I-75 Cap
The I-75 Cap project is a locally led, and U.S. Department of Transportation supported, initiative to connect Detroit neighborhoods cut off from economic and social opportunities by prior transportation infrastructure decisions. The Downtown Detroit Partnership is co-leading this planning initiative with the City of Detroit and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
I-75 Cap Feasibility Study Concludes, Advancing Plan to Reconnect Detroit Neighborhoods
The I-75 Cap Feasibility Study has reached a major milestone, delivering a community-informed vision for three public spaces that would reconnect neighborhoods divided by Interstate 75. The project now advances into funding strategy and implementation planning.
The feasibility study evaluated structural engineering, fire and life safety requirements, access and mobility, stormwater management, environmental considerations, and preliminary construction costs. AECOM, the project’s engineering consultant, led the technical analysis, confirming that the proposed highway caps are technically feasible while identifying key engineering considerations.
Honoring the history and voices of the community has been central to shaping the programming and design of the project’s public spaces. Through conversations with residents who lived in the surrounding neighborhoods and experienced the impacts of the I-75 highway construction, the project team identified key themes, memories, and experiences that helped inform the vision for the future.
The video below uplifts those voices and shares the stories that are helping shape what comes next.
If you’d like to watch the extended version, click here.
New renderings of the three destination spaces for each potential cap, each with its own character and purpose.
Central Cap: Vibrant City Hub
(near Little Caesars Arena)
A vibrant setting for citywide celebrations and everyday experiences through a performance pavilion, event lawn, outdoor café and neighborhood amenities.
West Cap: Playful, Dynamic, Urban
(near Cass Tech/UMCI/Wayne State University)
A youth-oriented gathering space focused on recreation, education and community events featuring sports courts, shaded gathering areas, food trucks and flexible programming.
East Cap: Reflection, Memory and Return
(near Brush Park/Paradise Valley)
A restorative landscape honoring Detroit’s Black cultural legacy gardens, walking paths, storytelling spaces, playscapes and public art installations.
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PROJECT OVERVIEW
What is a Highway Cap?
Highway caps are structures built over highways with the intention of reconnecting communities harmed by this infrastructure. A range of benefits can result from these projects, including enhanced mobility, environmental benefits, and added public space serving as an anchor for current and future development.
I-75 is an Interstate Highway that runs north-south from Florida to the Upper Peninsula. Construction of the Downtown Detroit segment of I-75 started in the late 1950s, and the freeway replaced active urban uses with a barrier between Downtown and neighborhoods to the north. That barrier persists to this day. Building highway caps can help enhance local connectivity and quality of life while maintaining the regional and national transportation network.
Area Under Study
During the planning phase, DDP explored cap options within the Study Area, which extends from 3rd Avenue on the west to Brush Street on the east. Throughout initial phases of engagement, the team collected feedback on potential overbuild options and design elements for each segment. This planning phase will considered a larger Benefit and Impact Area in which potential positive and negative effects from the overbuild options were assessed.
Project Timeline
- Vision and Alternatives Analysis (completed 2024-2025):
- DDP led a series of community visioning sessions to identify a preferred concept design to reconnect Downtown over I-75 to the Brush Park and Lower Cass neighborhoods. With input from over 1,000 community members, the design for three park caps over I-75 between Brush Street and 3rd Avenue was selected by the community as the preferred concept design.
- I-75 Cap Feasibility Study (2025-2026 current):
- Taking the concept design from the Vision and Alternatives Analysis, the I-75 Cap Feasibility Study will validate the three-cap design and incorporate engineering considerations including structural, life safety, and accessibility. Additionally, the community through a series of public meetings will be able to further advance the programming, design, and arts/cultural elements of the park caps.
- Construction Engineering (2026-2028):
- Building on the I-75 Cap Feasibility Study, final design and engineering drawings will be created for one or more of the caps to begin construction.
- Construction (To be determined):
- Construction will begin on one or more of the caps pending funding commitments and regulatory approvals.
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
Vision and Alternatives Analysis
[Completed in 2024]
Public and stakeholder engagement aims to foster inclusivity and transparency toward gathering information, educating stakeholders about the I-75 Cap, and providing an opportunity for public input. Public and stakeholder engagement for the Vision and Alternatives Analysis phase of work has wrapped up. Read the Project Concept Report, which provides an overview of the preferred concept and summarizes the key findings, recommendations, and work completed throughout this phase.
