Comments on: I-275 Metro Trail http://www.michigantrails.org MTGA is a non-profit organization that shall foster and facilitate the creation of an interconnected statewide system of trails and greenways for recreation, health, transportation, economic development and environmental/cultural preservation purposes. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:32:46 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve http://www.michigantrails.org/projects/i-275-bikeway/comment-page-1/#comment-11440 Steve Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:09:48 +0000 http://server.luckyfishsoftware.com/~mtga/blog/projects/i-275-bikeway/#comment-11440 I understand the trail doens't officially open til spring, just passing on some info. The trail south of Michigan has had all of it's trail closed signs removed, except for one near the I-94 bridge over Hannan Rd which is off to the side and may have been forgotten since they've been done with the I-94 bridge for sometime now. I ride this trail on weekends (last ride Jan 7, 2012) as I was worried about workers during the week. Honestly I'm not sure anyone is working on it any longer. There were some crews putting the fence post up in early December, but there has been no fencing put up or signs installed since. It's a shame they didn't fix the drainage issues as they did north of Michigan better along this trail as there are areas were water is constantly draining over the new trail. I suspect this trail will have issues in the coming years due to the water. The trail is really only usable to the I-94 overpass at Hannan Road, after this area the trail hasn't been repaved, but the bridges have been replaced down to Sibley or the connector trail between Lower Huron and Willow Metroparks. The trail has weeds and brush grown over it and through the pavement which in some areas was packed down when the bridges were put in from vehicles. I access Lower Huron MP by riding Hannan south from I-94 to the access trail (which was the old entrance years ago) south of Huron River, which is less then a mile on 35 mph road. Crossing's for Michigan Ave aren't the greatest and I don't think I'd use them if I had kids riding with me. You can cross at Michigan Ave but traffic can be flying in this area as the speed limit is 55. There's a traffic light for east bound Michigan at NB 275 exit ramp. The second option is similar to Ford Road by riding east to Hannan then riding back west to hit the trail (the new sidewalk on the south side of Michigan is in place), this journey is challenging too, since depending on which way your riding traffic coming out of the gas stations, Lotz Road, and fast food places aren't expecting or looking for trail users. I understand the trail doens’t officially open til spring, just passing on some info. The trail south of Michigan has had all of it’s trail closed signs removed, except for one near the I-94 bridge over Hannan Rd which is off to the side and may have been forgotten since they’ve been done with the I-94 bridge for sometime now.

I ride this trail on weekends (last ride Jan 7, 2012) as I was worried about workers during the week. Honestly I’m not sure anyone is working on it any longer. There were some crews putting the fence post up in early December, but there has been no fencing put up or signs installed since.

It’s a shame they didn’t fix the drainage issues as they did north of Michigan better along this trail as there are areas were water is constantly draining over the new trail. I suspect this trail will have issues in the coming years due to the water.

The trail is really only usable to the I-94 overpass at Hannan Road, after this area the trail hasn’t been repaved, but the bridges have been replaced down to Sibley or the connector trail between Lower Huron and Willow Metroparks. The trail has weeds and brush grown over it and through the pavement which in some areas was packed down when the bridges were put in from vehicles. I access Lower Huron MP by riding Hannan south from I-94 to the access trail (which was the old entrance years ago) south of Huron River, which is less then a mile on 35 mph road.

Crossing’s for Michigan Ave aren’t the greatest and I don’t think I’d use them if I had kids riding with me. You can cross at Michigan Ave but traffic can be flying in this area as the speed limit is 55. There’s a traffic light for east bound Michigan at NB 275 exit ramp. The second option is similar to Ford Road by riding east to Hannan then riding back west to hit the trail (the new sidewalk on the south side of Michigan is in place), this journey is challenging too, since depending on which way your riding traffic coming out of the gas stations, Lotz Road, and fast food places aren’t expecting or looking for trail users.

