Now until July 7:

Northbound I-75 will be closed at Clark.

Southbound I-75 will be closed at Rosa Parks with the exception of a single lane leading traffic to the westbound I-96 connector.  

Traffic leaving downtown wanting to head south on I-75 has two options: Use the westbound I-96 connector to westbound I-94 to either of the following: Southbound M-39 Southbound US-24 Southbound I-275 All three routes will take traffic to southbound I-75 beyond the closure limits.  

OR exit southbound I-75 at Rosa Parks and follow the detour signs leading traffic to Fort Street. Use southbound Fort Street to Clark Street to connect with southbound I-75.

In conjunction to the Gateway closure, the following two ramps will close at the M-10/I-94 interchange: southbound M-10 to eastbound I-94 will close Sunday at 10 p.m. northbound M-10 to westbound I-94 will close Saturday at 1 p.m. 

Detours will be posted for each ramp closure.

Those two left lane entrance ramps will remain closed because of all the detoured traffic using I-94.

Here's more details about the project:

Prepare for brand new battle with the barrels: Beginning this month, multi-million-dollar construction project will shut down a section of the I-75 freeway for a 22 months. From Monday, February 25, 2008 until December 2009, the Michigan Department of Transportation will fully close the 1.5 mile section of I-75, from Rosa Parks Boulevard to Clark Street in Southwest Detroit.  

Why the closure? MDOT will be working on the final major phase of the “Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project.”  Without it, MDOT estimates the project would likely take four years to complete, rather than the less than two years projected.

What’s the bright side? According to MDOT, this $170 million investment in Michigan’s infrastructure will ease traffic at the Detroit – Windsor border crossing, provide a direct connection from the Ambassador Bridge to I-75, I-96 and other area freeways.  Once completed, MDOT says the project will also improve safety by removing truck traffic from city streets near the bridge.

What should I do? Click on the graphic at left to download your printable Detroit area access map. Provided by MDOT, the map features closures and alternate routes to downtown, Mexicantown and the Ambassador Bridge.

Check out more details on alternate routes below. And, as always, count on WWJ's Traffic and Weather Together on the Eights and Real Time Traffic on WWJ.com for the very latest.

To view photos of the project taken from the sky in the Saturn Chopper, click here.

How to Get Around It

I-75 NB Closure Alternates:

NORTHBOUND TOWARD DOWNTOWN
 
1 - Southfield Rd/Fwy north to I-96 EB back downtown.  (Although I-75 will be technically closed at I-96, the ramp from I-96 EB to I-75 NB is a collector/connector that takes you past the closure where you can reenter the freeway at Trumbull or continue onto the Lodge heading to Cobo)
2 - Fort Street.  Access by:

-Exiting at Fort Street/Schaefer, right on Schaefer and an immediate left on Fort Street.
-Exiting at Springwells, turn right on Springwells and a quick left on Fort Street.
-Exiting Livernois/Dragoon, turn right on Livernois and a quick left on Fort Street.
-Exiting at the closure at Clark Street, turn right on Clark and a quick left on Fort Street.

NORTHBOUND TOWARD THE AMBASSADOR BRIDGE

Fort Street.  Access by:

-Exiting at Fort Street/Schaefer, right on Schaefer and an immediate left on Fort Street.
-Exiting at Springwells, turn right on Springwells and a quick left on Fort Street.
-Exiting Livernois/Dragoon, turn right on Livernois and a quick left on Fort Street.
-Exiting at the closure at Clark Street, stay on the service drive to the plaza.

 
I-75 SB Closure Alternates:

SOUTHBOUND FROM DOWNTOWN

1 - Fort Street westbound. Enter I-75 SB by turning right on any of the following streets, then left on the service drive to the entrance ramp: Clark Street; Dragoon; Springwells; Schaefer.
 
2 - Michigan Ave Westbound to M-39 Southfield Fwy.
Southfield Fwy SB onto Southfield Rd SB back to I-75.

3 -  Lodge (M-10) to I-94 WB
 I-94 WB to Southfield Rd.
Southfield Rd SB back to I-75.

SOUTHBOUND FROM OAKLAND COUNTY

1 - I-696 WB to Southfield Rd.  Turn left.
Follow Southfield Rd onto Southfield Fwy SB.
When Southfield Fwy ends, stay on Southfield Rd to I-75

2 - I-75 SB to I-94 WB
I-94 WB to Southfield Rd.
Southfield Rd SB back to I-75.  (beware of I-75 roadwork delays at I-94)

Another Option:

I-275 to I-696 (and vice-versa), would bypass the complete closure and the lane closures between I-375 and I-94.

Get live traffic reports now from Real Time Traffic on WWJ.com.