- Public Meeting #1: July 2024 (Completed)
Read the meeting recap.
Review the workshop stations materials.
Review the presentation.
Review the Phase 1 Engagement Summary. - Public Meeting #2: August 2024 (Completed)
Read the meeting recap.
Review the presentation.
Review the Phase 2 Engagement Summary. - Public Meeting #3: October 29, 2024 (Completed)
Read the meeting recap.
Review the presentation.
Review the Phase 3 Engagement Summary.
I-75 Cap Concept Design and Reports
Photos from 2024 Public Meetings
Project Concept Report: This report provides a summary and references the work completed during the I-75 Cap Vision and Alternatives Analysis, with supporting documents available below.
Click here to view a collection of data that is used as a resource for the goal development, public engagement, and influencing ongoing and future efforts in the development of the I-75 cap project: Mapping Framework
Click here to read a case study of other projects that the design team reviewed and used as precedents to help inform their process, develop ideas, and understand what a capping project would look like: Project Precedent Report
Click here to read the Evaluation Report, which evaluated four different design options based on a defined set of evaluation criteria. It also evaluated a scenario where improvements were made to the streetscapes in the study area and no caps were added: The Evaluation Report.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Previous I-75 Feasibility Study Public Meetings
Public Meeting #4 - July 30, 2026
At the Feasibility Study Final Meeting - Study Conclusion and Next Steps attendees learned the new community-informed design plans for each of the caps and the next steps to take the project from vision to reality.
Public Meeting #3 - May 5, 2026
The third of four public meetings about the I-75 Cap Feasibility Study included an interactive workshop, with a dedicated area for youth, that gave attendees a chance to share their preferences on the amenities and programming for the public spaces on the caps. If you were not able to attend, click below to view the presentation shared during the public meeting, an impactful video showcasing residents's experiences, and a chance to share yours.
Public Meeting #2 - Feb. 24, 2026
The DDP along with partners from the Michigan Department of Transportation and City of Detroit had its second of four public meetings about the I-75 Cap Feasibility Study. If you were not able to attend, click below to view the presentation shared during the public meeting.
Public Meeting #1 - Oct. 2, 2025
In October 2025, the DDP along with partners from the Michigan Department of Transportation and City of Detroit kicked off its feasibility phase by hosting the first of four I-75 Cap Feasibility Study Public Meetings.
See below for links to the meeting, presentation, and Q&A.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The following are some questions the DDP team has received regarding the I-75 Cap project. If you have additional questions, please send an email to [email protected].
Community Engagement
How has the public been engaged?
The public has been engaged through postcards, surveys, public meetings, and The Road Ahead newsletter which provides updates on the I-75 Cap, I-375 project, and other critical infrastructure projects.
Is there still an opportunity to be involved, and how can I participate if I can’t attend meetings in person?
The final public meeting for the Feasibility Study phase is planned for July 30, 2026, with materials to be posted to this website along with an online survey for those unable to attend in-person, but this will not be the last opportunity for input. Community engagement will continue to be critical to the success of the project throughout the more detailed design, environmental review, and construction processes still ahead.
Visit www.downtowndetroit.org/i-75cap for project updates.
You can also send us your comments to [email protected] and sign up for The Road Ahead newsletter to receive the latest updates in your inbox.
Community Impact
Why is this project needed?
I-75 has long acted as a barrier between Downtown Detroit and neighboring communities. This project attempts to reconnect communities cut off from economic and social opportunities by prior transportation infrastructure decisions. Well-designed caps can restore walkability, support small businesses, create new public spaces, and serve as an anchor for current and future development.
Who will benefit from this project?
The project is located in Downtown Detroit and spans the entertainment district and nearby communities, including Brush Park, Brewster Homes, and Douglas. The location of the caps and the project area play an important role in connecting surrounding neighborhoods with major event venues and retail destinations. The area is home to nearly 10,000 residents and is the most‑visited destination in Michigan. While the overall project is intended to serve a broad range of users, each of the three caps is expected to have a distinct design focus that reflects its surrounding context:
The East Cap is envisioned as a neighborhood‑oriented gathering space that supports the Brush Street community, with programming and public spaces centered on local residents and everyday neighborhood use.
