Owner: Michigan Department of Transportation

Designer: Michigan Department of Transpiration/G2 Consulting Group

Contractor: Dan’s Excavating Inc.

The Michigan Department of Transportation reopened the 7-mile stretch of I-96 between US-24 and Newburgh Road in Livonia more than two weeks early. This highly visible project was the largest awarded in MDOT history. Known as “The 96fix,” work included rebuilding 56 lane miles of highway, repairing 37 bridges, reconstructing 22 ramps, and installing new lighting and utilities.

The project featured the placement of 350,000 cubic yards of concrete and 850,000 tons of stone, installation of 16,000 feet of special barrier walls, the installation of 500 new LED lights, repair and installation of 1,200 draining structures, the reuse of 410,000 tons of crushed concrete, the recycling of 200 tons of steel, and the installation of 78,000 feet of new storm sewers. No steel, concrete or soil were landfilled in the project.

More than 50 MDOT staff was assigned to coordinate the project, using an innovative e-construction system to coordinate documents. Dan’s Excavating was responsible for managing 3,000 line items on the project schedule that totaled over $170 million.

Even facing challenges such as a 350-year storm that flooded many areas of the project and nighttime restrictions on demolition, the team beat the schedule.

A critical construction challenge was a “zero movement” requirement on a critical 48-inch supply line that provides fresh water to a major portion of western Wayne County.