MDOT paused the project in August 2025 because the community had concerns that needed more attention, costs went up, and MDOT wanted to take the opportunity to make sure we make the right decisions for the community and our stakeholders, given the longevity of the project. MDOT is taking extra time to listen and plan so the project is more representative of the community’s vision. Read the full announcement on the pause of the project here.

As of December 2025, MDOT assessing the feasibility to move forward in phases to address community concerns, rising costs, and the long duration of construction impacts. These project phases include:

1. Storm sewer construction – October 2025 thru May 2026: Construction of the storm sewer outfall along Schweizer Place between the Detroit River and Woodbridge St. (south of Jefferson Avenue). This construction is for underground storm sewer only and benefits stakeholders by improving stormwater drainage regardless of how the 375 Project moves forward.
2. Gratiot Avenue over Dequindre Cut – Summer 2026 thru February 2027: Replacement of the existing bridge, which was originally built in the 1920s and is in poor condition. Construction will be limited to Gratiot Avenue at the Dequindre cut only. Except for a few short-term weekend closures, traffic on Gratiot Avenue and on the Dequindre Cut will be maintained throughout construction.
3. 375 south of Gratiot Avenue – 2027/2028: The project team plans to complete the Neighborhood Framework, and evaluate the new 375 surface-level boulevard and Jefferson Avenue designs with continued stakeholder and community engagement. At the end of this timeframe, select community enhancements will be identified, and implementation strategies will be developed. Framework check-ins will continue to ensure community input remains central to the process. If designs are approved, construction of the new 375 surface-level boulevard and Jefferson Avenue is not likely to begin until after the Detroit Grand Prix in June, 2027 and will likely continue through 2028.
4. I-75/375 interchange – schedule to be determined: MDOT will continue planning and community engagement regarding the I-75/375 interchange, including Gratiot Avenue and the Gratiot Connector, at a later date.

This phased plan allows MDOT to move forward with the most critical work on 375 and spend more time engaging the community to address its concerns on the I-75/375 interchange. This also provides more time for the City of Detroit and MDOT to complete the Neighborhood Framework plan for land use and community enhancements before design is complete and defers large costs for interchange work until a solution is reached.

The core goals of the 375 Project remain the same: replace outdated infrastructure, improve safety and operations, enhance connectivity for all users, and support future development. However, through community feedback, MDOT has expanded its focus by committing to:

• A multimodal transportation solution (walking, biking, driving, and opportunity for transit growth)
• A Neighborhood Framework that reflects the community’s vision for land use and zoning, includes community enhancements to honor the area’s history, establishes a corridor-wide aesthetic design, and integrates arts and culture.
• Expanded engagement of local workforce and small/disadvantaged businesses.

MDOT cannot only repair the bridges because the current road and bridge conditions do not meet today’s safety standards and need more extensive updates. Addressing just the bridges would be a short-term fix and could risk the federal funding set aside for broader safety and infrastructure improvements in Detroit. Reconstruction is necessary and rebuilding the bridges along 375 alone would cost nearly $60 million more than removing the bridges and replacing with a surface-level boulevard.

The 375 project timeline is being evaluated, pending input from stakeholders including the community and MDOT’s partners like the City of Detroit and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). As of December 2025, MDOT is proposing to build the project in separate phases, utilizing community input and FHWA approval, with an estimated project timeline given below:

1. Storm sewer construction – October 2025 thru May 2026: Construction of the storm sewer outfall along Schweizer Place between the Detroit River and Woodbridge St. (south of Jefferson Avenue). This construction is for underground storm sewer only and benefits stakeholders by improving stormwater drainage regardless of how the 375 Project moves forward.
2. Gratiot Avenue over Dequindre Cut – Summer 2026 thru February 2027: Replacement of the existing bridge, which was originally built in the 1920s and is in poor condition. Construction will be limited to Gratiot Avenue at the Dequindre cut only. Except for a few short-term weekend closures, traffic on Gratiot Avenue and on the Dequindre Cut will be maintained throughout construction.
3. 375 south of Gratiot Avenue – 2027/2028: The project team plans to complete the Neighborhood Framework, and evaluate the new 375 surface-level boulevard and Jefferson Avenue designs with continued stakeholder and community engagement. At the end of this timeframe, select community enhancements will be identified, and implementation strategies will be developed. Framework check-ins will continue to ensure community input remains central to the process. If designs are approved, construction of the new 375 surface-level boulevard and Jefferson Avenue is not likely to begin until after the Detroit Grand Prix in June, 2027 and will likely continue through 2028.
4. I-75/375 interchange – schedule to be determined: MDOT will continue planning and community engagement regarding the I-75/375 interchange, including Gratiot Avenue and the Gratiot Connector, at a later date.

