The small city of Clarkston, home to just under 1,000 people, has seen its quiet downtown transformed into a major thoroughfare after a highway closure began diverting tens of thousands of commuters through the area.

Since September, when the Michigan Department of Transportation began work on I-75, semi-trucks and highway traffic have been flowing through the Clarkston's downtown, creating significant challenges for residents and businesses.

"You can't get through town, you have to strategically plan your trips if you're going anywhere," said Betsy Davis, a Clarkston resident.

The traffic backup has particularly impacted local businesses and longtime community members. Miriam Moore, a voice instructor who has taught private lessons in one of Clarkston's oldest buildings for nearly 50 y

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