Eric D. Lawrence

Detroit Free Press

Interstate-94 would get an extra lane as part of a proposed reconstruction project in Detroit, but it would happen in the existing footprint of the highway, with grassy slopes replaced by retaining walls to accommodate a fourth lane, according to Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Rob Morosi.

MDOT would also reduce the footprint of planned service drives, in part by using the existing street network, between I-75 and I-96, Morosi said.

Morosi's comments are a preview of the discussion expected at open-house meetings this week on the controversial I-94 reconstruction and widening project, which is estimated to cost $2.9 billion and be completed in 2036.

Bridge replacement has been under way along the approximately 7-mile stretch of highway from Conner to I-96, but construction on the rest of the road is expected to start in earnest in 2019 or 2020.

MDOT listened to feedback it received on the project during a round of public meetings in July 2015 and made adjustments to its plans, Morosi said.

Are you ready? Massive I-75 project has begun

"We listened. And that's what these meetings are for, to bring proposed modifications under consideration to the public and receive additional feedback," Morosi said in an e-mail. "I think some people will be pleasantly surprised."

According to Morosi, several preferences were clear in the feedback from those meetings:

Reduce the footprint of the service drives in Midtown

Improve local neighborhood connections

Provide additional multi-modal features on certain overpass replacements

For example, so-called community connector overpasses, such as at Cass and Second avenues, could feature protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks.

MDOT has said it needs to rebuild I-94 and modernize it, pointing specifically at features like the left-hand ramps at the Lodge Freeway. In addition, MDOT forecasts increasing traffic volumes, saying that traffic in the area from I-96 to the Lodge is projected to increase from 145,500 vehicles per day in 2014 to 170,000 vehicles per day in 2036.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence.

If you go

The Michigan Department of Transportation has meetings planned for Wednesday and Thursday to provide the latest plans for the I-94 project and gather additional feedback.