Drivers heading north on M-39 through Canton Township will squeeze into fewer lanes for the next two weeks. The right lane of northbound Southfield Freeway is closed between Ford Road and I-96 through Monday, August 10, according to MDOT Metro Detroit, which posted the alert Wednesday, July 29.

The closure is one phase of a $15.5 million MDOT project stretching nearly five miles along M-39, from Pinecrest Drive south of I-94 up to Ford Road. Work on that broader project, which began April 29, includes concrete patching, milling, resurfacing, and pavement markings, and is expected to continue through fall 2026.

What to expect

MDOT's project plan calls for continuous single-lane closures during weekday hours, with overnight and weekend double-lane closures possible. At least one lane will remain open at all times, according to MDOT's project bulletin.

The delays are real. A July 15 traffic alert from TCD Dearborn News described "severe delays" when the freeway was reduced to a single open lane between Ford Road and I-96 during an earlier phase of the same project. That alert recommended Telegraph Road and Evergreen Road as alternate north-south routes for drivers looking to bypass the construction zone.

Added pressure from I-94 work

The congestion picture is complicated by MDOT's separate Restore I-94 project, which has ramp closures at the I-94/M-39 interchange continuing through May 2027. Drivers merging between the two freeways should expect additional backups.

How to stay updated

MDOT's Metro Region media contact is Diane Cross ([email protected], 248-752-0336). Live closure and construction information is available at Michigan.gov/Drive.

Canton Township commuters who rely on northbound M-39 to reach I-96 or points north should build extra time into morning drives through August 10, or shift to Telegraph or Evergreen until the lane reopens.