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Community Corner

Southfield Closures North of Ford Road Start March 4

The major construction project on Southfield will shut down much of the freeway that runs through Detroit, and will include reconstruction of seven bridges in Dearborn and Allen Park.

Construction on the Southfield Freeway will begin to affect Dearborn drivers starting Friday, March 4, when M-39 will close entirely for three weekends between Ford Road and the Lodge Freeway.

According to the Michigan Department of Transportation’s website, “The freeway section (of M-39) in Detroit was completed in 1963-64. While the interchange at I-96 was completed in 1977, this section from McNichols to the north has never been rebuilt. Some repair work was completed in the late ‘90s. Bridges spanning over the freeway were constructed in the 1960s and are in need of replacement.

“Approximately $80 million is being invested to accomplish the … work.”

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Lane closures on Southfield began in January to begin work on both 8 Mile Road bridges, and the southbound M-39 exit ramp to 8 Mile Road was closed Jan. 10. It will not reopen until the end of October.

Bridge demolition will also require full closure of M-39 between Ford Road and M-10 in March, but closures will only run from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday to allow for easy travel during peak travel times.

Find out what's happening in Dearbornwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Affected weekends include March 4-7, March 11-14 and March 18-21.

Beginning in the spring on a date yet to be announced by MDOT, all of M-39 will be closed between M-10 and I-96 for resurfacing and bridge reconstruction. All traffic will be redirected to Telegraph Road. An end date for that part of the project has not been set.

Only one lane of M-39 will remain open from I-96 to Ford Road while the bridge work is being completed.

A total of 24 bridges over Southfield Freeway will be replaced, including seven in Dearborn and Allen Park: both Outer Drive bridges, Fern Avenue, Oakwood Boulevard, both Hubbard Drive bridges and Village Road.

Southfield Freeway south of Ford Road will remain open during all peak driving times, MDOT reported, but may be subject to some yet-to-be-announced weekend closures for bridge work.

Watch Dearborn Patch for updates on this and other local and state construction affecting Dearborn.

For more information on the Southfield Freeway closures, visit MDOT’s FAQ page on the construction.

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