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Detroit, Ferndale invest in 8 Mile, Woodward overpass while staying sensitive to the homeless
Both cities contributed $100,000 each and an additional $25,000 was donated by TCF bank. Lights will be installed, Murals will be painted on both sides of the underpass, and people in need will be given assistance.
FERNDALE, Mich. (FOX 2) - Road work on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge is expected to begin this week. The construction will include resurfacing, curb improvements, bike lanes, and removing a lane from each side of Woodward.
Work begins Oct. 17 and will span from 8 Mile to I-696.
The work is expected to proceed in two phases with the majority of the work happening in 2023. The road work will cost $9 million in total, including $5.6 million from MDOT for resurfacing and $2 million in grants. The cities of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge are contributing about $1.3 million.
Among the more dramatic changes coming is the reduction of two lanes on Woodward - one heading north and the other heading south. The city councils of bot Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge approved the road work, which will replace the lanes with bike lanes for cyclists to use.
The move is meant to accommodate more alternative means of transportation like bikes and scooters since fewer cars drive on Woodward.
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Another big change coming are improvements to intersections. The new design will shift the crosswalk back from the road, allowing cars to pull past area and not obstruct pedestrians while trying to turn onto Woodward.
Several streets that exit onto Woodward can be difficult to turn from because parked cars, trees, and other obstacles obstruct the vision of the driver.
RELATED: Big changes coming to Woodward in Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge
Ferndale says the work will create 15 feet of space for walkers and cyclists without turning cars getting in the way.
"We really do need to offer a safer environment to people who live in Ferndale, and who life coming to our walkable city," Ferndale Mayor Melanie Piana told FOX 2 in January.
The other changes coming to the road include increasing access to curb ramps.
MDOT had already planned on redoing Woodward when the cities proposed some of their own improvements. The spring work will go from April to September 2023.
Learn more about the Woodward Moves project here.