Additional details on the temporary closing of the Dequindre Cut were in a recent Free Press article. The closure is on the RiverWalk end of the trail.
Work on bridge overpasses at Larned and Lafayette that run over the Cut are forcing the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy to close the Cut from Lafayette south to Woodbridge until approximately September, when the projects finish. However, the southern end of the Cut will reopen on weekends except when the overhead construction work would make it dangerous, the conservancy said today.
The Cut will remain open from Lafayette north to Gratiot all summer.
Conner Creek Greenway Construction
Construction has begun on the new St. Aubin bike lanes between Jefferson Avenue and Mack Avenue. It is hoped that by the end of this summer, construction will begin on bike lanes on nearby Clairpointe from Jefferson to Maheras Gentry Park (on the Detroit River.) And, Wayne County has just submitted an MDOT grant application to build an off-road trail and bike lanes from Mt. Olivet Cemetery to Eight Mile Road.
All three segments are part of the Conner Creek Greenway, which will eventually be nine-miles long from the River to Warren along Detroit’s east side.
Model D is provides a significant amount of Detroit biking coverage. Perhaps due to May being bike month, they’ve got even more stories, including this one on Midtown’s Green Alley.
The alley will consist of native plantings and a 6-foot-wide pedestrian and bike pathway constructed of reclaimed historic brick framed by permeable pavement — which ensures emergency vehicle access. It is lit by induction lights, which are more efficient than LED and last for 25 years. “I hope one day to be have to climb up there and change a bulb!” says Tom.
The alley will provide a connection to the Motor City Brewing Works and include bike racks.
Detroit Critical Mass
Here’s a little video of the April 2010 Critical Mass ride in Detroit. Isn’t it ironic that the Motor City’s ride deals with fewer cars than perhaps all other citys’? (via Model D)
The U.S. Social Forum (USSF) is coming to Detroit this June. Biking is a big part of this event. People from around the U.S. are biking to Motown through the BikeIt project. Registration for their Tent Bike City is now open.
When: May 15th from 3:30pm-7pm
Where: Back Alley Bikes space (entrance in alley behind of The Hub of Detroit)
What: The goal of the evening is to use wood and recycled bicycle parts to make simple bicycle cargo trailers. The trailers built will be used to pick up waste during the forum and will be a part of environmental management efforts reduce the ecological footprint of the USSF and beyond!
Yes, Fort Street in Southwest Detroit is being reconstucted. Yes, the Detroit Non-Motorized Plan calls for bike lanes on this road. Yes, the road is six-lanes but the vehicular traffic levels only require two. Yes, this road would likely be part of the U.S. Bicycle Route 25 through Detroit.
No, MDOT did not include bike lanes in the project.
Why? No reasonable answers have been given so far. MTGA and others are continuing to discuss this with MDOT. There’s no reason why this shouldn’t be a four-lane road with buffered bike lanes.
Dave Duffield (from the LMB) and HometownLife.com recently posted MDOT’s reconstruction plans for the I-275 Metro Trail.
Trail Segment
Construction begins by
Expected completion
Hines Drive to Meadowbrook
Early next week
October 2010
Michigan Ave to Hines Drive
Early next week
July 2010
South of Michigan Ave
2011
TBD
Duffield adds, “Please refrain from using the path at all, especially the middle section. It will be totally impassible once they start ripping it up.”
An enthusiastic group of trail users attended an open house held Tuesday by The Michigan Department of Transportation to hear about upcoming improvements to the I-275 Pathway.
During the meeting at the Plymouth Township Town Hall, MDOT and the contractors involved in design, planning and construction of the trail upgrades explained more about the project.
Trail users were also asked for input on certain design features, including the style of wayfinding signage and the four new bridges. The signage will help users find the path, point the way to nearby trails, and brand the 35-year-old trail with an identity to go along with its new name: the I-275 Metro Trail.
Yes, fellow cyclists. Orange barrel season has begun on the trails, too.
The Michigan Department of Transportation and project team staff will host an open house to provide an overview of the project scope and boundaries of this approximately 7-mile section of the I-275 Metro Trail. This section is planned for reconstruction beginning this spring. This is the last open house planned prior to construction. There will be an opportunity to review the final design selections prior to construction.
MTGA’s Nancy Krupiarz and I are in New Orleans for the Urban Pathways to Livable Communities conference. With the ever growing expansion of Detroit’s greenways, this should be an excellent opportunity to understand more best practices from communities similar to Detroit.
The Urban Pathways to Livable Communities conference begins tomorrow in New Orleans. Hosted in part by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the conference aims to create connections between the fields of transportation, public health and planning on the local, state and national levels. The first day of the conference is hosted by RTC’s Urban Pathways Initiative. It will bring together trail advocates and professionals from across the nation to discuss best practices for building and encouraging use of trails in low-income urban neighborhoods.
