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.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://375detroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/375-November-Community-Meeting-Boards-1.pdf

An update on the I-375 project in Detroit.

EDIT- New website: https://375detroit.org/

[ElishaGOtis]

https://375detroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/375-November-Community-Meeting-Boards-1.pdf

An update on the I-375 project in Detroit.

EDIT- New website: https://375detroit.org/

At least now there's a new civil engineering need to remove the depressed freeway, rather than a politically-driven one. I completely overlooked the drainage and sewage aspect of this project. Still not a big fan but I'm not all too concerned anymore...

[Flint1979]

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.

West of I-375 is downtown, you probably meant east but there's Lafayette Park and potential on the east side.

[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.

West of I-375 is downtown, you probably meant east but there's Lafayette Park and potential on the east side.

No, I meant west.  Just like you said, downtown is west of I-375.  There are zero homes there and no neighborhood to reconnect.  At least that aspect of it was all nothing but a political lie.

[mgk920]

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.

West of I-375 is downtown, you probably meant east but there's Lafayette Park and potential on the east side.

No, I meant west.  Just like you said, downtown is west of I-375.  There are zero homes there and no neighborhood to reconnect.  At least that aspect of it was all nothing but a political lie.

Absent zoning, I would expect much ultra-hgh density multi-family to go in to the east over the following years.

Mike

[KelleyCook]

Wonderful, after designing it and getting it approved they have punted on fixing I-75 NB ridiculous 25mph exit-to-continue interchange with I-375.

Which was to be honest, the only reason for the project in the first place.

[mgk920]

Wonderful, after designing it and getting it approved they have punted on fixing I-75 NB ridiculous 25mph exit-to-continue interchange with I-375.

Which was to be honest, the only reason for the project in the first place.

Don't forget that the straight ahead course was also planned to continue on as a full freeway.

Mike

[wanderer2575]

Wonderful, after designing it and getting it approved they have punted on fixing I-75 NB ridiculous 25mph exit-to-continue interchange with I-375.

Which was to be honest, the only reason for the project in the first place.

(1)  The reason for the project in the first place was to do something with I-375, which has a bad road surface and its bridges are close to collapsing.

(2)  The interchange has not been punted, at least not yet.  The current concept map shows that area as "Transition Area (Concept in Design)" and I recently saw another document somewhere indicating that the interchange is "TBD."

[Terry Shea]

Wonderful, after designing it and getting it approved they have punted on fixing I-75 NB ridiculous 25mph exit-to-continue interchange with I-375.

Which was to be honest, the only reason for the project in the first place.

(1)  The reason for the project in the first place was to do something with I-375, which has a bad road surface and its bridges are close to collapsing.

(2)  The interchange has not been punted, at least not yet.  The current concept map shows that area as "Transition Area (Concept in Design)" and I recently saw another document somewhere indicating that the interchange is "TBD."

Yeah.  When?  2525?

[Flint1979]

I hate the 25 mph ramp where I-75 connects to itself. Every damn time I'm going in either direction along that little stretch of the Fisher Freeway between the stupid 25 mph curve and the Jeffries interchange it's always backed up with traffic no matter what. The last time I was in that area I was coming north on the Fisher and the traffic was backed up for the Grand River exit and further backed up going around the stupid curve. It's not much different than the stretch where the Dan Ryan and Kennedy come together in Chicago just maybe with not quite as much traffic but it's about the same as that.

[GaryV]

Wonderful, after designing it and getting it approved they have punted on fixing I-75 NB ridiculous 25mph exit-to-continue interchange with I-375.

Which was to be honest, the only reason for the project in the first place.

(1)  The reason for the project in the first place was to do something with I-375, which has a bad road surface and its bridges are close to collapsing.

(2)  The interchange has not been punted, at least not yet.  The current concept map shows that area as "Transition Area (Concept in Design)" and I recently saw another document somewhere indicating that the interchange is "TBD."

Yeah.  When?  2525?

If man is still alive.

[wanderer2575]

Reviving this thread because the next round is upon us:

MDOT and project partners hosting community open house April 30 on I-375 project in Detroit

"The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is hosting its thirteenth public meeting, unveiling fresh updates on the Community Enhancements Plan for the 375 project in Detroit.  Since restarting work in November 2025, MDOT has teamed up with project partners and community representatives to explore new ideas to celebrate history, arts, culture, urban design and community-driven visioning."

Thursday 04/30/2026
5:30 -- 7:30pm

The Eastern
3434 Russell Street
Detroit MI 48207

[Great Lakes Roads]

The new 375 boulevard (phase II) will be a two-year project in 2027-28 that will replace I-375 into a boulevard.

Phase III (I-75 interchange) is currently at a TBD for a start construction date.

[Stephane Dumas]

Sorry for the off-topic sidenote but the idea of a park covering I-75 downtown mentioned way earlier,     it's a bit too bad then MI DOT didn't think of a similar idea for I-94 between the Lodge freeway(M-10) and I-75.

[GaryV]

They are currently rebuilding the mid-30 year old bridge/park over I-696. It leaked, and in winter icicles formed hanging over the freeway.