The Central Cap, located within the entertainment district, is anticipated to function as a vibrant hub that serves both residents and visitors, offering flexible spaces that support large events, cultural activity, and connections between major venues.
The West Cap is expected to serve as a smaller‑scale pocket of daily activity, with design elements that support students, nearby residents, and regular day‑to‑day use, contributing to neighborhood connectivity and community life.
Recognizing how the new caps can benefit many different users, the project aims to strengthen local connectivity and enhance quality of life for local residents by creating public spaces that bridge the freeway barrier, while also preserving the transportation network and improving nearby streets and pedestrian routes for visitors from the broader region.
How will traffic be disrupted?
The project is being designed to account for and minimize long-term impacts on traffic in the area, including during special events. Potential traffic impacts during construction of the caps is also being examined during the Feasibility Study, including how traffic and access would be maintained along I-75. A final maintenance of traffic plan would be developed and shared with businesses and the community prior to the start of construction.
How will home and business access be protected/maintained, and how much of an increase in traffic and congestion should we expect once the project is complete?
A maintenance of traffic plan will be developed at a future phase of the project with input from businesses and residents in the project area to minimize potential impacts. Additionally, a preliminary traffic and safety analysis indicates that traffic will maintain acceptable levels of service during days with multiple large events at the nearby arenas and stadiums once the project is completed and that the project provides the opportunity to improve traffic through local street modifications, particularly around the stadiums and entertainment district.
How will the caps impact parking in the area?
The caps will have no impacts on off-street parking in the area. Existing and potential on-street parking and curbside management uses were identified through site visits and stakeholder engagement. The service drives currently only have travel lanes and do not designate any space for curbside uses. However, excess capacity and a lack of signage or pavement markings have led to use of the travel lanes as standing zones.
Road diets are proposed on both the westbound and eastbound service drives to support the caps, presenting an opportunity to define curbside uses, which can improve circulation, access, safety, and help address parking and pick-up/drop-off needs.
Will the project increase my taxes?
Any public funding used for the project will be from existing funding sources and will not impose new taxes. However, the exact funding sources for the project are yet to be determined.
How will this project impact property values?
This has not yet been assessed for this project. Typically, there is an increase in property value associated with public space improvement projects; however, this varies significantly from city-to-city and project-to-project. While the change in assessed value for surrounding properties is unknown, Michigan law does cap property tax increases to the rate of inflation or 5% (whichever is lower) for properties that are not sold or transferred.
What is being done to mitigate environmental impacts like noise and air quality/pollution?
Noise analyses at I-75 and the I-696 caps in Oak Park indicate improved noise conditions on the caps, with minimal changes expected for nearby off-cap receptors. Initial air quality analysis indicates that the caps are unlikely to result in significant changes to air quality in the region or the immediate area around the caps. While the caps cannot be expected to resolve the noise and air quality issues that already exist, the team has identified treatments (e.g., screen walls, landscaping) that could complement the caps and offer potential benefits to the area surrounding I-75 both adjacent to and in between the proposed caps. The project team will use the information collected during the Feasibility Study to inform design, develop the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) submission document (which will continue to focus on cultural resources, noise, air quality, and mobility), and support future resource agency coordination. More analysis will be conducted and shared with the public during the design and NEPA processes.
How will the caps incorporate the history and culture of the surrounding area, including acknowledgement of the communities that the freeway displaced?
The project team captured oral histories, personal narratives, and lived memories from residents displaced or affected by the original I-75 construction through historic neighborhoods including Paradise Valley. These stories are documented and will be permanently stored in the Black Bottom Archives. Themes from stories are being incorporated into the Arts and Culture Plan for the future caps and will be shared with the next phase’s designers and artists to determine how to physically represent the stories through design elements and public art pieces on the caps themselves. Ideas for how this may come to fruition will be included in the Park Program Plan.
Process and Implementation
Why is the DDP leading this project?
The project is a partnership between the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the City of Detroit, and the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Because the DDP is looked upon as a trusted and strategic advisor, able to convene diverse stakeholders, our role ensures that this process remains community-centered and transparent. Infrastructure should serve people, and planning and engagement works best when it starts early and continues throughout the process. That’s exactly what DDP is doing. Our role as a convener ensures that this process remains community-centered and transparent.
What is the relationship of this project to the I-375 Reconnecting Communities project?
