Michigan DOT Nixes Ann Arbor Highway Expansion

After Ann Arbor leaders and resident advocates pushed back on proposals to widen U.S. 23 as part of a major improvement project, the Michigan Department of Transportation has taken them off the table., according to an MLive article by reporter Lucas Smolcic. In place of a possible extra general purpose lane, a flex shoulder lane system, or a new high-occupancy vehicle lane, “officials have put forward a new alternative, dubbed ‘safely connecting communities,’ that focuses on rebuilding highway pavement, replacing bridges and making safety improvements with increased options for pedestrians and cyclists.”

MDOT is also working with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, TheRide, on public transit improvements, including the possibility of “bus on shoulder” operations during peak traffic conditions and a Washtenaw Avenue interchange. “The transportation agency is still aiming to have the project ready for 2027 construction,” Smolcic reports, and “ plans to continue public engagement around the new design alternative.”