Great Lakes Engineering Group was selected to perform as-needed construction oversight as an extension of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Oakland TSC team to deliver the I-696 Concrete Inlay project from I-75 to I-94 in Oakland and Macomb Counties. The staging of this project was unique in that three lanes of eastbound I-696 remained open to traffic at all times. Westbound I-696 was detoured for the entire construction season to accommodate the replacement of more than 28 miles of concrete pavement, shoulders, and ramps in a single construction season. There were also grade repairs, drainage improvements, and valley gutter added throughout the length of the project. The project also includes asphalt milling and hot mix asphalt overlay on the service drives, driveway replacements, sidewalk, and curb and gutter improvements in a second season.

Our GLEG team provided a diverse array of services on this project including both day and night shift operations. Our construction field staff provided oversight for pavement removals, grade work, undercut identification, storm sewer inspection, underdrain installations, geotextile separator placement, cement treated permeable base placement, mainline concrete paving, miscellaneous concrete paving, valley gutter/curb and gutter placement, and hot mix asphalt shoulder paving. Our team also performed ride quality on the new concrete lanes, performed all required density testing, the inspection of existing drainage structures and video taping of sewers, and chemical grouting of existing sewers. GLEG also provided MDOT with engineering assistance including technical proposal administration, project photography, and ombudsman services where we responded to thousands of public concerns through phone, email, and social media.