Progressive Design-Build is a way to plan and build projects by having a project team that includes the final designer and builder working together with MDOT and the community from start to finish. The project is built in smaller parts as the design moves forward.

The same project team solicits community ideas, updates the design, and then builds the project. This way, the community can share their thoughts, and there are fewer surprises during the construction process. This also gives the design and builder the community’s perspective early in the design process, and provides MDOT and its project team with a unique opportunity to balance the community’s needs to determine the best overall solution for the public.

This 375 Project has not been cancelled. MDOT must keep people safe and fix the deteriorating freeway and bridges that are outdated and in need of repairs. The project also represents an important investment in Detroit’s future. MDOT has state and federal funds already in place. These include a federal INFRA grant to help improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of the 375 infrastructure. MDOT does not want to lose this opportunity to create new possibilities for Detroit, like safer streets, stronger connections between neighborhoods, and new development opportunities.

As of November 2025, the $104.6 million federal INFRA grant funding currently authorized to MDOT for this project is at risk. MDOT is coordinating closely with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) throughout this process and has no reason to believe it will lose all INFRA grant funding. However, if MDOT’s phased approach is not approved by FHWA or the project is otherwise cancelled, MDOT will lose the entire INFRA grant. If MDOT proceeds with building only portions of the project now, per its proposed phased approach, then MDOT will likely only lose a portion of the previously approved funds.

Many bridges along 375 are beyond their useful service life and must be repaired or replaced soon or closures will be unavoidable. MDOT’s most recent condition assessment shows the bridges at Lafayette St., Larned St., Jefferson Ave., and Gratiot Ave. over the Dequindre Cut are all in poor condition, needing major rehabilitation or reconstruction.

Additionally, while the road surface may appear smooth, this is the result of increasingly frequent maintenance over the years. The underlying concrete pavement has not been replaced since the freeway was built in 1964. This pavement has exceeded its intended service life, and now requires comprehensive repairs to ensure long-term safety and performance.

Yes, MDOT plans to continue regular community engagement as the project progresses. MDOT and its partners are planning several engagements in late 2025 and throughout 2026 focusing on the Neighborhood Framework including land use and community enhancements. Future engagement opportunities will be publicized on the 375 Project website, MDOT’s Local Advisory Committee (LAC), and project partners.  Information on these is available through MDOT’s project subscriber list – subscribe here: https://bit.ly/375subscribe.

Yes, the I-75 interchange has been included since the project’s early planning stages. As of November 2025, the I-75 interchange planning, design, and construction are being paused indefinitely while MDOT focuses on other aspects of the project, south of Gratiot Avenue.

From 2014–2016, MDOT’s Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study analyzed six boulevard and two interchange alternatives. Between 2017–2022, MDOT, FHWA, the City of Detroit, and SEMCOG reviewed these options with stakeholder input. In 2019, MDOT introduced a revised interchange design with a smaller footprint and better connectivity in response to community feedback. Public engagement has continued as the interchange design was refined. A full timeline is available on MDOT’s 375 Environmental Analysis study page.

Continued public engagement regarding the interchange will be a critical first step when MDOT decides to move forward with planning of the interchange design and construction.

DDP is a valuable partner in this project, and their peer review led MDOT to make changes that improved safety, mobility, and development potential. These changes include fewer lanes and shorter pedestrian crossings on the proposed 375 surface-level boulevard. MDOT continues to work with DDP on design refinements, community enhancements, and construction planning. Some peer review suggestions like two 2-way local streets or a 1-way pair of streets were not adopted due to community feedback and concerns about traffic, noise, and business access. These concerns were heard and documented during MDOT’s Environmental Assessment process and continue to be a theme in feedback received from the community. MDOT will continue with refinements to its surface-level boulevard design to best serve residents and businesses.

