The Michigan Department of Transportation will begin prep work this fall for a $54 million project to replace aging I-75 bridges and reconfigure a major highway interchange in Gaylord.
Beginning September 8, the work will include building crossovers on I-75, installing traffic signal foundations, building sidewalks, installing sheet piling for future bridge demolition, installing electrical infrastructure, and resurfacing and repaving nearby roads. The northbound and southbound I-75 bridges over M-32 were built in 1961 and are in poor condition, according to the state.
The full construction project will take place in 2027 and 2028, with landscape planting scheduled for 2029. The work will involve replacing the northbound I-75 bridge in 2027 and the southbound bridge in 2028, along with rebuilding M-32 between Edelweiss Village Parkway/Meecher Road and Wisconsin Avenue.
As part of the project, the interchange will be reconfigured as a diverging diamond interchange (DDI), which the state said improves safety and traffic flow by separating opposing left-turn movements. The state said DDIs have been implemented at multiple locations throughout Michigan and across the nation and have helped reduce crashes and congestion.
The work will require lane closures and traffic shifts on I-75 and M-32, shoulder closures, and lane closures on surrounding roads. When M-32 is closed during bridge demolition or beam installation — expected to last several days at a time — traffic will be detoured on South Townline Road, Milbocker Road, McCoy Road, and I-75 Business Loop. The state said it plans to maintain at least one lane in each direction on M-32 at most times during construction.
Based on economic modeling, the state said the project is expected to directly and indirectly support 457 jobs.