Committee moves $1.15 million Joe Louis Greenway segment to formal session after Q&A on trailhead and timeline

The Neighborhood Community Service Standing Committee moved a $1,149,165.89 contract for a segment of the Joe Louis Greenway to formal session with a recommendation for approval after Vice Chair Scott Benson questioned staff about amenities and schedule.

Assistant Director Alex Weatherup of General Services told the committee the project will build a shared-use path along the I‑75 service drive from the area of Junction and Clark, with new lighting, planting, concrete curbs and a small trailhead at Clark Park featuring seating and signage. Weatherup said the path will connect to a pedestrian bridge over I‑75 and that signage and programming will emphasize a connection to the Gordie Howe Bridge and Windsor.

Benson asked for specifics about the trailhead’s amenities, renderings and the project timeline. Weatherup said he did not have renderings ready at the meeting but would provide them before the committee’s next Tuesday meeting. He said construction would start in April if approved, with an 18‑month construction window that makes 2027 the likely completion year; the contract term listed in the agenda extends through Feb. 2, 2028, as a contingency.

The agenda described the contract as 100% grant-funded and listed Major Contractor Group, Inc. as the contractor and 12222 Greenfield Road as the contract location. The office of contracting and procurement presented the total contract amount as $1,149,165.89. The committee’s formal action at the meeting was to move line item 6.5 to formal session with a recommendation for approval.

The committee asked staff to provide a site plan or renderings and additional detail on the trailhead amenities before the next meeting. Weatherup said he would forward the renderings and more detailed schedule and scope information to council members.