Reconnecting Detroit through the I-75 Cap Feasibility Study
The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the City of Detroit, selected us to lead the I-75 Cap Feasibility Study in downtown Detroit.
Funded by a $2 million FY2023 U.S. Department of Transportation Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program planning grant, the study represents a critical step toward advancing a community-driven vision to reconnect Detroit鈥檚 neighborhoods historically divided by I-75. By exploring the creation of new public park spaces above the freeway, the project aims to transform a longstanding transportation barrier into an opportunity for connectivity, placemaking and inclusive growth.
The feasibility study will evaluate three proposed park cap locations spanning I-75 near Brush Street, Woodward Avenue and W. Grand River Avenue.
What are highway caps?
Highway caps are structures built over highways with the intention of reconnecting communities. Benefits from highway caps may include enhanced mobility, environmental benefits and added public space serving as an anchor for current and future development.
Bridging Detroit鈥檚 communities
Like many urban freeways built in the mid-20th century, I-75 reshaped Detroit鈥檚 urban fabric, creating physical and social divisions between neighborhoods. Through thoughtful planning and design, the proposed park caps seek to restore connections while creating vibrant civic spaces that support economic activity, cultural identity and everyday community life.
Earlier engagement efforts, led by DDP and community partners, identified a series of three park caps as the preferred alternative to an earlier concept that would have capped a continuous section of I-75 between Brush Street and 3rd Avenue. The distributed cap approach provides greater flexibility to strengthen connections between key destinations across downtown.
Potential connections include Ford Field and the Brush Park Historic District; the Fox Theatre entertainment corridor and Little Caesars Arena; the area surrounding Cass Tech High School and the future University of Michigan Center for Innovation along W. Grand River Avenue and W. Columbia Street.
Together, the new public spaces that the caps provide will create a network of green connections that enhance mobility, support local businesses and provide welcoming gathering destinations for residents and visitors.
A multidisciplinary approach
From August 2025 through August 2026, we will lead a multidisciplinary team delivering integrated engineering, urban design and community engagement services to evaluate the project鈥檚 feasibility and implementation pathway.
Key areas of focus include:
Community engagement
Working closely with residents, stakeholders and local organizations, the team will develop inclusive outreach strategies and host public meetings to ensure the designs reflect community priorities and aspirations.
Public space design
Urban design and landscape architecture teams will develop schematic park cap concepts and placemaking strategies for the three proposed locations, while identifying opportunities to enhance adjacent streetscapes and right-of-way corridors.
Transportation and infrastructure engineering
Engineers will analyze traffic operations, pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, and transit interactions, while preparing early-stage engineering assessments and environmental documentation to support future project phases.
Building a more connected future
The I-75 Cap Feasibility Study builds on prior planning and community engagement efforts completed in 2024 and represents a key step toward implementation. The study will establish the technical and strategic foundation needed to advance the project into future design and funding phases.
Final deliverables will include conceptual designs, updated cost estimates, construction phasing strategies and long-term operations and maintenance recommendations.
By combining community insight with our integrated planning, engineering and design expertise, the project will help position Detroit to transform a divisive piece of infrastructure into a series of dynamic public spaces that reconnect neighborhoods and support the city鈥檚 continued revitalization.
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