To further explore interchange recommendations made by the Peer Review, MDOT has performed some traffic analysis on several alternatives in partnership with DDP and their engineering consultant. As of December, 2025, MDOT is pausing planning and design of the interchange and will consider the results of the traffic when planning resumes. Continued public engagement regarding the interchange will be a critical first step when MDOT decides to move forward with planning of the interchange design and construction.

Pedestrian and bicyclist safety are central to the 375 street design. The plan includes a fully separated sidewalk and cycle track on the east side, curb bump-outs to shorten crossing distances, longer pedestrian crossing times, and pedestrian-only signal phases. The design will follow the City’s Streets for People Plan where possible to ensure safe, accessible infrastructure for all users.

MDOT made the following commitments for this project when it was awarded environmental clearance in 2022. These are listed below and found in the Project Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on Page 32, linked here (Green Sheet Commitments – Page 32 of the FONSI):

1. Community Enhancements and Equity
   1. Establish a Local Advisory Committee (LAC) to guide design, construction, and long-term land use decisions, ensuring transparency and community input.
   2. Develop a Community Enhancements Plan acknowledging the historic displacement of Black Bottom and Paradise valley, potentially including historical markers, affordable housing, or support for minority-owned businesses.
   3. Use the value of the excess land from constructing the project to fund the community enhancements.
   4. Partner with the city of Detroit, FHWA, business, non-governmental and philanthropic organizations to implement the community enhancements.
2. Economic Inclusion
   1. Create a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program to maximize participation of small and minority-owned firms in design and construction.
   2. Use the MDOT Mentor Protégé Program to help small firms gain prequalification and long-term contracting opportunities.
3. Land Use and Property
   1. Work with the city of Detroit to develop the Neighborhood Framework plan for the excess property following FHWA rules and MDOT’s real estate manual.
   2. Maintain unused parcels as temporary greenspace until permanent land use is determined. Maintenance of these areas includes routine site cleanup and lawn mowing, and as-needed snow removal.
4. Social and Environmental
   1. Coordinate with Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department and homeless service providers through relocation planning where necessary.
   2. Conduct archaeological surveys and monitoring in sensitive areas, with protocols for inadvertent finds.
   3. Develop a stormwater management plan with continued coordination on Detroit River impacts.
5. Construction Mitigation
   1. Prepare a detailed traffic management plan to maintain business and neighborhood access during construction.
   2. Coordinate with districts to minimize economic disruption.
   3. Implement a vibration monitoring program with pre-construction surveys and coordinate with impacted stakeholders to mitigate excessive vibration impacts.
6. Mobility, Safety and Design
   1. Prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety: wider sidewalks, cycle tracks, pedestrian countdown signals, refuge islands, and traffic calming measures.
   2. Commit to a post-construction multimodal operations study (within one year of opening) to adjust design if needed.
   3. Develop aesthetic design guidelines with community input.
   4. Conduct special event traffic management planning with Detroit Police and venues.

1. Fixed Elements of the Design
   1. New 375 boulevard aligned to the west, with a local street on the east side.
   2. Jefferson Avenue reconstruction between Beaubien St. and Rivard St.
   3. Separated bike path on the east side of the new 375 surface-level boulevard from the riverfront to Gratiot Ave.
   4. At least two through lanes in each direction on the new 375 surface-level boulevard (northbound and southbound).
2. Elements Open to Change – to be determined during engagement in late 2025 throughout 2026:
   1. Local street configuration east of the excess property (e.g., one-way, two-way, parking options).
   2. Land use decisions led by the City’s Framework Plan.
   3. Community enhancements (e.g., public art, historical recognition).
   4. Street crosswalk and bicycle crossing alternatives such as signalization, signing, and markings.
   5. Landscaping and corridor aesthetics.
   6. Traffic operations and access during construction.
   7. Final location of the Jefferson Avenue crossovers west of the 375 local street intersection.

