Gallery 8: I-75 Construction  [page 2]

The following series of photos was taken on 6-10-2002 along I-75 in the Downriver region of metro Detroit.  During the summers of 2002 and 2003 MDOT reconstructed I-75, including 18 bridges, between Goddard Rd. and the Rouge River Bridge.  The northbound lanes were reconstructed in 2002 as seen here, while the southbound lanes were completed in the summer of 2003.

Approaching the beginning of the work zone.  northbound automobile traffic was detoured via US-24 and I-94 for the duration of the northbound reconstruction project while a single northbound lane was maintained for commercial traffic.  Two lanes of southbound traffic were maintained throughout the duration of the project.

"Thru traffic" in the left two lanes is directed to exit via the US-24/Telegraph Rd. connector.

Still two miles south of the actual work zone, only one lane is maintained for local and commercial traffic.

"Traffic shift ahead."  The single lane of northbound traffic was shifted onto the southbound lanes via a median crossover just past northline Rd.

Two-way traffic maintained on the southbound lanes, just north of northline Rd.  The reconstruction project began 1/2 mile to the north at Goddard Rd.

Within the actual construction zone.

Sign indicating the closure of the Dix Hwy. ramp and directing motorists to exit at M-85.

"Ramp closed ahead."

"Outer Dr. ramp closed.  Use M-85 ramp."

Temporary exit for M-85/Fort. St./Schaefer Hwy.  This was the only northbound exit maintained within the reconstruction zone during the 2002 construction season.

Approaching the Rouge River Bridge and the end of the reconstruction zone.

On the Rouge River Bridge.  Although not part of the reconstruction project, pavement repairs were made to the bridge which had already been reconstructed approximately 15 years earlier.  The traffic seen using the northbound lanes is from the M-85/Fort. St./Schaefer Hwy. entrance ramp while the construction zone traffic remained separate on the southbound bridge.

Fort St. (unsigned M-85) in Detroit looking west just past Springwells Ave.  Fort St. served as a local detour during the project, and often times the ramp from M-85 to I-75 north was closed requiring motorists to continue north along Fort St. to Springwells Ave. to access I-75.  Note the I-75 overpass in the distance.