OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Eastbound and westbound I-96 between Milford and Wixom roads are back open after a downed power line was replaced.
The freeway was closed Friday morning after a road construction crane came in contact with DTE Energy equipment.
DTE Energy released the following statement: “We have DTE crews on the scene of that downed power line across the freeway on I-96. They are there to secure and ‘make safe,’ and anticipate that those who lost power nearby due to this incident will be restored by 11 a.m. today.”
The power lines appear to have caused a small fire along I-96. Eastbound I-96 was closed at Milford Road. Westbound I-96 after Wixom Road was closed.
The Michigan Department of Transportation announced the closure on X (formerly Twitter) at at 7:38 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. The freeway was back open by 11:39 a.m.
MDOT said traffic could take a while to clear.
Here’s aerial footage of the scene:
UPDATE:
— MDOT - Metro Detroit (@MDOT_MetroDet) August 9, 2024
Other on EB I-96
Location: EB I-96 Milford
Lanes Blocked: All Lanes
Event Type: Other
County: Oakland
Event Message: Freeway Closed at Milford Rd. I-96 East Traffic use Grand River Ave East to Wixom Rd North.
UPDATE:
— MDOT - Metro Detroit (@MDOT_MetroDet) August 9, 2024
Other on WB I-96
Location: WB I-96 after Wixom
Lanes Blocked: All Lanes
Event Type: Other
County: Wayne
Event Message: Freeway Closed at Wixom. I-96 West Traffic use WB Grand River to Kent Lake