Detroit - Removal of I-375

[Alex]

I went ahead an updated the Interstate 375 page at Interstate-Guide with the latest development to remove the freeway starting next Summer. Also added some replacement photos of 2009 coverage with pics Brent shot two years ago.

[Beltway]

Quote article:
The proposed project initially faced steep public criticism, including that it would leave the community more disconnected than it is and increase traffic in nearby neighborhoods. The project is a sensitive one, as the initial construction of the freeway in 1964 caused the demolition of predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city. Eventually, then-Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan withdrew from backing the project and the business community followed suit, ultimately leading to MDOT's pause.
In November 2025, project partners, including MDOT, DDP and the Kresge Foundation, unveiled the new plan for the project, which would be completed in three phases, allowing more time for community feedback on design and land use.
What began as a $350 million project escalated to a cost of approximately $520 million as the organizations integrated community feedback into the designs, Jason Garza, deputy region engineer for MDOT's metro region, said during the November public meeting.
End quote:

So over $500 million to remove a freeway. Rehabbing it would quite possibly cost less.

There is a lot of local opposition to the removal for several concise reasons.

The 1964 displacement is part of Detroit's history, and it shouldn't be ignored. But that decision was made over 65 years ago, and the city has long since incorporated the freeway into its urban fabric. Urban continuity -- neighborhoods, traffic patterns, freight routes, and land use have all adapted around it for decades.

Invoking the racial history of the original construction doesn't automatically justify a $520M removal today. Present day mobility -- current residents (including many Black residents) rely on the corridor for connectivity, and many oppose removal because it increases traffic and reduces access.

Historical harm explains what happened in 1964; it doesn't dictate the best transportation solution in 2026.

[Rothman]

Sounds familiar...

[Max Rockatansky]

Detroit had a mountain of problems that all came to a head in the 1960s.  A freeway being in downtown ranks pretty list of negative things that happened in that decade. 

[Flint1979]

Looking at the DOWNTOWN control city reminds me of when it used to be Civic Center.