The Link Detroit project will connect a series of greenways by extending the Dequindre Cut, linking it to the Midtown Loop and the Hamtramck Trail, making streetscape improvements at Eastern Market and addressing a series of deteriorating bridges within the help of a $10 million federal grant.

((Detroit Public Works))

The Link Detroit project would connect the the Midtown Loop to an extended Dequindre Cut, and the Hamtramck Trail, make streetscape improvements at Eastern Market and address a series of deteriorating bridges.

DETROIT, MI -- Construction on a major recreation/transportation infrastructure upgrade is set to begin along and in between a series of greenways in Detroit and Hamtramck.

Bicyclists and administrators at Eastern Market are preparing a celebration of the start of construction on Link Detroit, a project that will extend the Dequindre Cut, link it to the Midtown Loop and the Hamtramck Trail, make streetscape improvements at Eastern Market and address a series of deteriorating bridges.

A $10 million federal transportation grant announced last year will help pay for the project.

The Dequindre Cut, is a popular bike and pedestrian trail built over an abandoned rail line.

The current 1.35-mile path starts near the Detroit River and ends abruptly at Gratiot Avenue. The extention will take it through Eastern Market. The city bought a half-mile stretch of former Grand Trunk Railroad land for the extension a year ago, using $500,000 from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

"This is a major, major connection," said Todd Scott, Detroit coordinator for the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. "I don't know if people realize how important this connection is."

He said workers quietly broke ground on the project last month in order to meet a deadline required by the grant funding, and that major work is expected to begin soon.

Surveying work has been underway, but it's unclear how soon visible progress will begin. Scott said the project has to move along quickly, "because of the nature of the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant that the city got."

"The grant is designed to be used quickly and create jobs rapidly," he said.

A 6 p.m., Sept. 26 celebration at Eastern Market is planned.

"I think its an amazing project," Scott said. "When the Dequindre Cut was first proposed, people were unsure about it and after they saw it, they got excited about it."

View the full, original Link Detroit proposal here.

Follow MLive Detroit reporter Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Detroit Khalil. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.