Link Detroit partners celebrate completion of $21mil greenway project

Dequindre Cut Greenway – North Extension: Completion of the Dequindre Cut Greenway North Extension now brings the below grade bicycle and pedestrian pathway from Gratiot Avenue north to Mack Avenue for a total of nearly two miles. The Greening of Detroit donated land from their Detroit Market Garden to allow for the creation of an access ramp and plaza that lead down from Wilkins St. to connect to the pathway. The DRFC, which operates the RiverWalk and current Dequindre Cut Greenway, will also manage and maintain the new extension. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)


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	Dequindre Cut Greenway – North Extension: Completion of the Dequindre Cut Greenway North Extension now brings the below grade bicycle and pedestrian pathway from Gratiot Avenue north to Mack Avenue for a total of nearly two miles. The Greening of Detroit donated land from their Detroit Market Garden to allow for the creation of an access ramp and plaza that lead down from Wilkins St. to connect to the pathway. The DRFC, which operates the RiverWalk and current Dequindre Cut Greenway, will also manage and maintain the new extension.
	Link Detroit partners celebrate completion of $21mil greenway project Link Detroit project connects 20 miles of continuous walking and biking paths linking Downtown, Midtown, Eastern Market, Detroit Riverfront and Hamtramck DETROIT - The partners of the $21 million Link Detroit project will mark its completion during a 2 p.m. ceremonial ribbon-cutting this afternoon at the new Wilkins Street Plaza, located along the half-mile extension of the Dequindre Cut Greenway in Eastern Market. A community celebration was held on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the same location. Link Detroit is a multi-modal enhancement plan put forth by the city of Detroit to enhance and connect existing greenway projects. The completed project now serves as a lynchpin in 20 miles of connected urban greenways extending from the Detroit Riverfront to Eastern Market, linking to the cultural institutions of Midtown and beyond to Hamtramck via walking and biking paths. In 2012, in partnership with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Detroit’s Department of Public Works secured a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Additional funding came from a mix of different city, state and private sources as well as support from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the McGregor Fund, the Kresge Foundation and other members of the philanthropic community. The City of Detroit Department of Public Works took the lead on the Link Detroit project, with support from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), Midtown Detroit Inc., Eastern Market Corporation and the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy (DRFC). “Today is a major milestone for Detroit that will create new recreational opportunities for families and make it easier for consumers to get to Eastern Market and other shops and restaurants throughout the City,” said Senator Stabenow. “I was very pleased to work closely with the City of Detroit and community leaders to secure federal funding for Link Detroit. With the completion of this project, residents and visitors can now walk or bike from the riverfront, through Eastern Market, to Midtown and Hamtramck. Congratulations to all of the partners who made this project a success.” “The Link project is a great example of how we are starting to make Detroit a city that is more pedestrian and bike friendly," Mayor Duggan said. "This is another step in making Detroit a place where more families want to live." The five projects that make up the completed Link Detroit project include: Dequindre Cut Greenway – North Extension Completion of the Dequindre Cut Greenway North Extension now brings the below grade bicycle and pedestrian pathway from Gratiot Avenue north to Mack Avenue for a total of nearly two miles. The Greening of Detroit donated land from their Detroit Market Garden to allow for the creation of an access ramp and plaza that lead down from Wilkins St. to connect to the pathway. The DRFC, which operates the RiverWalk and current Dequindre Cut Greenway, will also manage and maintain the new extension. Eastern Market Streetscape Enhancement The Link Detroit project also included significant streetscape upgrades in the Eastern Market district. The street curbs on Russell Street were improved, along with the addition of bicycle lanes, LED streetlights, and new trees and greenery. In addition, a new bicycle parking structure was installed at the district’s main parking lot at the corner of Russell and Wilkins. The market also features easy access to the Dequindre Cut Greenway. Midtown Loop – Phase IV A vital connector between the Midtown Loop and Eastern Market was also completed as part of the Link Detroit project. The new greenway now connects the Midtown neighborhood and its cultural attractions directly to Eastern Market and the new Dequindre Cut extension via Wilkins Street. The Midtown Loop is a 3.5-mile greenway that began construction in 2010. Phases I, II and IV are complete, with the final phase, which will run from Midtown to Downtown, wrapping construction by this fall. Hamtramck Connector With the new Dequindre Cut Greenway extension ending now at ground level at Mack Avenue, another two miles of on- and off-street bike lanes were completed in the Link Detroit project to connect Eastern Market and the riverfront to the city of Hamtramck and its planned greenway system. Bridge Reconstruction The Link Detroit project also allowed for the reconstruction of three bridges that run over the Dequindre Cut Greenway at Adelaide, Division and Wilkins Streets, and removed the Alfred Street bridge. This reconstruction helps to maintain and enhance critical road linkages allowing adjacent neighborhoods better access to Eastern Market and also helps facilitate more efficient truck traffic to vendors and local businesses. “Link Detroit is exactly the kind of public greenways project needed to connect residents to a healthy and livable Detroit,” said Will Rogers, president of The Trust for Public Land. “Cities around the country can learn from Detroit’s commitment to improve its open space system, as parks, trails, and other natural places are known to promote public health and revitalize local economies.” The Detroit-based Smith Group JJR handled the design and routes for the Link Detroit project. The firm had previously worked on the Midtown Loop, the first phase of the Dequindre Cut and various district plans at Eastern Market. Construction for the project was overseen by Parsons Brinkerhoff and carried out by Angelo Iafrate Construction Company with the assistance of several subcontractors.
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