]]> By: barry http://www.michigantrails.org/projects/i-275-bikeway/comment-page-1/#comment-9992 barry Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:59:38 +0000 http://server.luckyfishsoftware.com/~mtga/blog/projects/i-275-bikeway/#comment-9992 Don, Your question to MTGA was forwarded to the Friends of I-275 Metro Trail group for an answer. The metro trail south of Michigan Ave in still under construction and will not officially open until the spring of 2012. Guard rails and fencing have not been installed. There is still construction equipment and work being done at Sibley Rd and Hannan Rd and fresh cement is being poured at Van Born Rd. Work still needs to be done at the railroad bridge. The trail is officially closed and it is dangerous to be out there with construction still ongoing. We ask trail users to continue enjoying the trail north of Michigan Ave and be patient on using the trail south of Michigan. Diane President, Friends of I-275 Metro Trail Don,
Your question to MTGA was forwarded to the Friends of I-275 Metro Trail group for an answer.
The metro trail south of Michigan Ave in still under construction and will not officially open until the spring of 2012. Guard rails and fencing have not been installed. There is still construction equipment and work being done at Sibley Rd and Hannan Rd and fresh cement is being poured at Van Born Rd. Work still needs to be done at the railroad bridge.
The trail is officially closed and it is dangerous to be out there with construction still ongoing. We ask trail users to continue enjoying the trail north of Michigan Ave and be patient on using the trail south of Michigan.
Diane
President, Friends of I-275 Metro Trail

]]> By: DON http://www.michigantrails.org/projects/i-275-bikeway/comment-page-1/#comment-9985 DON Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:43:31 +0000 http://server.luckyfishsoftware.com/~mtga/blog/projects/i-275-bikeway/#comment-9985 CAN THE I-275 PATH SOUTH OF MICH AVE BE USED NOW? CAN THE I-275 PATH SOUTH OF MICH AVE BE USED NOW?

]]> By: nancy http://www.michigantrails.org/projects/i-275-bikeway/comment-page-1/#comment-9968 nancy Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:22:20 +0000 http://server.luckyfishsoftware.com/~mtga/blog/projects/i-275-bikeway/#comment-9968 Thanks for your input. We realize there are some less than optimum crossings. The trail is a work in progress and it is up to MDOT, the owner, to evaluate the increase in trail traffic to see what further improvements needs to be made. We have forwarded your comments to the Friends group and will bring it up at future MDOT meetings. Thanks for your input. We realize there are some less than optimum crossings. The trail is a work in progress and it is up to MDOT, the owner, to evaluate the increase in trail traffic to see what further improvements needs to be made. We have forwarded your comments to the Friends group and will bring it up at future MDOT meetings.

]]> By: Josh http://www.michigantrails.org/projects/i-275-bikeway/comment-page-1/#comment-9966 Josh Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:06:07 +0000 http://server.luckyfishsoftware.com/~mtga/blog/projects/i-275-bikeway/#comment-9966 I really wish that some of the funds to re-pave the trail could have instead been used to divert the trail either over or below a few of the major intersections, such as Ford Rd. and Mich. Ave., and 8 Mile Rd. Other metropolitan suburban bike trails, such as around Chicago, do not make riders cross every major intersection along the paths. The way that the traffic signal functions -- with all of the turning arrows -- at 8 Mile, it is virtually impossible to cross there. You must creep out into the road and hope that someone will stop to let you cross. Therefore, I now do not ride further north of that point. I really wish that some of the funds to re-pave the trail could have instead been used to divert the trail either over or below a few of the major intersections, such as Ford Rd. and Mich. Ave., and 8 Mile Rd. Other metropolitan suburban bike trails, such as around Chicago, do not make riders cross every major intersection along the paths. The way that the traffic signal functions — with all of the turning arrows — at 8 Mile, it is virtually impossible to cross there. You must creep out into the road and hope that someone will stop to let you cross. Therefore, I now do not ride further north of that point.

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