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I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project

I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project

The I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project is more than infrastructure - it is about rebuilding connections and creating new opportunities for Detroit’s residents and businesses. By removing the outdated freeway and constructing a modern boulevard, we are designing safer streets, expanding access to key destinations, and ensuring that local voices shape the future of this corridor.

The I-375 Environmental Assessment Study is complete, so learn more about the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project and what it means for your community.

I-375: An Evening on Black Bottom and Paradise Valley Video

I-375: An Evening on Black Bottom and Paradise Valley

On Feb. 25, MDOT and partners hosted an Evening on Black Bottom and Paradise Valley at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. The event honored and acknowledged the cultural past and historical significance of the Black Bottom and Paradise Valley communities.

Project amenities

  • Improved connectivity by increasing the number of street crossings from neighborhoods into downtown, the Riverfront, Greektown, Eastern Market, and the entertainment district. 
  • The potential excess land provides more value to the community and creates opportunities for a thriving new district. New bicycle routes, including protected two-way tracks along: 
    • The new I-375 boulevard connecting the Riverfront to Gratiot Avenue and Montcalm Street.
    • Montcalm Street extending from Brush Street to Gratiot Avenue, connecting to the Dequindre Cut. 
  • An upgraded interchange design will be brought to current standards for getting traffic on and off I-75 safely within 
    the project footprint. 
  • Provides contract and workforce development opportunities for small and local businesses.

Explore the project

An aerial overview of the I-375 project area.

Design alternative map

As of March 2025

A rendering of the I-375 project near Eastern Market.

Concept videos

As of August 2023

A map showing the Eastern Market to northbound I-75 boulevard map.

Boulevard navigation maps

As of August 2023

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Contact us

855-375-6368

Engagement opportunities

As MDOT moves into the next phases of the project, there will be many more opportunities for community input and  participation. MDOT is planning several community meetings throughout the design and building of the project.

Members of the community at an I-375 public meeting.

Public meetings

Local Advisory Committee (LAC) members reviewing plans.

Local Advisory Committee

Government Advisory Committee (GAC) members attend a meeting.

Government Advisory Committee

Social equity approach

The original construction of I-375 was part of a larger urban renewal project that cleared the red-lined Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods. MDOT recognizes this historic environmental justice impact and is committed to working with the community to honor the history of the neighborhoods with a focus on equitable engagement and opportunities through community enhancements.

DBE and Workforce Development

Neighborhood Framework

Community Enhancement Plan

Aesthetic Design Guide

Community-Centric Local Advisory Committee

An I-375 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise metting.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise

MDOT intends to honor the legacy of workforce and business diversity of the former Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods’ residents through a robust Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and local workforce development initiatives designed to optimize the use of Detroit-based, minority-owned businesses and workforce in the execution of the pre-construction, construction, and post-construction services. This will include engagement and outreach programs that focus on training, matchmaking, and recruitment of certified DBEs and Small Business Enterprises (SBE).

I-375 DBE/SBE information

Project partners

City of Detroit

The City of Detroit will lead framework planning (including land-use) in coordination with MDOT, while also implementing zoning and other commitments associated with the framework plan.

City of Detroit website

Downtown Detroit Partnership

The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) will work with a team of consultants to provide additional construction mitigation and peer reviews.

 

DDP website

The Kresge Foundation

The Kresge Foundation will conduct roundtables with focus on equity opportunities, including restorative or reparative outcomes.

 

The Kresge Foundation website