4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS SUMMER CONSTRUCTION Border-to-Border Trail link construction CATALINA ECHAVARRIA U-M student contributor Ann Arbor is almost always under construction with residents often not knowing why. One of the many construction projects currently happening is the Border-to-Border (B2B) Trail link. The City of Ann Arbor announced that work on the Barton-Bandemer Pedestrian Tunnel began the week of March 24, 2025. The goal is to construct a pedestrian tunnel beneath the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) railroad that is operated by Amtrak. Upon its completion, Bandemer Park and Barton Nature Area will be connected, providing a safe connection for bicyclists and pedestrians. As of right now it is illegal to cross the railroad tracks except where signage clearly indicates otherwise. This project is a partnership between the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission and the nonprofit Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative. Essentially, the project will connect the B2B Trail to the new segment of the trail previously completed in the summer of 2024, making it over 20 miles long, perfect for avid bikers. The current anticipated completion date is 2025 but as of right now it is a tentative date. This project brings about restrictions that are relevant to Ann Arbor residents. As expected, there will be no access permitted within the construction site. Outside of this area, the gravel parking lot off of Huron River Drive and the pedestrian bridge connecting Huron River Drive to Barton Nature Area will both be closed until the construction is completed. On June 3 and 4, the vehicle bridge into Bandemer Park from Barton Drive will be closed to through traffic. On this note, there will be a 48-hour railroad track outage on these days, so consider alternative long distance transportation options on those days, if relevant. This project isn’t limited to the Barton-Bandemer Pedestrian Tunnel as it also will include pathways connecting to the tunnel, renovations to the parking lot off of Huron River Drive and a new public art installation on the interior of the tunnel. This new art will add to the already lively art scene of Ann Arbor. The cost is divided up evenly amongst the three institutions named above, with the City’s portion coming from the Park Maintenance and Capital Improvement Millage, which funds updates and maintenance at city parks, capital projects, park forestry and the Natural Area Preservation. Ann Arbor residents voted to renew this millage for another 20 years in 2024. A portion of Washtenaw’s funding is the fouryear long road and trails millage which was also renewed by voters in 2024. As for the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative’s portion, it is in part funded by a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation with the rest coming from donations from private donors. Updates on the project’s progress will be provided by the City on the City of Ann Arbor Facebook, NextDoor specifically for Ann Arbor residents, as well as on the project website engage. a2gov.org/barton-bandemer-pedestrian-tunnel. The website provides information on the project timeline: the Feasibility Study (2019-2021), Design (2022-2024), Phase 1 Construction (Summer 2024), Phase 2 Construction (began March 24, 2025), Warning! Roads closed ahead LINDSAY CALKA Publisher Ann Arborites joke that they know that winter is only really over when road repairs begin. Loud sounds, dust, unwieldy detours and traffic back-ups make many dread this fifth season in Ann Arbor: construction season. Pedestrians, bikers, riders and drivers alike — if you know what construction is happening, where it's happening and why it's happening, you might reduce your transit rage! Fifth Ave Closure Fifth Ave. is closed between William and Jefferson streets. Project includes water main replacement (Jefferson to Packard), street resurfacing, repairing identified storm drains, upgrading concrete ramps to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act Standards and the installation of the city's first contraflow bike lane. A contraflow bike lane allows cyclists to ride in the opposite direction of normal traffic flow on a one-way street. The road will be fully closed to users throughout the duration of the project. Navigation tips: Heading north? Take South Division. Heading south? Take 4th Ave. Groundcover office visitors, be prepared to leave the office the same way you came. Projected completion: July 2025. East Medical Center Drive Rehab and Widening The East Medical Center Drive Bridge over the Amtrak Michigan line was constructed in 1982 and is now being inspected every twelve months due to its deteriorating condition. It is the City's intent to rehabilitate the bridge in order to return it to a state of good repair and prolong its life span. University of Michigan is partnering on this project to widen the bridge in order to improve traffic flow into and out of the University Medical Center. Navigation tips: If you can, avoid the intersection of Fuller Rd, Maiden Lane and E. Medical Center Drive at all costs during rush hour. Remember you cannot take a left onto Fuller from Maiden Lane — if heading east, accessing Fuller Rd via Fuller Street is a better bet! Projected completion: July 2025. Miller Ave Improvements There have been points of conflict between cars, bikes and people at various points along Miller Ave. However, by providing dedicated infrastructure and reducing speeds, those conflicts become more manageable and safer. From Newport Road through Seventh Street, work will focus on replacing water main pipes, improving stormwater detention, realigning the intersection at Red Oak, and repaving the road. Miller Avenue will be closed on this section until July 7, 2025. The next phase of the project will close a different portion of Miller Ave. Navigation tips: Cyclists who normally use Miller Avenue are advised to travel to and from downtown Ann Arbor via Dexter Avenue, South Revena Boulevard and West Washington Street. Bus riders on Routes 32 and 61 can view detours on TheRide.org/ rider-alerts. Projected completion: The last stage of this project will begin Fall 2025. State Street Water Main and Resurfacing This is a continuation of projects along State Street. Stormwater runoff quality will be improved by constructing an infiltration trench to send water into the aquifer instead of directly to the Huron River which gives soil the opportunity to filter out pollutants. Two aging water mains maintained by the City of Ann Arbor and U-M will be consolidated into one. Protected bicycle lanes will be installed. Two raised mid-block crosswalks will enhance safety for people crossing the road. A northbound transit queue jump lane to improve bus headway times along the corridor will be constructed. A transit signal at the intersection of State Street and East William will allow buses to get ahead of other vehicles. On-street parking will be removed to make space for the transit and bicycle improvements. The city is reviewing adjacent locations for on-street parking. Navigation tips: To quickly move across downtown, rely on Huron St, 4th Ave or Packard St. From June 5 to August 31, other reliable downtown streets such as Main St. will be closed Thursday 4 p.m. to Sunday late for the A2 Summer Streets celebration. Projected completion: July 7, 2025. The second phase will begin July 21, after the Ann Arbor Art Fair concludes, and is projected to be completed in November 2025. Ann Arbor set a goal to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries resulting from traffic crashes by 2025, called “Moving Together Towards Vision Zero.” The City also has set a goal to transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030, “A2Zero.” Many of these construction projects aim to make progress on these commitments. Follow updates on each of these projects and more at engage.a2gov.org MAY 30, 2025 Track Outage (anticipated date of June 3-4, 2025), and Project Completion (Fall 2025). The Barton-Bandemer Pedestrian Tunnel project represents a significant step forward in enhancing Ann Arbor’s outdoor recreation infrastructure. By safely linking Bandemer Park and Barton Nature Area, the project will promote sustainable transportation options as well as increasing the community’s access to nature and public art installations. As construction progresses, Ann Arbor residents are encouraged to stay informed and plan accordingly. Upon its completion, the project will be a valuable addition to both Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities that are a part of the Border-to-Border trail.
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