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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2024 Diane Cross
US-24 (Telegraph Road)/M-102 (8 Mile Road) diverging diamond interchange expected to open soon in Metro Detroit
DETROIT/SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project to modernize the US-24 (Telegraph Road)/M-102 (8 Mile Road) interchange to a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) is wrapping up, with the new DDI expected to be in operation sometime this weekend or early next week. This is the first DDI in this part of Metro Detroit.
While the majority of work for this project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, crews will return next spring for landscaping and punch list work.
DDIs allow for safer driving as they eliminate loop ramps, reduce conflict points and delays, and produce lower traffic speeds. MDOT has already installed DDIs at the I-96/Cascade Road interchange in Grand Rapids, the I-75/University Drive interchange in Auburn Hills, and the I-94/US-127/West Avenue interchange in Jackson, among others.
US-24 (Telegraph Road) will be closed in each direction at M-102 (8 Mile Road) from 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, to 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25, while crews continue to install supports for overhead signs, complete traffic signal and under-bridge lighting, place pavement markings and begin work on traffic control islands to help direct drivers through the new interchange. Traffic will be detoured onto M-102 (8 Mile Road) to the first turnaround, then back to US-24 (Telegraph Road) via M-102 (8 Mile Road).
Beginning at 6 a.m., Monday, Nov. 25, if weather cooperates, northbound and southbound US-24 (Telegraph) will have a combined 18 new traffic signals at M-102 (8 Mile Road) in operation to control traffic through the newly modernized interchange, with left turns from US-24 (Telegraph Road) to M-102 (8 Mile Road).
As part of the DDI design, US-24 (Telegraph Road) now shifts first left and then right under the M-102 (8 Mile Road) bridge to permit left turns from US-24 (Telegraph Road) to M-102 (8 Mile Road) without encountering oncoming traffic.
Initially, there will be only two lanes open for northbound and southbound US-24 (Telegraph Road) at M-102 (8 Mile Road) until mid-December when traffic will reopen to four lanes in each direction.
In addition to modernizing this interchange to improve efficiency and enhance safety, MDOT invested $54 million over two years to rebuild 1.4 miles of US-24 (Telegraph Road) between M-5 (Grand River Avenue) to north of M-102 (8 Mile Road). Work also included improving five bridges, drainage and water main relocation work, sidewalk ramp improvements compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), replacing signs, and traffic signal and lighting work from the M-5 (Grand River Avenue) intersection to M-102 (8 Mile Road).
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 653 jobs.