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Detroit - Removal of I-375

Started by JREwing78, November 24, 2013, 11:25:14 PM

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Flint1979

Quote from: Hurricane Rex on December 07, 2017, 08:39:37 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 07, 2017, 08:24:22 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 07, 2017, 06:10:55 PM
I don't like freeway-to-boulevard conversions. I'm okay with getting rid of the eastward stub to Gratiot Avenue, but given how much traffic uses existing Interstate 375 (80,000), the boulevard would have to be at least 6, more likely 8 lanes to not be horribly congested. And turn lanes would also have to be plentiful.
Not even close to 80,000 use I-375 daily. The northern portion has about 53,000 vpd, the southern portion has about 14,000 vpd. Most of the traffic is exiting at Madison or Lafayette. I-375 is a useless expressway, it'd be better served to cut the expressway at Gratiot and have a surface street the rest of the way using the existing service drives. Traffic after the first exit south of I-75 on both I-375 and the Lodge drop.

Then why did they make it into a interstate in the first place considering Detroit started to decline in the 60s?
Making it into an Interstate didn't have anything to do with Detroit declining. I-375 was originally intended to be the route of I-75 into downtown Detroit under early proposals. However, the federal government forced Detroit and the State of Michigan to route I-75 further away from the river, so the remnant spur was designated I-375. This is why I-75 has to change from the Fisher Freeway to the Chrysler Freeway north of downtown.


silverback1065

Quote from: Flint1979 on December 07, 2017, 08:52:31 PM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on December 07, 2017, 08:39:37 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 07, 2017, 08:24:22 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 07, 2017, 06:10:55 PM
I don't like freeway-to-boulevard conversions. I'm okay with getting rid of the eastward stub to Gratiot Avenue, but given how much traffic uses existing Interstate 375 (80,000), the boulevard would have to be at least 6, more likely 8 lanes to not be horribly congested. And turn lanes would also have to be plentiful.
Not even close to 80,000 use I-375 daily. The northern portion has about 53,000 vpd, the southern portion has about 14,000 vpd. Most of the traffic is exiting at Madison or Lafayette. I-375 is a useless expressway, it'd be better served to cut the expressway at Gratiot and have a surface street the rest of the way using the existing service drives. Traffic after the first exit south of I-75 on both I-375 and the Lodge drop.

Then why did they make it into a interstate in the first place considering Detroit started to decline in the 60s?
Making it into an Interstate didn't have anything to do with Detroit declining. I-375 was originally intended to be the route of I-75 into downtown Detroit under early proposals. However, the federal government forced Detroit and the State of Michigan to route I-75 further away from the river, so the remnant spur was designated I-375. This is why I-75 has to change from the Fisher Freeway to the Chrysler Freeway north of downtown.

really? interesting, having 75 go down to the river would have been an awful idea!

Flint1979

Quote from: silverback1065 on December 08, 2017, 06:11:25 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 07, 2017, 08:52:31 PM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on December 07, 2017, 08:39:37 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 07, 2017, 08:24:22 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 07, 2017, 06:10:55 PM
I don't like freeway-to-boulevard conversions. I'm okay with getting rid of the eastward stub to Gratiot Avenue, but given how much traffic uses existing Interstate 375 (80,000), the boulevard would have to be at least 6, more likely 8 lanes to not be horribly congested. And turn lanes would also have to be plentiful.
Not even close to 80,000 use I-375 daily. The northern portion has about 53,000 vpd, the southern portion has about 14,000 vpd. Most of the traffic is exiting at Madison or Lafayette. I-375 is a useless expressway, it'd be better served to cut the expressway at Gratiot and have a surface street the rest of the way using the existing service drives. Traffic after the first exit south of I-75 on both I-375 and the Lodge drop.

Then why did they make it into a interstate in the first place considering Detroit started to decline in the 60s?
Making it into an Interstate didn't have anything to do with Detroit declining. I-375 was originally intended to be the route of I-75 into downtown Detroit under early proposals. However, the federal government forced Detroit and the State of Michigan to route I-75 further away from the river, so the remnant spur was designated I-375. This is why I-75 has to change from the Fisher Freeway to the Chrysler Freeway north of downtown.

really? interesting, having 75 go down to the river would have been an awful idea!
Yep really I-75 should run as a multiplex with I-94 between where I-75 is now and I-96 and then follow I-96 south to reconnect with I-75 to go south of Detroit the current I-75 between I-94 to where I-96 ends should be removed as well.

