Gaylord I-75 Bridges Replacement: Details and Timeline

Beginning this fall, MDOT will begin a $54 million project to replace the northbound and southbound I-75 bridges over M-32 in Gaylord and rebuild M-32 between Edelweiss Village Parkway/Meecher Road and Wisconsin Avenue. These bridges were built in 1961, are currently in poor condition and need to be replaced.

As part of the project, this interchange will be reconfigured as a (DDI) Diverging Diamond Interchange.

A DDI is an alternative interchange that improves safety, increases traffic flow and can reduce construction costs. They have been successfully implemented at several locations throughout Michigan in recent years, helping reduce crashes and congestion. To navigate a DDI, drivers follow signs, signals and pavement markings to cross to the left side of the roadway after the first set of traffic signals. Vehicles going straight proceed through a second set of traffic signals and cross back to the right side of the road. All left turns onto the freeway are free flowing.

In addition to rebuilding the interchange, this project will include:

• Resurfacing M-32 between Murner Road and Meecher Road.
• Building 5-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of M-32 from South Townline Road to Little League Drive/Wilkinson Road, where it does not currently exist or is being removed during this project.
• Building a 10-foot-wide sidewalk from the current path along Dickerson Road, through the DDI, to the 10-foot-wide North Central State Trail.
• Installing a new traffic signal at the M-32/South Townline Road intersection.
• Upgrading the traffic signals at the intersections of M-32/Meecher Road/Edelweiss Village Parkway and M-32/Dickerson Road.
• Building a new MDOT carpool lot along Dickerson Road.
• New interchange lighting for drivers and pedestrians.
• Replacing the City of Gaylord’s watermain and sanitary sewer lines in the project limits.
• Pedestrian amenities, including benches, decorative lighting and landscaping.
• Improvements to local roads that will be used for detour routes during construction, including resurfacing McCoy Road between Dickerson Road and the I-75 Business Loop, and resurfacing Milbocker Road between South Townline Road and Dickerson Road.

Work is expected to begin this fall after Labor Day, with construction of temporary traffic crossovers on I-75 north and south of the interchange, resurfacing M-32 from Murner Road to Meecher Road, tree clearing and detour route improvements. In 2027, work will focus on replacing the northbound I-75 bridge and pavement, and rebuilding M-32 east of West Street. In 2028, work will focus on replacing the southbound I-75 bridge and pavement, and rebuilding M-32 through the interchange and to the west. Landscape planting is expected to occur in 2029.

MDOT plans to maintain at least one lane in each direction on M-32 at most times (except during bridge demolition, bridge beam installation or while municipal utility replacement work is occurring).

When M-32 is closed (during periods expected to last several days during demolition and beam placement), traffic will be detoured on South Townline Road, Milbocker Road/McCoy Road and the I-75 Business Loop. This detour route will also be signed as a suggested alternate route for through-traffic during construction.

What’s happening on Interstate 75 RIGHT NOW! I-75 Real-time traffic information for selected cities along I-75. Maps show updates on road construction, traffic accidents, travel delays and the latest traffic speeds. Traffic cameras show congestion at a glance. Visit I-75 Traffic.

The I-75 Exit Guide is the Internet’s largest and most complete website dedicated to Interstate 75 travelers. Find detailed exit service listings… lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Michigan to Florida!

On the road? Why not take us with you. The I-75 Exit Guide is mobile-friendly and totally FREE. No App Required.

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides:  I-4 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide, I-75 Exit Guide, I-80 Exit Guide and I-95 Exit Guide. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit along the way!