The City of Ann Arbor is undertaking the planning of two related projects:

• E. Stadium Boulevard improvements from east of White Street to S. Main Street
• S. Main non-motorized improvements from E. Stadium Boulevard to Ann Arbor-Saline Road

E. Stadium Boulevard Improvements Project

The “driver” for planning on E. Stadium Boulevard is the need to replace the bridge structure over S. State Street.  This bridge does not meet current federal design standards for horizontal clearances or clear roadway width.  Vertical clearance from S. State Street is also deficient (by one foot) based on MDOT standards.  Several trucks have hit the bridge, some doing extensive damage, and the loads the bridge can carry have been limited.  Given its age, condition and location on such heavily traveled east-west (E. Stadium) and north-south (S. State) roadways, the City believes that planning for its replacement is critically important.  While the bridge is not considered to be unsafe, an accidental impact could force its closure.  As a result, an emergency plan is being developed at the same time that planning for replacement is initiated.

Possible additional project components are being studied in conjunction with the replacement of the S. State bridge:

• Replacement of the E. Stadium bridge over the Ann Arbor Railroad;
• The reconstruction of roadway pavement in the project area;
• The addition of bicycle and pedestrian improvement to address existing safety issues and to implement the City’s Non-motorized Transportation Plan;
• The replacement and upgrading of the raw water main in the project area.

By undertaking these improvements at the same time, it would be possible to reduce overall construction costs, as well as the disruption caused by detours and time lost in driver delays.

Funding, right-of-way and construction easements for improvements have not yet been secured.  Ultimately, it may not be possible to fund the construction of all components of the E. Stadium Boulevard project at one time.  Determining which components should get priority is an important objective of the planning process.

S. Main Non-motorized Improvements

The recently adopted City of Ann Arbor Non-motorized Transportation Plan calls for the construction of a shared bicycle/pedestrian path on the east side of S. Main Street from E. Stadium Boulevard to Ann Arbor-Saline Road.  No sidewalk currently exists on the east side of S. Main Street and there are no bicycle facilities that meet current guidelines north of Ann Arbor-Saline Road. 

This project is listed as an urgent priority in the City’s current Capital Improvements Plan, not only because of the need to improve safety for the high volumes of pedestrian traffic generated by University of Michigan events, but also because S. Main Street is an important bicycle route linking downtown to Ann Arbor’s growing south side, Pittsfield Township and, ultimately, Saline.

The City has received a conditional commitment from MDOT for Transportation Enhancement dollars to help fund this project.  However, alternatives to a shared use path will be evaluated in planning how best to improve bicycle and pedestrian connections and safety in this portion of the project area, while minimizing impacts on adjacent property owners.