CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW
CHELSEA-STOCKBRIDGE CORRIDOR
M52 Toward Stockbridge
Construction began this year on a new trail segment along the east side of M-52 in Lyndon Township. This segment will add 1.6 miles, starting at M-52 and North Territorial, extending to Boyce Road. This project includes grading, paving the trail, and tree planting and improvements to the existing trail south of the trailhead near the DTE Trail connection.
As of November 2023, grading is 70% complete and paving is 50% complete; we are looking to the spring to open this trail segment, bringing us closer to the western Washtenaw County border!
Chelsea Connection
Supported by the MEDC Chelsea Connection Campaign, Phase B of construction on this 1.1 mile segment is open between Werkner Road and Timbertown/Veteran’s Park.
A short unfinished gap remains on the trail due to the construction project replacing the culvert under M-52. The culvert is located just North of the Staffan Mitchell Funeral Home. The culvert was replaced in October. The pathway above the culvert will be paved in the spring.
Once this project is complete and the North Territorial to Boyce Road segment is open this spring, visitors to the Chelsea-Stockbridge corridor will be able to enjoy 7.9 miles of trail!
DEXTER-CHELSEA CORRIDOR
As of November 2023, grading is 90% complete and paving 70% complete on the 0.7 mile trail segment that will complete the remaining distance from Wylie Road to Parker Road. This active project will be complete in Spring 2024 with the installation of a short bridge to the west of the Miller-Smith Preserve.
Looking ahead to 2024, the City of Dexter is exploring pathway options for the 0.8 mile trail segment that will make the final connection into downtown Dexter. The plan is to use the historical Bell Road Bridge to cross Mill Creek as it connects to the trail near Forest Lawn Cemetery. This bridge is a 105-foot wrought iron bridge that was constructed in 1891.
As we work toward making the final connections between Dexter and Chelsea, parking will be challenging along this segment. Once the corridor is complete, there will be parking and safe public access. Until then, if you do park in this area, please do not use Beacon Hill Drive as it is a private road.
HUDSON MILLS METROPARK CORRIDOR
Updates will be reported here as trail progress continues.
ANN ARBOR-DEXTER CORRIDOR
Construction on Phase II of the Zeeb to Delhi trail segment I will soon pause until spring 2024.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission is administering this construction project. The latest updates can be found at https://www.wcroads.org/wcrc-project/b2b-huron-river-dr-trail/
According to a statement from the Road Commission in November 2023, “The contractor has a few more items to finish up before the end of the construction season. In the next couple of weeks, residents can expect to see fence work, repair of crossroad cuts in the road surface, shoulder paving on Zeeb Rd near Huron River Dr, and slope stabilization near one of the retaining walls of the trail. Unfortunately, railroad approvals and the contractor schedule have pushed paving of the pathway and bridge erection to 2024.”
This project adds 1.3 miles of trail extending from Zeeb Road to East Delhi Road and includes the fourth B2B Trail bridge over the Huron River.
This project will complete a total of 4.6 miles of continuous trail east of Dexter toward Ann Arbor and connect all three Metroparks within Washtenaw County!
Plans for a 1.0 mile segment from Delhi Metropark to Wagner Road along Huron River Dr. have begun with a projected timeline starting in 2024/2025.
ANN ARBOR CORRIDOR
Construction is planned to begin in 2024 on a 0.63 Mile segment that will cross the Barton Nature Area.
Looking ahead to 2024/2025, we are excited about the construction of the Barton Bandemer Tunnel which will pass under the railroad line connecting Bandemer Park to Huron River Drive along the B2B Trail.
YPSILANTI CORRIDOR
Looking ahead within the City of Ypsilanti, enhancements to Riverside Park, such as the development of a trail segment and the expansion of the parking lot, are anticipated in the coming years.
B2B TRAIL WAYFINDING
To improve the usability of the trails for residents and visitors, WCPARC is developing a series of wayfinding signs and structures to be installed across the Border to Border Trail system. Installations are planned to roll out in 2023/2024 and continue over the next couple of seasons. Features will include:
- Primary orientation nodes will be installed at large parking access points with supporting trail amenities where people will be encouraged to park as primary access points. These structures will help to encourage sitting/resting, viewing, and further exploring before heading out on the trail. Content that will go on the primary orientation nodes will include local and regional trail maps, emergency contact information and trail etiquette guides.
- Secondary nodes – Map stations placed at highly visible spots at small parking access points, local access points, and intersecting trails.
- Directional signage will include a linear trail map with mile markers and miles to the next major destination point with amenity notes.
- Blazes will be used frequently on free-standing posts or attached to an existing post.
- Pavement markings will be used on the ground frequently where there is a turn or a choice to be made that could potentially cause users to leave the trail.
CONNECTING TRAIL UPDATES
Iron Belle Trail – Van Buren Township
- Segment B – Rawsonville Rd through Van Buren Park
- Description: A 1.25 mile segment that began in fall 2022 is complete.
- Van Buren Township hosted a ribbon cutting celebration in October to mark the opening of this trail segment. The DTE Foundation created a video for the occasion – DTE Foundation Helps To Open Iron Belle Trail
- Segments J and K – Huron River Dr. to Lower Huron Metropark
- Description: A 0.9-mile segment. Plans and permits are being finalized now, with construction planned for 2024.
- Estimated Completion: 2024
Overall, the Van Buren Trail should be nearly 70% complete by the end of 2024.
Photos below show progress on Van Buren Trail Segment B.
