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The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has released a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the final segment of the I-75 Modernization Project.

The I-75 Modernization Project has been in the planning and development stages for nearly 20 years. It encompasses approximately 18 miles of freeway from north of M-102 (8 Mile Road) to south of M-59 and has a current daily traffic volume of 103,000 to 174,000. The freeway was built in the 1960s but has not received comprehensive corridor improvements since that time. The need for increased capacity to relieve congestion is driven by the growth along the corridor due to land use changes and the migration of people, services and industry. It is a critical commercial route, a key commuter route, a vital tourist route and a local area business route moving people and goods across the state daily.

The I-75 Modernization Project is comprised of three segments:

• Segment 1 (north of Coolidge to south of M-59) has been completed and is open (September 2017).
• Segment 2 (8.5 miles of rural freeway) is being procured as a design-build contract and is expected to be awarded in the Summer of 2018.
• Segment 3 (1.5 miles of rural freeway and 4 miles of urban depressed freeway with service drives and a storage and drainage tunnel and pump station) will be procured as a DBFM and is the focus of this RFQ.

Segment 3 is located north of 13 Mile Road to north of 8 Mile Road in the Cities of Madison Heights, Royal Oak and Hazel Park which are all within Oakland County. 

The project value is estimated at US$600 – 700 million. Funding for Segment 3 may include State, Federal and/or local governments in a range of potential combinations.

The deadline for submitting proposals is November, 29 and a shortlist will be announced in December, 22. Following short-listing, MDOT currently anticipates the following procurement activities and tentative schedule:

• Issue Draft RFP December 2017
• Issue Final RFP April 2018
• Proposals due July 2018
• Selection of Developer August 2018
• Commercial and financial close Q3/Q4 2018

To download the RFQ click here.