Much to everyone's relief, Gateway Project nearing completion

One might forgive residents of Hubbard Farms and Mexicantown area business owners for having a permanent crick in their neck. They've been craning their necks at the "thermometer sign" that measures construction progress at the $240 million Gateway Project that has closed the freeway and limited street access in their area since February 2008.

It is currently hovering at 80 percent, a number that must provide them some small measure of hope that the end is near.

That hope is founded, according to MDOT's construction manager for the Gateway Project, Victor Judnic. After a complete reconstruction, I-75 between Rosa Parks and Clark will reopen this summer, a full four or five months ahead of schedule. They are ahead of schedule for three reasons: an $8 million incentive offered the construction team by the state, the project's team stringent efforts to "stay ahead of problems," and the complete closure of the freeway, as opposed to partial or intermittent ones.

The project also includes the creation of a completely new interchange between I-96 and I-75, direct connections between the Ambassador Bridge and the freeway system, and new ramps between W. Vernor and I-75.

Perhaps most exciting to the local community -- besides less truck and bridge traffic on local streets -- is the new cable-stayed pedestrian bridge that will better integrate the two halves of Mexicantown. The pedestrian bridge will also be complete this summer, but opening will be delayed until the fall, when plazas on either end are done.

The Gateway Project created 2,100 jobs and will generate more than $1 billion in economic spin-off. "It will improve the flow of commerce and people across the border and in the local community," says Judnic. He says that the Ambassador Bridge connections were designed with 20-year traffic counts in mind -- meaning, they will accommodate traffic whether or not a twin span is built.

Source: Victor Judnic, MDOT
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh