DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Transportation is hosting its seventh public meeting to discuss the I-375 redesign project, which has received significant pushback from Detroiters.
The meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at The Eastern at 3434 Russell Street.
During the meeting, attendees will see the overview, process and timeline of the I-375 Neighborhood Framework.
They will get information about additional project team members and design updates, according to a release from MDOT.
City officials will lead an interactive discussion to get feedback on the following:
- How the excess property will connect to neighborhoods
- Desired land uses
- What a successful framework should be
The project presentation will start at 6 p.m., with the question-and-answer session following. If you can’t attend in person, the meeting will be livestreamed. Any questions for the Q&A portion of the meeting can be submitted online.
I-375 redesign project
The “I-375 reconnecting communities” project is a plan to convert the freeway into a street-level boulevard.
It will have signalized intersections to create more connections from Detroit neighborhoods to Eastern Market, Greektown and the downtown area.
The plans for the project include upgrading mobility and access for walkers, bikers and vehicles, and improving the environmental quality of neighborhoods.
Officials also plan to take an “equitable approach to incorporating the history of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods that were removed for urban renewal and construction of the freeway,” according to the release.
Detroiters have continued to voice their concerns over the project, and its received significant pushback from those who live and work in the Lafayette Park area.
“I don’t think any of us are trying to kill the project,” Olga Stella said earlier this year. “What we want is a better outcome because we’re going to have to live with this for 50-75 years.”
Residents have expressed concerns over the final design and the traffic that will be caused by the construction on the project.
Work on the project is scheduled to begin in 2025.
