I-96 May Reopen Early, Traffic Scheduled To Resume By Sept. 30
LIVONIA (WWJ) -- After what was scheduled to be a six-month or longer rejuvenation project, officials announced Friday that construction on I-96 between I-275 and Telegraph Rd. could be completed by Sept. 30.
96Fix announced on its Facebook page that the project -- which was originally scheduled to be completed in mid-October -- is now about two weeks ahead of schedule. The project's official page did however include a disclaimer.
"Reminder that unknown factors could change this date and the contractor technically still has until mid-Oct. Also note that while we will be opening the freeway to traffic, we still have much work to do on the project which will last through early 2015."
Logan Orr, salesperson with Teknicolors Paints, located on Beech Daly and Schoolcraft told WWJ in August that he thought the project will have no problem meeting the deadline.
"They've already got landscaping at Levan – they've already got the light poles laid out – ready to go – they are way ahead of schedule in my viewpoint – of course they'll never say that, but I think they are going to hit the October 31 deadline … they'll even be a couple of weeks early."
Orr said that since folks are moving slowly on the service drive – he believes his business has new customers discovering him.
Orr said his sales have held steady during the construction, although a neighboring business says their sales are down almost 60 percent.
Sam Matalka owns a Sunoco gas station along the freeway stretch of construction: "Since April my sales have dropped $36,000," laments Matalka.
The $148 million project to rebuild the roadway also includes bridge repair and replacement work.