The rehab of seven miles of bike trail along I-275 in Wayne County got underway this week and promises to make alternative transportation along one of the most heavily traveled corridors much easier.
The $4.1 million project will rehab the trail between Hines Drive and Michigan Avenue. The trail was built in the 1970s and hasn't seen any major infrastructure improvements since. Today it suffers from overgrown vegetation, uneven grades, deteriorating bridges, and cracked asphalt.
"It's in poor condition," says Mike Bellini, transportation engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation. "It gets worse as you go south."
The project, paid for with federal stimulus funds, is divided into three sections. The first (the northernmost section) will rebuild the trail between Hines and Koppernick. All work should be done by mid-October.
New asphalt will be laid and five bridges rebuilt along the route.
Source: Mike Bellini, transportation engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation
Writer: Jon Zemke
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