SAMSUNG-SM-J727A


The Ghostbuster

The articles JREwing sited on December 5th said 80,000. Flint1979's numbers are likely accurate. I still think the downgrade to a boulevard is not the best idea. The articles did not say how many lanes the new boulevard would be, nor what the speed limit of the new boulevard would be. If it isn't at least 6 lanes, and the speed limit is 25 or 30 MPH, I'd expect it would become congested, and certainly not pedestrian-friendly. Personally I would have left Interstate 375 in its existing configuration. If this freeway-to-boulevard isn't designed carefully, it could be more of a boondoggle than a boon to the area.

Terry Shea

Quote from: Flint1979 on December 06, 2017, 10:50:38 PM
Quote from: Brandon on December 06, 2017, 05:58:03 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 06, 2017, 05:40:12 PM
Quote from: Terry Shea on December 06, 2017, 04:22:22 PM
What waste of money!  And get this crap: "expressways did incalculable damage to cities like Detroit, destroying viable neighborhoods and facilitating the flight of residents to the suburbs."  Sorry but that's not what caused the flight of residents to the suburbs!  The suburbs have expressways (freeways) too.

They didn't before Detroit did. The flight to the suburbs started when the freeways were built.

Utter and complete bullshit.  The flight was already in progress when the freeways were built.  One could date the start of it to the 1943 riot.
Detroit still reported growth between 1940 and 1950, the 1960 census is the first one where Detroit lost population. The freeways in Detroit were planned and built in the 1940's and 1950's.
My point is that it wasn't the people from the poor neighborhoods where the freeways were being built that were fleeing Detroit.  It was the largely the upper middle class and rich people who fled to the suburbs.  You can't simply jump to that conclusion based purely on the timing.  There was a myriad of other factors involved, such as students being bussed clear across town, race riots and so on.  It was the more affluent white people who fled Detroit and it had nothing, or at least very little to do with freeways being built.  Indeed, after people fled to the suburbs freeways were built there, and there was not a mass exodus from these suburbs where the newer freeways were built.

Terry Shea

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 08, 2017, 06:50:19 PM
The articles JREwing sited on December 5th said 80,000. Flint1979's numbers are likely accurate. I still think the downgrade to a boulevard is not the best idea. The articles did not say how many lanes the new boulevard would be, nor what the speed limit of the new boulevard would be. If it isn't at least 6 lanes, and the speed limit is 25 or 30 MPH, I'd expect it would become congested, and certainly not pedestrian-friendly. Personally I would have left Interstate 375 in its existing configuration. If this freeway-to-boulevard isn't designed carefully, it could be more of a boondoggle than a boon to the area.
Maybe the original building of I-375 was a mistake, but spending ~$50 million to create more traffic congestion is a terrible idea.  Apparently MDOT made the decision but I'll bet they were heavily influenced by the City of Detroit, a city that's had a slew of great ideas like demanding that Tiger Stadium be torn down to make room for...well I'm sure something will be built there in the next millennium or 2.

TheHighwayMan3561

I feel like a lot of the anti-boulevard comments have devolved into the usual "eliminate no freeways for any reasons"  rhetoric that runs rampant here whether warranted or not, which I'm not sure if that's a reaction against urbanism tendencies or just roadgeeks upset by the idea of Interstate shields coming down.

I-375 appears to be a case where a boulevard could work well if done right but the freeway might function well with an overhaul.
self-certified as the dumbest person on this board for 5 years running

Brandon

In addition, if done as a proper Michigan boulevard, you still would get free-flow all the way from I-75 to the Tunnel.  Some DOTs know how to time signals so one gets green lights for a very long time.
"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg

wanderer2575

Quote from: Brandon on December 09, 2017, 07:23:55 AM
In addition, if done as a proper Michigan boulevard, you still would get free-flow all the way from I-75 to the Tunnel.  Some DOTs know how to time signals so one gets green lights for a very long time.

Can't time signals in both directions when there is a signal every block.  Yeah, the timing could adjust during the day to favor inbound in the mornings and outbound in the evenings.  But pack a lunch if you're going the other direction, because it'll be a slow go.  This what I find infuriating about Detroit's arterials (Grand River, Woodward, and Gratiot avenues) -- they have signals at most every three blocks apart, and if you're going against the timing you can look in the mirror and watch yourself age.

