WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) — When the I-696 Fix started it was supposed to be finished last year. Then there came challenges. A statewide construction work stoppage brought the project to a standstill for weeks last fall. As a result, the work did not get finished before winter.
Much of the twenty-eight mile long project is complete, but it is not even close to done.
Right now the right two lanes are closed on Eastbound I-696 from Mound to Gratiot. They will remain closed until this weekend. Then crews will shift the traffic barrels, open the right lanes, and close the 2 left lanes which will be close until the end of May.
Crews are smoothing the surface of the road, and finishing shoulder and sewage work. Plus they will be working on barrier wall repairs before where traffic shifted over. That will impact both directions of traffic
“The construction on I-696 has been very bad for us,” said Mr. English of the Crab House Restaurant.
At the Crab House Restaurant on Van Dyke at I-696 in Warren you could say they are more than crabby about the construction. They fear it will put their business at risk.
“As a businessman, you’re dealing with so many people who got laid off from GM. And now we have construction again. It just really is not good for business," said Mr. English.
Mr. English says he wants you to know if you don’t want to brave the traffic he will bring food to you. He is counting on that to help his business survive construction.
“Bring it to your house and your place of business. Not a problem at all,” said Mr. English.
