Detroit - Removal of I-375

[thenetwork]

Talk about an about-face...but why keep a freeway that no one uses, except maybe for game time in downtown Detroit?

It's not about keeping the freeway.  It's about what else to put in its place.

For all the recent news about replacing and building large parks over the area freeways (I-696 rebuild and the proposed I-75 park covers downtown), how about a cut & cover on I-375 closer to the stadiums? 

Then you keep the freeway, link the two neighborhoods somewhat, and have a safe (no traffic) crossover for pedestrians.  Seems like a win-win for all parties.

[KelleyCook]

The freeway stub is useless and the 25mph exit-to-continue intersection for NB I-75 at its terminus is particularly horrid.

The conversion to boulevard idea was correct and then local politics got involved all wanting a handout. The numbers blew up from $125 million to $500 million and it wasn't because of engineering.

It's a road not a monument to past sins.

[The Ghostbuster]

Personally, I would prefer that Interstate 375 be reconstructed as-is, and caps should be built over 375 between Monroe St. and E. Lafayette St., between E. Congress St./Larned St. and E. Jefferson St., and between E. Jefferson St. and Chrysler Dr.

[Terry Shea]

Talk about an about-face...but why keep a freeway that no one uses, except maybe for game time in downtown Detroit?

It's not about keeping the freeway.  It's about what else to put in its place.

For all the recent news about replacing and building large parks over the area freeways (I-696 rebuild and the proposed I-75 park covers downtown), how about a cut & cover on I-375 closer to the stadiums? 

Then you keep the freeway, link the two neighborhoods somewhat, and have a safe (no traffic) crossover for pedestrians.  Seems like a win-win for all parties.

There aren't even 2 neighborhoods to connect.  There are zero homes west of I-375.  There may have been at 1 time, but they've been gone for decades.

[Max Rockatansky]

To clarify, there is a lot of modern apartments east of downtown which from I-375.  Most of the single family homes that were off of  (M-3) is what no longer exists.

[mgk920]

As I have mentioned many times before, the City of Detroit was simply originally developed waaaay too heavily with detached single family HOUSES and by the latter 20th century, the market changed.  Give it time and MDOT will be back with the boulevard proposal, but better defined.

Mike

[Max Rockatansky]

I don't object to removal of a freeway along I-375.  In fact it is one of the few corridors that Urbanism groups have hit on where there might be potential greater benefits that outweigh limited access removal.  Trouble is that the design for removal here didn't really change much in terms of connecting downtown or increasing pedestrian access. 

The price tag of freeway removal is likely going to probably kill the idea long term.  I much rather see a fraction on the money spent on fixing up MDOT held surface mileage in the city like M-5 and M-85. 

But man, what times we live in.  I never thought growing up that downtown Detroit and the surrounding neighborhoods would begin to become gentrified.  I hardly recognize Woodward north of I-75.  I guess there really was a floor to bottom out at after all.