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US-23 Improvement Study - Ann Arbor
MDOT is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) study on US-23 in Washtenaw County. This corridor carries approximately 80,000 vehicles on a typical weekday.
The US-23 project scope has changed and MDOT is moving forward with a new alternative that best fits the community’s needs while providing improvements to roadway pavement, bridges, multimodal mobility, and safety. Alternatives that have been studied and dismissed from consideration include the addition of a high-occupancy vehicle lane, flex lane, and general-purpose lane.
Throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, MDOT evaluated environmental, traffic and community impacts while working closely with the City of Ann Arbor, The Ride, community stakeholders, and the public. After extensive engagement activities, MDOT has listened and is proceeding forward with a new alternative titled Safely Connecting Communities. This new alternative has been carefully considered and is intended to enhance the overall transportation experience for the Washtenaw County community.
The project study limits have been revised: the new northern study limit ends just north of Earhart Road while the new southern study limit ends just south of US-23 and I-94.
The new Safely Connecting Communities alternative under consideration includes:
- Rebuilding two lanes in each direction.
- Improvements to accommodate future transit plans.
- Improvements on the westbound I-94 ramp to northbound US-23.
- Rebuilding and reconfiguring the US-23/Washtenaw Avenue interchange.
- Rebuilding and preventive maintenance of nine bridges and incorporating multimodal improvements.
- Safety improvements.
Contacts
Project manager
Jason Pittman | 517-780-7540
Media
Aaron Jenkins | 517-243-9075
Public outreach
Monica Monsma | 517-335-4381
Get involved
Overview
A Purpose and Need statement will be prepared that establishes the project’s overall goals. This document will be developed based on input from the communities, users of US-23, and property owners and residents, as part of a public involvement plan. The Purpose and Need will form the foundation to develop and evaluate alternatives. The EA will be performed per the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess impacts to the environment resulting from any of the proposed alternatives, which also includes a no-action alternative.
An aesthetic guide will also be developed with community input to address the aesthetic and landscape elements that complement and integrate with the area’s physical contexts along the corridor. The aesthetic guide will provide a vision and a series of recommendations to be implemented during the design and construction of the project.
Engagement opportunities
The outcome of this project will be shaped by public and stakeholder input. Community and stakeholder participation is important, and the engagement process will incorporate community values early on and carry those through the Purpose and Need, alternative development, evaluation, selection of a preferred alternative, and design.
There will be multiple ways and opportunities throughout the project process for public participation, including live workshops and online surveys.
Questions? Submit your questions or comments on the proposed US-23 project.