Hurricane Rex

Quote from: Flint1979 on December 08, 2017, 06:31:00 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on December 08, 2017, 06:11:25 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 07, 2017, 08:52:31 PM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on December 07, 2017, 08:39:37 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 07, 2017, 08:24:22 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 07, 2017, 06:10:55 PM
I don't like freeway-to-boulevard conversions. I'm okay with getting rid of the eastward stub to Gratiot Avenue, but given how much traffic uses existing Interstate 375 (80,000), the boulevard would have to be at least 6, more likely 8 lanes to not be horribly congested. And turn lanes would also have to be plentiful.
Not even close to 80,000 use I-375 daily. The northern portion has about 53,000 vpd, the southern portion has about 14,000 vpd. Most of the traffic is exiting at Madison or Lafayette. I-375 is a useless expressway, it'd be better served to cut the expressway at Gratiot and have a surface street the rest of the way using the existing service drives. Traffic after the first exit south of I-75 on both I-375 and the Lodge drop.

Then why did they make it into a interstate in the first place considering Detroit started to decline in the 60s?
Making it into an Interstate didn't have anything to do with Detroit declining. I-375 was originally intended to be the route of I-75 into downtown Detroit under early proposals. However, the federal government forced Detroit and the State of Michigan to route I-75 further away from the river, so the remnant spur was designated I-375. This is why I-75 has to change from the Fisher Freeway to the Chrysler Freeway north of downtown.

really? interesting, having 75 go down to the river would have been an awful idea!
Yep really I-75 should run as a multiplex with I-94 between where I-75 is now and I-96 and then follow I-96 south to reconnect with I-75 to go south of Detroit the current I-75 between I-94 to where I-96 ends should be removed as well.

SAMSUNG-SM-J727A

Thanks for the clarification, I did not know that was the original plan for I-75, makes sense now.
ODOT, raise the speed limit and fix our traffic problems.

Road and weather geek for life.

Running till I die.

tradephoric

#85
Quote from: wanderer2575 on December 09, 2017, 09:03:15 AM
This what I find infuriating about Detroit's arterials (Grand River, Woodward, and Gratiot avenues) -- they have signals at most every three blocks apart, and if you're going against the timing you can look in the mirror and watch yourself age.

Last Saturday i drove 40 miles in both directions of Woodward Avenue and didn't get stopped at a red light.  Now I agree that dual progression on a boulevard in downtown where block spacings are closer together would be more difficult to achieve, but your suggestion that the lights on Woodward are only timed for one direction isn't my experience.  Timing a boulevard for both directions is possible, it just might not happen along the I-375 boulevard (since the block spacings are so close together). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb2R2fPB1nE&t=28s

Terry Shea

Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on December 09, 2017, 03:52:11 AM
I feel like a lot of the anti-boulevard comments have devolved into the usual “eliminate no freeways for any reasons” rhetoric that runs rampant here whether warranted or not, which I’m not sure if that’s a reaction against urbanism tendencies or just roadgeeks upset by the idea of Interstate shields coming down.

I-375 appears to be a case where a boulevard could work well if done right but the freeway might function well with an overhaul.
Well I can't speak for everyone else, but to me wasting $50 million dollars to tear down a freeway to put up a bunch of traffic lights in an area that services 2 pro sports teams, casinos, theatre's, etc. is way beyond stupid.  It's basically a long exit ramp with sub exit ramps.  Obviously it wasn't the best design, but take that long exit ramp away and you'll have even more traffic backing up onto I-75.

skluth

Quote from: Flint1979 on December 06, 2017, 05:40:12 PM
They didn't before Detroit did. The flight to the suburbs started when the freeways were built.

Correlation is not causation

Flint1979

Quote from: Terry Shea on January 04, 2018, 11:17:56 AM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on December 09, 2017, 03:52:11 AM
I feel like a lot of the anti-boulevard comments have devolved into the usual "eliminate no freeways for any reasons"  rhetoric that runs rampant here whether warranted or not, which I'm not sure if that's a reaction against urbanism tendencies or just roadgeeks upset by the idea of Interstate shields coming down.

