Politics
Detroit 2026 Road and Bridge Program Targets Residential Streets and Major Roads
The $58 million initiative will resurface 27 miles of residential streets and repave 17 miles of major roads while advancing trail connections and a neighborhood reconnection study.
How we reported this
Detroit launched a $58 million 2026 road and bridge improvement program to resurface 27 miles of residential streets, repave 17 miles of major roads, and remove two bridges over the Dequindre Cut. This work directly affects daily travel for residents who use those streets and roads for commuting, errands, and access to services.
Capital Plan and Federal Funding Context
Mayor Duggan's five-year capital plan from 2023 to 2028 totals $2.5 billion. It allocates $374.7 million for Department of Public Works streets and bridges and $510.3 million for water and sewer infrastructure. The city also received $20.7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to construct two shared-use paths for the Joe Louis Greenway and Iron Belle Trail, with construction starting in October 2025.
Detroit is advancing an I-75 Cap Feasibility Study to reconnect neighborhoods separated by the highway. The study is supported by a $2 million federal grant from the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. These efforts sit alongside the city's updated Master Plan of Policies, branded Plan Detroit, which aims to redefine infrastructure investment and neighborhood strategy over the next 10 to 15 years, with final adoption expected in early 2026.
Effects on Residents and Services
Residents in neighborhoods along the selected streets and roads will see changes in pavement conditions that can affect vehicle wear, bus routes, and emergency vehicle access. The shared-use paths will add routes for walking and biking that connect to the Joe Louis Greenway and Iron Belle Trail. The I-75 study examines options that could alter how neighborhoods on either side of the highway link to jobs and services.
The water and sewer allocations within the capital plan address infrastructure that supplies households and businesses. The road and bridge work and trail projects are separate but occur under the same overall capital planning framework that guides spending through 2028.
Construction on the shared-use paths begins in October 2025. The Master Plan of Policies is projected to reach final adoption in early 2026. Further steps on the I-75 study and the 2026 road program will follow the timelines set by the city and federal partners.