Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials said the agency’s I-94 modernization project in Detroit has cleared certain federal environmental impact review requirements.
MDOT indicated the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has published the necessary environmental documentation to the Federal Register enabling the project to proceed. The document details the I-94 Modernization Combined Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD), explaining the basis for the selected alternative while defining measures incorporated into the project to mitigate potential impacts and minimize harm to the project area.
Per MDOT, the I-94 modernization project is slated to improve safety, local connectivity, and mobility along seven miles of the freeway between Conner Avenue and I-96 – addressing structural and operational deficiencies along the corridor.
The ROD issuance allows MDOT to proceed with final design engineering, property acquisition, and construction – with roadwork expected to begin in 2023.
MDOT hosted open houses in summer 2015 in Detroit, with officials indicating public feedback focused primarily on enhanced local neighborhood connectivity, prompting MDOT to seek the aid of the Detroit Planning and Development Department to further develop connectivity improvements over the freeway.
Workshops were conducted in 2016 to review neighborhood mobility and future visions for city residents, resulting in modifications to the original design and the launch of a supplemental environmental study in July 2017.