I-375 appears to be a case where a boulevard could work well if done right but the freeway might function well with an overhaul.
Well I can't speak for everyone else, but to me wasting $50 million dollars to tear down a freeway to put up a bunch of traffic lights in an area that services 2 pro sports teams, casinos, theatre's, etc. is way beyond stupid.  It's basically a long exit ramp with sub exit ramps.  Obviously it wasn't the best design, but take that long exit ramp away and you'll have even more traffic backing up onto I-75.
I-375 doesn't serve the stadium areas south of the Lafayette exit and most people going to the stadium's are getting off at Madison or staying on I-75 and getting off at Grand River. I-375 is a waste of space and doesn't serve as many vehicles as people think it does. Downtown Detroit is already handicapped enough from the rest of the city (it's got the river and freeways on three sides, Cobo Hall is another blocking stone downtown. I-375 basically is useless and takes up a lot of downtown land that could be used for other purposes. I-75 should also run through a tunnel between Brush and Cass. It makes a lot of sense to remove I-375 and put a boulevard in.

silverback1065

I just hope they don't make it this massive 10,000 lane with massive grassy median type road you see everywhere in michigan.  use the freed up space for buildings, sidewalks, public transit, and parking.  also make a proper flyover for 75. 

Flint1979

Quote from: silverback1065 on January 04, 2018, 02:13:39 PM
I just hope they don't make it this massive 10,000 lane with massive grassy median type road you see everywhere in michigan.  use the freed up space for buildings, sidewalks, public transit, and parking.  also make a proper flyover for 75.
That's what I'm thinking too. Use the current service drives as the boulevard or whatever you want to call it and use the space in the middle for buildings, a park, parking garages, retail stores, office buildings. I'm happy to see that they are finally building on the parking lots downtown there are far too many of them. I remember the outcry when the Madison-Lenox was demolished for a parking lot owned by none other than Mike Ilitch.

froggie

Quotealso make a proper flyover for 75.

Making 75 continuous and non-exiting (i.e. don't need to exit to stay on 75) through the interchange is part of the proposal.

Flint1979

Get rid of the Gratiot Connector part of the interchange all together and re-street the area and then develop it, connect downtown to Eastern Market. Then realign the curve for traffic staying on I-75, then ramp I-75 NB traffic like it is now to I-375 SB so I-75 NB traffic has access to the southbound portion of the boulevard. The freeway stops being a freeway at Gratiot and through traffic continues on the service drives as the boulevard. Both service drives can be extended to three lanes and through routed instead of like the NB service drive ending at Antietam. The traffic signals on Gratiot work at the same time and allow traffic to clear the intersection before turning red.

I simply wish that I-75 didn't exist between I-94 and I-96 and the Lodge didn't exist south of I-94. Lots of wasted land just to move traffic through and it broke up vibrant neighborhoods. I-75 should multiplex with I-94 between I-96 and itself then turn south onto current I-96 and have I-96 terminate at I-94 instead of it's current terminus makes much more sense than the current setup. I flatout can't stand the I-75 stretch between milemarkers 48-51.

silverback1065

Quote from: Flint1979 on January 05, 2018, 12:08:15 AM
Get rid of the Gratiot Connector part of the interchange all together and re-street the area and then develop it, connect downtown to Eastern Market. Then realign the curve for traffic staying on I-75, then ramp I-75 NB traffic like it is now to I-375 SB so I-75 NB traffic has access to the southbound portion of the boulevard. The freeway stops being a freeway at Gratiot and through traffic continues on the service drives as the boulevard. Both service drives can be extended to three lanes and through routed instead of like the NB service drive ending at Antietam. The traffic signals on Gratiot work at the same time and allow traffic to clear the intersection before turning red.

I simply wish that I-75 didn't exist between I-94 and I-96 and the Lodge didn't exist south of I-94. Lots of wasted land just to move traffic through and it broke up vibrant neighborhoods. I-75 should multiplex with I-94 between I-96 and itself then turn south onto current I-96 and have I-96 terminate at I-94 instead of it's current terminus makes much more sense than the current setup. I flatout can't stand the I-75 stretch between milemarkers 48-51.

that's actually not that bad an idea.

