Detroit’s I-375 Reimagining Faces a Crossroads of Safety and Justice

May 27, 2025

The I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project in Detroit is facing divided opinions as Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) moves forward with plans to replace the freeway with a boulevard. While MDOT frames the project as improving safety and infrastructure, many community leaders, including Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, criticize the plan for failing to address the historical injustice of displacing over 100,000 people from Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods during the freeway's original construction in 1964. Despite receiving a $104.

Who is affected

Residents of Detroit, particularly those from the historically displaced Black Bottom and Paradise Valley communities
Over 100,000 people who were originally displaced by the I-375 construction
Current neighborhood residents living near the I-375 corridor
Local minority-owned businesses and Detroit workers
Pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users, and drivers who use the corridor

What action is being taken

MDOT is advancing plans to replace I-375 with a six- to nine-lane boulevard featuring pedestrian access and bike lanes
The department is working with a local advisory council and continuing community outreach meetings
MDOT is implementing four pillars in its approach: Transportation for All, Small Business Enterprise and Workforce Development, Community Enhancement Plan, and Neighborhood Framework Plan
The City of Detroit is leading discussions on zoning and design standards for reclaimed land
Community members and elected officials are voicing concerns and pushing for more inclusive planning

Why it matters

The project intersects with unresolved historical trauma from the destruction of thriving Black communities
The freeway's construction in 1964 destroyed Black generational wealth, economic independence, and cultural identity
The current plan will create 30 acres of land with significant economic potential, raising questions about who will benefit
The project represents an opportunity to address systemic displacement and historical injustice
There's tension between MDOT's focus on transportation safety and the community's desire for meaningful reparations

What's next

Construction on the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project is slated to begin this year
MDOT expects the project to be completed by 2029
The department plans to continue meeting with residential groups, businesses, and stakeholders
Public engagement regarding zoning and design standards for reclaimed land is ongoing
The City of Detroit will continue developing the Neighborhood Framework Plan for land use

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle