Joseph Campau Greenway near riverfront breaks ground

Detroit is about to get another greenway.

In one of many streetscaping and infrastructure projects taking place this year, the city of Detroit broke ground on the Joseph Campau Greenway. The 1.2-mile non-motorized path will run from the riverfront to Vernor Highway through Elmwood Park. Total cost for the greenway is expected to be $4.9 million.

On-street improvements will be made to Joseph Campau Street, which will connect to the greenway between Larned Street and Jefferson Avenue. Pedestrian street crossing will be made easier s well.

According to the city, it will be adding the following elements:

• A 10-foot shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists
• Play opportunities and recreation features
• Benches
• Outdoor power stations
• Mile markers
• Green stormwater infrastructure
• Clear entryways along the greenway
• Landscape buffers between the greenway and residential areas

The city says the project will be done in two phases, with both being complete by fall 2020.

“The Joseph Campau Greenway will become a tremendous asset for residents living in east side neighborhoods and it will provide them with direct access to the riverfront,” said Mark Wallace, president and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, in a release.

This is yet another example of the city’s investment in non-motorized infrastructure. In 2007, there were about 13 miles of bike lanes in Detroit. Today, there’s nearly 240, almost all of which have been laid down in the last few years.

This greenway will be about 0.25 miles east of the Dequindre Cut Greenway, which opened along a former Grand Trunk Railroad line in 2009. As part of its East Riverfront Plan, the city also included plans for a Beltline Greenway between Mount Elliott Street and East Grand Boulevard. According to Crain’s Detroit Business, construction of the Beltline has been delayed due to difficulties acquiring land.