Section of 94 closed this weekend in Detroit during March Madness

This weekend could be one of the busier weekends in Detroit this season, as the first round of March Madness comes to the Little Caesars Arena on Friday and Sunday. Saturday, expect thousands to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day around the city.

Those planning on driving into or around the city should plan on some significant road closures and traffic rerouting.

MDOT announced this week that I-94 will be closed from I-75 to Conner in order to work on part of the Gratiot overpass and the entire Chene overpass. The closure starts at 9 p.m. Friday and goes until 5 a.m. Monday. Surface street ramps in this area will start closing at 7 p.m.

According to MDOT,

During this closure, westbound through-traffic will be advised to take westbound M-102 (Eight Mile Road) to southbound I-75, and back to westbound I-94. Westbound I-94 will remain open to Conner Avenue for local access. Eastbound traffic will be detoured north on I-75 to eastbound M-102, and back to eastbound I-94.

All ramps along eastbound and westbound I-94 will be closed between Conner Avenue and I-75. In addition, the following ramps will be closed and also will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, March 19:

Eastbound I-96 to eastbound I-94

Northbound and southbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway) to eastbound I-94

Northbound and southbound I-75 to eastbound I-94

All entrance ramps to westbound I-94 from Nine Mile Road to Chalmers Street.

MDOT has offered alternate routes to those traveling into Detroit for the weekend.

• From the west, MDOT advises to take Michigan Avenue from Dearborn into Detroit.
• From the east, MDOT suggests 696, 8 Mile, or Jefferson Avenue.

For those leaving after the game, MDOT suggests taking northbound I-75 to 8 Mile or 696, or the Lodge to westbound 94.

In case you haven’t been here in a while, 75 south is closed starting in Southwest Detroit for repair of the Rouge Bridge. The alternate route in place for southbound I-75 is northbound M-10 to westbound I-94, then southbound I-275 to re-connect with southbound I-75 in Monroe County.