Flint1979

Quote from: silverback1065 on January 05, 2018, 08:17:15 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 05, 2018, 12:08:15 AM
Get rid of the Gratiot Connector part of the interchange all together and re-street the area and then develop it, connect downtown to Eastern Market. Then realign the curve for traffic staying on I-75, then ramp I-75 NB traffic like it is now to I-375 SB so I-75 NB traffic has access to the southbound portion of the boulevard. The freeway stops being a freeway at Gratiot and through traffic continues on the service drives as the boulevard. Both service drives can be extended to three lanes and through routed instead of like the NB service drive ending at Antietam. The traffic signals on Gratiot work at the same time and allow traffic to clear the intersection before turning red.

I simply wish that I-75 didn't exist between I-94 and I-96 and the Lodge didn't exist south of I-94. Lots of wasted land just to move traffic through and it broke up vibrant neighborhoods. I-75 should multiplex with I-94 between I-96 and itself then turn south onto current I-96 and have I-96 terminate at I-94 instead of it's current terminus makes much more sense than the current setup. I flatout can't stand the I-75 stretch between milemarkers 48-51.

that's actually not that bad an idea.
I like it because it would make Detroit feel like a real city compared to what it's like now. I feel that Detroit is now too broken up by the freeway system. Connect Downtown to Midtown to New Center to the rest of the city.

Terry Shea

Quote from: Flint1979 on January 05, 2018, 12:08:15 AM
Get rid of the Gratiot Connector part of the interchange all together and re-street the area and then develop it, connect downtown to Eastern Market. Then realign the curve for traffic staying on I-75, then ramp I-75 NB traffic like it is now to I-375 SB so I-75 NB traffic has access to the southbound portion of the boulevard. The freeway stops being a freeway at Gratiot and through traffic continues on the service drives as the boulevard. Both service drives can be extended to three lanes and through routed instead of like the NB service drive ending at Antietam. The traffic signals on Gratiot work at the same time and allow traffic to clear the intersection before turning red.

I simply wish that I-75 didn't exist between I-94 and I-96 and the Lodge didn't exist south of I-94. Lots of wasted land just to move traffic through and it broke up vibrant neighborhoods. I-75 should multiplex with I-94 between I-96 and itself then turn south onto current I-96 and have I-96 terminate at I-94 instead of it's current terminus makes much more sense than the current setup. I flatout can't stand the I-75 stretch between milemarkers 48-51.
How much extra traffic would that dump onto I-94 and I-96?

Terry Shea

Quote from: Flint1979 on January 04, 2018, 01:50:54 PM
Quote from: Terry Shea on January 04, 2018, 11:17:56 AM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on December 09, 2017, 03:52:11 AM
I feel like a lot of the anti-boulevard comments have devolved into the usual “eliminate no freeways for any reasons” rhetoric that runs rampant here whether warranted or not, which I’m not sure if that’s a reaction against urbanism tendencies or just roadgeeks upset by the idea of Interstate shields coming down.

I-375 appears to be a case where a boulevard could work well if done right but the freeway might function well with an overhaul.
Well I can't speak for everyone else, but to me wasting $50 million dollars to tear down a freeway to put up a bunch of traffic lights in an area that services 2 pro sports teams, casinos, theatre's, etc. is way beyond stupid.  It's basically a long exit ramp with sub exit ramps.  Obviously it wasn't the best design, but take that long exit ramp away and you'll have even more traffic backing up onto I-75.
I-375 doesn't serve the stadium areas south of the Lafayette exit and most people going to the stadium's are getting off at Madison or staying on I-75 and getting off at Grand River. I-375 is a waste of space and doesn't serve as many vehicles as people think it does. Downtown Detroit is already handicapped enough from the rest of the city (it's got the river and freeways on three sides, Cobo Hall is another blocking stone downtown. I-375 basically is useless and takes up a lot of downtown land that could be used for other purposes. I-75 should also run through a tunnel between Brush and Cass. It makes a lot of sense to remove I-375 and put a boulevard in.
I always take I-375 when going to see the Tigers or Greektown Casino.  One block east of I-375 parking is much cheaper.

Terry Shea

Quote from: Flint1979 on January 05, 2018, 12:08:15 AM
Get rid of the Gratiot Connector part of the interchange all together and re-street the area and then develop it, connect downtown to Eastern Market. Then realign the curve for traffic staying on I-75, then ramp I-75 NB traffic like it is now to I-375 SB so I-75 NB traffic has access to the southbound portion of the boulevard. The freeway stops being a freeway at Gratiot and through traffic continues on the service drives as the boulevard. Both service drives can be extended to three lanes and through routed instead of like the NB service drive ending at Antietam. The traffic signals on Gratiot work at the same time and allow traffic to clear the intersection before turning red.

