A massive project to reconstruct an eight-mile stretch of Interstate 696 in southeast Oakland County is reaching the halfway point and starting Monday, westbound traffic will shift to the newly constructed eastbound lanes between M-10 and I-75, according to state transportation officials.

Eastbound traffic on I-696 between M-10 and Interstate 75 has been closed since March as part of a two-year project to reconstruct that portion of the highway.

"A year from now, we should be close to reopening 696 between M-10 and 75," said Diane Cross, a Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson.

Cross said the full reopening of 696 in both directions will occur in late 2026, probably in November. The closure is part of the second phase of MDOT's $275 million "Restore the Reuther" project.

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