substantial completion in fall 2023. This video highlights various elements and improvements this project brought to the area, showcasing the amazing work done by the hard-working team.    

Thank you all for your patience. We hope you enjoy this video.   

The I-75 Modernization tunnel drainage system is now in place and ready for the next rainstorm. This important piece of the project was built to help alleviate future flooding on the I-75 freeway from 8 Mile Road to 12 Mile Road.  

Facts about the tunnel:  

• It is four-­miles long, 14.5-foot diameter up to 100 feet underground and generally under I-75’s northbound service drive between 8 Mile and 12 Mile Roads.  
• Can hold up to 25 million gallons of stormwater which is equivalent to almost 40 Olympic size swimming pools! 
• Began construction in the Fall of 2019, experienced a delay in 2021, and is now complete.  
• Construction utilized a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) with a rotating cutting wheel with teeth at the front that dug the soil while it turned. Miners in the tunnel installed 5-foot-long precast concrete wall segments within a shield to protect them. Hydraulic jacks at the back of the TBM pushed against the ends of the wall segments after they were installed to force the cutting wheel into the soil and move the tunnel forward.  Once its job was complete, the TBM was decommissioned and repurposed for another tunnel construction project.  There is a great video we published accessible on the linked page below to see this process in action.  

We are grateful for the opportunity to support the community with the addition of this drainage tunnel and thank everyone for their patience as it was constructed. We have resources on our project website to learn more about how the tunnel was built and how stormwater flows into the tunnel once it reaches the roadway.  

http://modernize75.com/Project-Highlights-Tunnel    

From Oakland County, save time and take I-75 downtown, use the HOV/carpool lanes of I-75. 

• Both NB and SB I-75 have HOV/carpool lanes between 12 Mile and South Boulevard 
• HOV/carpool lanes are for vehicles with 2+, Mon-Fri 6am-9am AND 3pm-6pm. 
• HOV/carpool lanes open to all outside of Mon-Fri 6am-9am AND 3pm-6pm.   

Visit our website, www.modernize75.com for more information. 

Did you know MDOT has carpool lots along many of our major roadways? Carpool lots are great for meeting to park your car to rideshare (carpool or vanpool) and to connect to transit & other rideshare options, including the now open high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes between 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard.    

I-75 Modernization Project includes carpool lots at I-75 and Adams Road in Troy and at two at 12 Mile Road in Madison Heights to help encourage use of these rideshare options.   

Carpooling and ridesharing have many benefits including lowering car emissions, reducing congestion on the roadways, saving money, putting less wear and tear on your personal vehicle, and use of the newly constructed HOV lanes.    

HOV Lane Facts:  

• HOV Lanes are located on I-75 between 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard   
• HOV lanes operate Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.   
  • During those times, HOV lanes are open to motorists with 2 or more occupants, or those  riding a motorcycle.  
  • Outside of those hours, all motorists are welcome to use this additional lane.  

Consider your rideshare options and using one of MDOT’s carpool lots for your work commute or trips throughout the area. Find more information on the lots available and benefits on MDOT’s website https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9615_11234---,00.html    

While using the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-75 in Oakland County, it is important to stress the importance of motorists observing passing rules and posted speed limits.   

During HOV hours (M-F 6a-9a and 3p-6p), the HOV lane should not be utilized for passing.  During off-peak hours, the HOV lane can be utilized for passing as it operates as a general-purpose lane.   

The I-75 improvements between 8 Mile (M-102) and South Boulevard, north of Square Lake Road, include an additional inside lane, expanding the road to four lanes in each direction for improved safety, efficiency and reliability.   

The extra lanes are for HOV use (High-Occupancy Vehicle) or as additional driving lane. 

• NB/SB I-75, 12 Mile to South Boulevard:
  • HOV only - 6 a.m.-9 a.m. AND 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
  • Otherwise, general use
• NB/SB I-75, 8 Mile to 12 Mile is always general use

In December 2023, crews spent time flying a drone the entire length of the project, nearly 18 miles, to capture the completed work that began construction in 2016 and completed in 2023.  A few things you will see in this video:  

• The rebuilt freeway lanes between 8 Mile Road and South Boulevard  
• The rebuilt pedestrian bridges  
• The reconfiguration of the I-75/I-696 interchange ramps using a braid design 
• High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane signs and lane markings  
• The new diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs) at 12 Mile, 14 Mile, and Big Beaver roads  
• The rebuilt Gardenia Avenue bridge with new movement of motorists to Stephenson Highway  
• So much more!  

Thank you all for your continued patience on this project.   

With the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes operating along I-75 in Oakland County, it is important to know that both state and local police will monitor for safe movement in and out of the HOV lane and to ensure drivers have the correct number of occupants.  

Drivers signaled by police to pull over should not stop in the HOV lane, rather they should continue at safe speed and pull over as directed by the police. 

HOV Lane Facts: 

• HOV Lanes are located on I-75 between 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard  
• HOV lanes will operate Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.  
  • During those times, HOV lanes are open to motorists with 2 or more occupants, or those driving on a motorcycle. 
  • Outside of those hours, all motorists are welcome to use this additional lane. 

Take a look at our video for more information on who can use the lanes, how to enter/exit them, and what to do if you are signaled to pull over.  

The project team took advantage of warmer weather in December to capture this unique view of the I-75/I-696 interchange "braid" ramp opened at the end of 2022. This video, called a Hyperlapse, condenses a period of time into just a minute to show this ramp in action and showcases the volume of traffic that uses the interchange. 

As a reminder, the reconfiguration of the I-75/I-696 interchange ramps using a braid design eliminated the weave that previously occurred by separating the movements. This reconfiguration allows I-696 motorists access to either northbound I-75 or 11 Mile Road using a new bridge, while the motorists exiting northbound I-75 to 11 Mile Road will braid under this new bridge to support a safer operation.