The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced the schedule for the demolition of the Pleasant Valley Road bridge over eastbound I-96, just east of US-23.

The bridge was damaged yesterday in a crash involving a flatbed semi hauling several boom lifts. MDOT engineers determined that the structure over eastbound I-96 must be removed before eastbound I-96 can safely reopen. Currently all three lanes of eastbound I-96 are closed just east of US-23 and will remain closed until demolition and clean-up is complete. To get that done, MDOT says there will be a double lane closure between Grand River Avenue and Spencer Road on eastbound I-96 starting at 6 p.m. tonight. There will be a double lane closure on westbound I-96, east of Pleasant Valley Road, starting at 7 p.m.

Several ramps will be closed tonight starting at 6 p.m. with a detour posted, including the southbound US-23 ramp to eastbound I-96 and the northbound US-23 ramp to eastbound I-96. All traffic is expected to reopen, including eastbound I-96, by 5 a.m. Friday. However, Pleasant Valley Road over I-96 will remain closed for approximately 6 months until the new structure can be built. (JK)