State officials work to ensure safety on crumbling freeway

WARREN (AP) - Officials are working to ensure safety along a busy stretch of Interstate 696 in the Detroit area following reports of vehicles being damaged by concrete that may have been loosed by fluctuating winter temperatures.

A $90 million construction project starting later this year is expected to shut down part of the freeway. State police say, however, that they investigated at least two reports Tuesday of vehicles being damaged along I-696 in Macomb and Oakland counties.

The Michigan Department of Transportation notes in a statement that it's widely recognized that the freeway is "badly in need of repair."

For now, MDOT says patching crews will continue to be out fixing damage linked to freezing and thawing. And MDOT officials are looking at what more might be done in the short-term.

Published: Thu, Feb 01, 2018