Everyone is invited to a new trail opening in Canton on Thursday, October 23rd starting at noon.

This new trial runs from Haggerty Road and Michigan Avenue to the I-275 bike path.  It was constructed by MDOT in cooperation with Canton Township, Wayne County, and the Western Township Utility Authority.

The opening celebration is at the Fellows Creek Golf Club at 2936 S. Lotz Road in Canton.

Please RSVP to Brad Sharp via email by October 22nd.

Link: Canton Trail Opening

The current northern end of the I-275 bike path

Yesterday we did some preliminary scouting with MDOT for a possible extension of the I-275 Bike Path.

This extension would begin at the current north end of the I-275 path at Meadowbrook Road, just south of I-96.  The route would continue north and eventually head east to be within the M-5 corridor.

It would intersect the old Coe Railroad, which should hopefully become Oakland Counties next big rails to trails conversion.  It would also intersect 13 Mile and 14 Mile Roads — both popular east-west road bike routes.

The extension would end at Pontiac Trail.  From here one could continue north on the trails planned for Martin Road before heading west and picking up the Lakes Community Trail.

There are no shortage of challenges for building this trail.  From wetlands to steep rolling hills, it’s going to take some smart design to keep the price tag reasonable, but MDOT is committed to getting it done.

Nancy Krupiarz from Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance is reminding everyone that the last two public input sessions for the I-275 Pathway are now scheduled.

The first one will be on Tuesday, July 8th from 5-8 p.m. at the Freedom Hall in Canton Township (which is their township hall). The second one will be on Thursday, July 10th from 5-8 p.m. at the Frenchtown Township Hall on the Monroe County end of the pathway.

These are the last chances for input before the I-275 bike path report becomes the official blueprint for restoration.

This just in from MTGA…

Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance is kicking off the final round of public input sessions on the recommendations for restoration and improvement of the I-275 Pathway on Saturday, May 31st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nankin Mills County Park. The session will be in conjunction with the regular “Saturday in the Park” event in which Hines Drive is closed to motorized but open to nonmotorized traffic.

Stop by at anytime during those hours and you will be able to view aerial images of the entire pathway together with all of the recommendations. All of the changes that have been discussed over the 5 preceding public input sessions have been taken into account in the work done by the engineering team contracted by the Michigan Dept. of Transportation.

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From MDOT…

I-275 Bike Path Asset Management Study

You are invited to join MDOT and their consultants, Wilbur Smith Associates and Wade Trim, at an Open House to review and provide input on the draft results of the existing conditions analysis for the I-275 Bike Path that has recently been completed. This work is the first step in an overall analysis of what will be needed to allow this 40+ mile path to become an integral piece of the regions bicycle and pedestrian circulation system. Information will be available for individual reviews between 3 and 5 PM on January 30, 2008 in the Freedom Room on the lower level of the Canton Administration Building, 1150 S. Canton Center, Canton, Michigan. There will be a short presentation of the draft conclusions of the existing conditions analysis at 3:30 PM.

The project team is looking for local input and review of the draft conclusions before finalizing them and moving onto the development of improvement recommendations. The project team is also interested in hearing any suggestions you may have about trail improvements, possible connections, or other recommendations relating the reinvigoration of the I-275 Bike Path.

There will also be two evening public work session. The first will be the evening of January 30, 2008, also in the Freedom Room in Canton starting at 5:30 PM. The second will be in the Activity Room in Willow Metropark on January 31, 2008, starting at 6:30 PM.

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