I-75 cap project inches forward with new feasibility study

The study will move the project closer to being construction-ready, Eric Larson, CEO of DDP, told Crain’s. AECOM will develop a design for the three lids so that project leaders can begin applying for state and federal grants for the construction portion of the project.

Following the study, “we will be about 30% designed,” Larson said. “And have what ultimately is the most important aspect, and that is a real, clear understanding of the vision for the community.”

After the 12-month study period, final deliverables will include design concepts, updated budget projections, construction phasing and maintenance recommendations for the project.

​​The three caps under consideration would be located in the heart of downtown Detroit and help connect venues north of the freeway to the southern side — namely Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park and Ford Field, as well as the under-construction University of Michigan Center for Innovation.

Cap locations are being considered for Woodward Avenue, John R and Brush streets, as well as at Grand River Avenue. Each of the three proposed caps would be 600 to 800 feet long.

In January, the DDP released new renderings of the three potential lids over I-75 in downtown Detroit after AECOM previously conducted community engagement on the project.

The renderings, designed based on feedback from the project’s community meetings last year, depict three parks on “overbuilds” along I-75. Designs show a mix of open green space with grass and trees, outdoor gathering and dining space as well as play areas.

The feasibility study led by AECOM will determine when each cap might be phased and the connectivity that would be created by the development of all three caps. It’s funded by $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Neighborhood Access and Equity Program planning grant that the project received in 2023.

AECOM has also assisted with the rebuilding of the I-696 park caps in Oak Park and led the urban design and public engagement on behalf of PennDOT for the Park at Penn’s Landing, a cap over I-95 in Philadelphia.

DDP and MDOT will begin hosting additional community meetings for the project beginning in September.

“The I-75 Cap is an example of how Detroit’s transportation infrastructure can adapt to better serve the needs of the City’s residents, businesses and visitors,” Jeromie Winsor, AECOM Detroit’s senior planning manager, said in a news release. “We are excited to work with DDP and its partners to advance this initiative.”

In January, the Michigan Department of Transportation received $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2024 Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program out of the total $5 million it requested. The grant will be used to fund the engineering concepts of the lids based on the outcome of the AECOM-led feasibility study.

Larson said a date hasn’t been set for when the project will break ground, but by mid-2026, the project will have advanced in both design and constructability.

“A lot of that will depend on our ability to continue to advance a project that has been very supported by the public, but also is compelling to both our federal and state partners,” Larson said.