I simply wish that I-75 didn't exist between I-94 and I-96 and the Lodge didn't exist south of I-94. Lots of wasted land just to move traffic through and it broke up vibrant neighborhoods. I-75 should multiplex with I-94 between I-96 and itself then turn south onto current I-96 and have I-96 terminate at I-94 instead of it's current terminus makes much more sense than the current setup. I flatout can't stand the I-75 stretch between milemarkers 48-51.
Develop it with what?  They tore down Tiger Stadium years ago to make room for...absolutely nothing!  Mr. Ilitch is gone and I don't see anyone else investing vast amounts of money in the area...especially with the decline of most of the Detroit sports teams.

Flint1979

Quote from: Terry Shea on January 05, 2018, 12:58:40 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 05, 2018, 12:08:15 AM
Get rid of the Gratiot Connector part of the interchange all together and re-street the area and then develop it, connect downtown to Eastern Market. Then realign the curve for traffic staying on I-75, then ramp I-75 NB traffic like it is now to I-375 SB so I-75 NB traffic has access to the southbound portion of the boulevard. The freeway stops being a freeway at Gratiot and through traffic continues on the service drives as the boulevard. Both service drives can be extended to three lanes and through routed instead of like the NB service drive ending at Antietam. The traffic signals on Gratiot work at the same time and allow traffic to clear the intersection before turning red.

I simply wish that I-75 didn't exist between I-94 and I-96 and the Lodge didn't exist south of I-94. Lots of wasted land just to move traffic through and it broke up vibrant neighborhoods. I-75 should multiplex with I-94 between I-96 and itself then turn south onto current I-96 and have I-96 terminate at I-94 instead of it's current terminus makes much more sense than the current setup. I flatout can't stand the I-75 stretch between milemarkers 48-51.
Develop it with what?  They tore down Tiger Stadium years ago to make room for...absolutely nothing!  Mr. Ilitch is gone and I don't see anyone else investing vast amounts of money in the area...especially with the decline of most of the Detroit sports teams.
Develop it with buildings. What do you mean you don't see anyone else putting money into the area? When's the last time you were in Detroit? Ever hear of Dan Gilbert? Who has put tons of dollars of new investment into Detroit. Detroit is much different than it was 10 years ago. There is also the new arena around which is going to be developed. Who cares about Tiger Stadium? That site is fine the way it is.

SAMSUNG-SM-J727A


Flint1979

Quote from: Terry Shea on January 05, 2018, 12:53:11 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 04, 2018, 01:50:54 PM
Quote from: Terry Shea on January 04, 2018, 11:17:56 AM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on December 09, 2017, 03:52:11 AM
I feel like a lot of the anti-boulevard comments have devolved into the usual “eliminate no freeways for any reasons” rhetoric that runs rampant here whether warranted or not, which I’m not sure if that’s a reaction against urbanism tendencies or just roadgeeks upset by the idea of Interstate shields coming down.

I-375 appears to be a case where a boulevard could work well if done right but the freeway might function well with an overhaul.
Well I can't speak for everyone else, but to me wasting $50 million dollars to tear down a freeway to put up a bunch of traffic lights in an area that services 2 pro sports teams, casinos, theatre's, etc. is way beyond stupid.  It's basically a long exit ramp with sub exit ramps.  Obviously it wasn't the best design, but take that long exit ramp away and you'll have even more traffic backing up onto I-75.
I-375 doesn't serve the stadium areas south of the Lafayette exit and most people going to the stadium's are getting off at Madison or staying on I-75 and getting off at Grand River. I-375 is a waste of space and doesn't serve as many vehicles as people think it does. Downtown Detroit is already handicapped enough from the rest of the city (it's got the river and freeways on three sides, Cobo Hall is another blocking stone downtown. I-375 basically is useless and takes up a lot of downtown land that could be used for other purposes. I-75 should also run through a tunnel between Brush and Cass. It makes a lot of sense to remove I-375 and put a boulevard in.
I always take I-375 when going to see the Tigers or Greektown Casino.  One block east of I-375 parking is much cheaper.
Ok that movement would involve crossing Gratiot and turning at Macomb. This idea would still serve all the traffic fine.

SAMSUNG-SM-J727A




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