The Community Enhancements Plan is being developed as part of the Neighborhood Framework and will seek to address impacts of the 375 Project. Community enhancements could include support for local businesses, public art, historical markers, and public spaces.  MDOT is working with project partners including the City of Detroit, Kresge, and DDP to identify potential enhancements and strategies for putting them in place.

MDOT will use funds already in place for construction of the 375 project to support some community enhancements. Additional enhancements will be financed through the sale of excess property generated by the project. As part of the Framework Plan, MDOT is conducting a market analysis to estimate the value of that property and identify which community improvements it can help fund.

The plan will be developed in coordination with the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) and implemented by the Project’s Executive Board.

Input for the Community Enhancements Plan is being gathered through community engagement, including Local Advisory Committee (LAC) meetings, public sessions, and stakeholder conversations. MDOT is engaged with partners including the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department, the Kresge Foundation and the Detroit Downtown Partnership to help process the input and develop the community enhancements plan accordingly. MDOT has also hired consultants with urban design and cultural history expertise, Quinn Evans and ZGF, to study urban design, history, arts, and culture, and help solicit community input and document priorities. The project partnership is planning dedicated engagement sessions focused on the Neighborhood Framework and Community Enhancements Plan starting in late 2025 and continuing through early 2026.

The Executive Board will include five members: a Michigan Governor appointee, an MDOT Director appointee, and a City of Detroit Mayoral appointee. These three will jointly select a local and an at-large appointee. These roles may be filled by local residents, Black Bottom descendants, or local business owners. Adding members beyond the five requires coordination with the Governor’s Office and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and is not solely MDOT’s decision.

The board structure aligns with MDOT’s commitments in the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The timeline for establishing the board is still being finalized and will be shared publicly when available.

There are opportunities to explore restorative justice strategies through the project’s community enhancements plan. MDOT is also working with partner organizations like the Kresge Foundation to recommend ways that the project can be restorative. The Kresge Foundation created a Reparative Roundtable made up of people from the community who are tasked with helping identify opportunities for this effort.

The Neighborhood Framework will be the umbrella “plan” that will align all of our work into a single vision and inform the final design of the roadway. The Framework includes zoning and land use, community enhancements, and the aesthetic design guidelines.

Some parcels created by the project offer opportunities for future development. MDOT and the City of Detroit are working to maximize this potential while considering zoning, land-use policy, and urban design. However, smaller or irregularly shaped parcels may limit development options. These considerations are part of the ongoing Neighborhood Framework process.

The City of Detroit is leading extensive engagement through the Neighborhood Framework process to help residents understand the development potential of available parcels and provide informed input on how excess land should be used. The City of Detroit and MDOT are working closely together to balance transportation needs and development opportunities.

The project is structured to allow the Neighborhood Framework and final design to progress at the same time. Converting the freeway into a surface-level street creates the opportunity for the Framework, and the conceptual roadway design is flexible enough to support the community’s vision as it develops.

MDOT’s decision to pause the project in August 2025 does provide more time for the Framework to advance in 2025 and early 2026 while the design progresses. Design is not likely to be complete until late 2026 with construction starting after that.

Ownership of the excess property has not yet been determined. Because it was originally acquired with federal and state transportation funds, its transfer is subject to related laws and regulations. The Neighborhood Framework process will document the community’s vision and recommend zoning and land use. After construction and framework completion, MDOT will coordinate with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the City of Detroit to determine how ownership transfer will proceed.

The community emphasized the importance of acknowledging the history of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley during the environmental phase of the project. In response, MDOT committed to honoring that history through Community Enhancements and a strong focus on small business inclusion and workforce development.

Community Enhancements that will be developed through the Neighborhood Framework plan may include historical markers, memorials, art installations, and support for minority-owned businesses. These are being shaped through ongoing community engagement, including Framework meetings and dedicated sessions in late 2025 and continuing through early 2026.

Significant input was gathered at the December 2024 community meeting, and final ideas will be shared as the Framework plan progresses and before design is complete.

