Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced an $8.9 million investment to upgrade the I-94/M-39 (Southfield Freeway) interchange in Allen Park. The interchange, which was constructed in the mid-1980s and serves around 20,000 vehicles daily, will undergo a series of improvements aimed at extending its lifespan and enhancing safety.

The planned bridge work includes resurfacing the bridge surface, patching railings and beams, replacing bridge approaches, applying an epoxy overlay, and installing new bridge bearings under the southbound M-39 bridge over both eastbound and westbound I-94.

Most ramps at the I-94/M-39 interchange will be closed starting at 7 a.m. on Monday, September 29, with closures expected to last through December. The ramps will reopen for winter before another round of work resumes in 2026.

During this closure period:

- The southbound M-39 ramps to both eastbound and westbound I-94 will be closed. Drivers heading for eastbound I-94 will be detoured via Exit 7 to eastbound M-153 (Ford Road)/McGraw Avenue and southbound Weir Street to eastbound I-94. Those heading for westbound I-94 will use Exit 7 to eastbound M-153 (Ford Road), then southbound Wyoming Avenue and westbound US-12 (Michigan Avenue) to reach their destination.

- The northbound M-39 ramp to westbound I-94 will also be closed. Motorists are advised to continue north past I-94, take Exit 6 to eastbound US-12 (Michigan Avenue), then south on Greenfield Road to access westbound I-94.

- Only one lane will remain open on the eastbound I-94 ramp leading to northbound M-39.

MDOT noted that these detour routes were chosen after considering factors such as ongoing construction on alternative roads, overall route distance, and potential impacts from driving through downtown areas that could increase travel time.

In spring 2026, further closures are planned as part of a larger four-year project on I-94 stretching from east of I-275 to US-12 (Michigan Avenue) near the Dearborn/Detroit border. During this phase, the southbound M-39 ramp to eastbound I-94 will close again for most of the year with traffic once more rerouted via M‑153 (Ford Road). Additional improvements are scheduled for the remaining 13 bridges within the interchange as part of this broader effort.

Funding comes from Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program. This initiative is focused on reconstructing key state highways and bridges that support economic activity by carrying significant traffic volumes. The strategy aims for repairs that provide longer-lasting benefits while improving infrastructure conditions across Michigan.

According to MDOT's economic modeling, this $8.9 million investment is projected to directly and indirectly support about 85 jobs.