Today, Downtown Detroit is divided from nearby neighborhoods by I-75, I-375, and M-10. The I-375 Reconnecting Communities project is led by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and is intended to lessen the divide on the east side. This is a separate but related effort on the north side of downtown. The I-75 Cap project team is coordinating with the I-375 Reconnecting Communities team, especially as it relates to potential future changes to the I-75/I-375 interchange.
Is the feasibility study really going to inform the project plans and execution?
Short answer, yes. This is a formal and necessary part of the planning process. Funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program planning grant, it includes engineering, environmental, and transportation analysis, as well as conceptual ideas. We’re studying impacts, benefits, and tradeoffs together – reconnection should strengthen neighborhoods. Additionally, community input received at all four public meetings, from October 2025 through July 2026 directly informs priorities and implementation pathways. Together, through study and community meetings, we hope to have a clear understanding of what is realistically possible. We are committed to responsible evaluation and preparation.
How much will the project cost and how will it be funded?
Preliminary cost projections from the Vision and Alternatives Analysis phase of the project estimated total project costs of approximately $300 million or $100 million per cap. Updated project costs will be included as part of the Feasibility Study. Funding for construction has not been secured, but will likely come from a combination of federal, state, local, and private-sector funding sources.
Is there a construction timeline?
The Feasibility Study will be completed August 2026. Next steps will depend on the engineering findings, environmental review, funding pathways, and public feedback. It would be premature to discuss construction timelines before reviewing the study findings that will be shared at the public meeting in July.
Which cap will be built first? Decisions about cap construction order will depend on funding and partner readiness. DDP will keep the public informed as progress on these decisions is made.
What are the long-term maintenance plans for the new infrastructure?
Long-term maintenance responsibilities are currently under study as part of the Feasibility Study and will be determined between MDOT, the City of Detroit, and the Downtown Detroit Partnership.
Why not cap this entire stretch of I-75? Due to the age and existing clearance issues along the I-75 corridor, creation of a longer cap would require lowering and reconstruction of I-75 with associated impacts to underground utilities, resulting in significantly more cost and effort. The vision for the project is to create caps that are easier to meet safety standards and to build, operate, and maintain in the near term by limiting length to about 705 feet.
Why not only have 1 cap between Woodward Ave and John R St instead of 2 separate caps? A primary goal of the project is to provide buffering on both sides of Woodward Ave, the most heavily used pedestrian connection across I-75. The intent is also to provide sufficient room for adjacent community gathering space. In addition, a cap from the west edge of Woodward Ave to the east edge of John R St would be more than 850 feet long, creating a “tunnel” that would likely require mechanical ventilation to discharge air at the portals, resulting in significantly more cost and effort.
Programming
How will programming complement existing downtown parks (Campus Martius, Grand Circus Park, Beacon Park)? Will programming be additive or replace existing programming?
The intent is for the caps to add new programming and amenities. Some overlap is inevitable, the intent is that programming will be coordinated across greater downtown parks and public spaces to create a complementary network.
Will long-term programming costs and revenue sources be considered as part of the feasibility study?
Long-term operations and programming are important considerations as the project moves forward. Future programming will depend on establishing sustainable funding sources to support activation, maintenance, and ongoing operations. The project team is exploring a variety of funding and revenue opportunities, including partnerships and economic impact generated by surrounding development, while ensuring the park spaces remain welcoming, accessible, and community-focused. These operational and funding strategies will continue to be refined in future phases of the project.
Will local organizations and institutions have opportunities to partner on programming for the park spaces?
The vision for the park spaces includes partnerships with nearby institutions, community organizations, and cultural partners to deliver year-round programming and develop programming that reflects community needs. The caps will create vibrant, active public spaces for residents, students, workers, and visitors.
How will future development in the area influence programming for the park spaces?
The programming vision is designed to evolve alongside future development in the surrounding area. As adjacent projects come online, they will create new opportunities for partnerships, events, and community activation.
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The Feasibility Study Final Meeting – Study Conclusion and Next Steps – Public Meeting #4 will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at MSU Detroit Center at 3408 Woodward Avenue.
The meeting is hosted by the DDP along with partners from the Michigan Department of Transportation and City of Detroit.
At this meeting, attendees will learn the new community-informed design plans for each of the caps and the next steps to take the project from vision to reality.