MDOT is also conducting direct engagement about these historic neighborhoods like the Evening On Black Bottom and Paradise Valley event that took place on February 25, 2025. By reinvesting in this area and replacing the freeway with a street network conducive to urban placemaking, the Project helps create new opportunities that reflect and build upon that legacy — supporting local businesses, improving access, and fostering spaces where community-driven economic activity can thrive once again.

Small Business & Workforce Development: MDOT is working with the progressive design builder to set small business participation goals, implement the mentor-protégé program, and introduce initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth.

MDOT selected a progressive design-build approach to allow the designer and builder to collaborate with MDOT and the community from start to finish. MDOT and the design-build team are actively attending engagement meetings to incorporate feedback, such as using community input to shape the layout of the east local street between Jefferson Avenue and Gratiot Avenue.

For the construction mitigation plan, MDOT and the design-build team held listening sessions with the community before design began. This input directly influences how roads stay open during construction, such as keeping Lafayette Street open and maintaining north/south access via service drives to support businesses and neighborhoods.

To address concerns about construction impacts, MDOT will:

• Meet with community members throughout design and construction to understand and address their concerns
• Establish one person to serve MDOT and the community as the Project Ombudsman. Concerned residents and business owners may contact Ryan Sarmiento (Phone: 855-375-6368). Availability is provided below:
  • For storm sewer outfall construction at the riverfront: during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm) and during all active construction on site.
  • For construction on Jefferson, 375, and Gratiot Avenue: 24 hours per day.
• Monitor vibrations caused by construction to mitigate impacts to existing buildings
• Limit idling, use well-maintained equipment, and schedule work during daytime hours to the extent possible.
• Adhere to all local noise ordinances.
• Control dust by watering exposed soils, cleaning haul routes, and covering transported materials—all in compliance with air quality standards.

As of December 2025, MDOT assessing the feasibility to move forward in phases to address community concerns, rising costs, and the long duration of construction impacts. These project phases include:

1. Storm sewer construction – October 2025 thru May 2026: Construction of the storm sewer outfall along Schweizer Place between the Detroit River and Woodbridge St. (south of Jefferson Avenue). This construction is for underground storm sewer only and benefits stakeholders by improving stormwater drainage regardless of how the 375 Project moves forward.
2. Gratiot Avenue over Dequindre Cut – Summer 2026 thru February 2027: Replacement of the existing bridge, which was originally built in the 1920s and is in poor condition. Construction will be limited to Gratiot Avenue at the Dequindre cut only. Except for a few short-term weekend closures, traffic on Gratiot Avenue and on the Dequindre Cut will be maintained throughout construction.
3. 375 south of Gratiot Avenue – 2027/2028: The project team plans to complete the Neighborhood Framework, and evaluate the new 375 surface-level boulevard and Jefferson Avenue designs with continued stakeholder and community engagement. At the end of this timeframe, select community enhancements will be identified, and implementation strategies will be developed. Framework check-ins will continue to ensure community input remains central to the process. If designs are approved, construction of the new 375 surface-level boulevard and Jefferson Avenue is not likely to begin until after the Detroit Grand Prix in June, 2027 and will likely continue through 2028.
4. I-75/375 interchange – schedule to be determined: MDOT will continue planning and community engagement regarding the I-75/375 interchange, including Gratiot Avenue and the Gratiot Connector, at a later date.

MDOT is partnering with the Downtown Detroit Partnership to support businesses during construction through branded wayfinding, marketing materials, and digital assets for customer communication.

MDOT and its project team including the designer and builder are conducting listening sessions with businesses to understand their needs and priorities for access during construction. MDOT will follow up with businesses regularly during design and construction to make sure it understands how its work is impacting businesses and to address any harmful impacts.

MDOT is working closely with the Grand Prix, General Motors, and Bedrock to ensure alignment with their plans for upcoming events and Renaissance Center Development. MDOT is coordinating with all major events happening in proximity during the construction. Some examples of action MDOT has taken for these stakeholders:

1. Designed construction staging of the stormwater outfall to the Detroit River with unique staging to accommodate riverwalk programming.
2. Committed to Grand Prix that MDOT construction will not interfere with Grand Prix operations.
3. Designed street pavement in limits of Grand Prix track to align with Grand Prix staging and track needs.