MDOT has plans to modernize I-94 between Trumbull and Conner, including portions of M-10 and I-75. That modernization includes:
- Widening, primarily by adding six lanes of service drives in some places
- Removing 14 bridges, including a few pedestrian bridges
- Removing some roads
- Elevating some pedestrian bridges that are currently at grade
Many of these design decisions can have a negative impact on biking and walking within this corridor. We’ve documented the proposed changes on this map.
The Detroit Greenways Coalition has been working others, including Wayne State University, Midtown Detroit Inc., the Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative, SEMCOG, the Henry Ford Health System, the city of Detroit and others to better understand and propose alternative designs that can lessen the impacts.
The good news is MDOT is listening.
It’s too early to say what changes might be possible. Analysis is underway on how the John R bridge could remain. We’ve also highlighted the need for the Ferry Street bridge since the alternative at Warren is a congested and unsafe crossing for bikes and pedestrians.
No one seems to know why the Canfield pedestrian bridge is being removed.
We’ve also aren’t fond of the odd 8-foot bike/bus lanes proposed for the service drive. Does anyone really want to ride on service drives? They’re typically filled with speeding motorists and little else. Their one-way designs also limit their usefulness.
The elevated bridges are not preferred. Having them at-grade makes them more convenient, even if that meanshaving to cross the service drive. We heard from the disabled community that this was important to them , too.
We’ll continue to work with MDOT on this and tweak their design.