The Joe Louis Greenway took another step towards completion. The city recently received $20,704,712 in federal funding for two of the greenways connectors.
The project, Joe Louis Meets the Iron Belle: Connecting Communities in Detroit, includes construction in southwest Detroit along Woodmere Street, from Fort to Vernor Highway, which will have a shared-use path within the right-of-way. The funding will also go towards the connection along Dequindre Street from Mack Avenue to Warren Avenue. This portion includes a shared-use path and sidewalk.
Construction on these connections is expected to start in 2025.
The funding is from the U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant program. Two other communities in Michigan, Kalamazoo and Menominee, also received funding through this round of grantmaking.
When completed, the Joe Louis Greenway will run 26 miles around Detroit, connecting the east side, Hamtramck, Highland Park, the west side, and into Dearborn with paths for walking and cycling. It's a combination of already built paths (like the Dequindre Cut), new connections in progress, and some connections along or next to roadways.
These two connectors are also part of the Iron Belle Trail, which when completed, will run all around Michigan, from Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula to Belle Isle.
