Allen Park, MI – Drivers who use the I-94/M-39 (Southfield Freeway) interchange should prepare for major closures this fall and again in 2026 as part of an $8.9 million bridge improvement project.
According to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), crews will begin work in mid-September to resurface bridge decks, patch railings, repair beams, replace bridge bearings and complete other structural upgrades on the southbound M-39 bridge over I-94.
Southbound M-39 ramps to both eastbound and westbound I-94 will be closed until early December. During that time, traffic will be detoured via eastbound M-153 (Ford Road). Drivers heading to eastbound I-94 will be directed to M-153, McGraw Avenue and southbound Weir Street. Westbound I-94 traffic will detour via M-153, Wyoming Avenue and westbound US-12 (Michigan Avenue).
MDOT said the detours were selected due to ongoing construction elsewhere and to avoid longer travel times through downtown routes.
In spring 2026, the southbound M-39 ramp to eastbound I-94 will close again for most of the year, with drivers detoured via M-153 to I-94. That closure will overlap with a four-year I-94 project stretching from I-275 to US-12 at the Dearborn/Detroit border. In total, 13 bridges within the I-94/M-39 interchange are scheduled for upgrades.
The improvements are part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program, which prioritizes long-term fixes to the state’s busiest highways and bridges. Based on state economic modeling, the project is expected to support about 85 jobs.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more relevant new stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have a tip? Message us!
