Hello Neighbor, 

I want to share an exciting update with you regarding the long-awaited Allen Road Railroad Underpass Project. 

While the work has taken longer than expected, it is hard to fully emphasize just how important this project is for our community. It is not an exaggeration to say it will help first responders save lives by decreasing their response and transport times, which were halted by passing trains. 

Our communities have a lot of train tracks to support the vast industry based in Downriver, Detroit, southeast Michigan and beyond. For decades, these tracks crossing Allen Road have been a necessary, albeit frustrating, roadblock. Performing a road grade separation and constructing an underpass was a project that for decades no one thought could happen. 

This was already the most complicated and ambitious project Downriver had ever attempted. Building a bridge over the tracks was not feasible because of the intersection and the nearby Marathon refinery. The only option was to take Allen Road — a five-lane road with 30,000 cars a day — under the tracks. 

Then, COVID-19 delayed everything. But the project is moving forward! 

I know residents are frustrated by the slow pace of progress. Trust me, I am too. But please know that we are moving forward and working diligently to get this done. I will keep you up to date with the information that I have. 

Latest Updates 

We have worked through securing environmental permits (which took longer than a year of review). There were design changes. We had to work through additional agreements with various rights-of-way, and now Wayne County is in active negotiations with 11 different utility companies, which need to relocate equipment, including five underground pipes. 

Once these agreements are reached, the utility companies will begin relocating their pipelines, fiber, electrical, and telecommunications lines. 

This is expected to happen in the winter, with bridge work expected to begin in summer 2025. 

The project is expected to be completed in 2027. 

Overall construction costs have increased. However, I am proud to share that I have secured an additional $10 million in budget funding to be put toward cost overages. 

This has been a complex, intricate project requiring the juggling of a lot of variables and stakeholders. But as your State Senator, it is my role to bring the right people together to make things happen, to push agencies forward toward progress, and to secure infrastructure money from Lansing to pay for most of it.  

I will not rest until we all can successfully drive to the hospital, get to work, go home or drive around Woodhaven without getting stopped at the Allen Road train.  

None of this would have been possible without the incredible leadership of the elected officials I work with every day. Thank you to Mayor Pat Odette for your tireless leadership — and thank you to County Executive Warren Evans, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, County Commissioner Alex Garza, Deputy County Executive Assad Turfe, Woodhaven City Council members, Wayne County DPS, MDOT, EGLE, and all of the companies involved in getting us to this point for your partnership and commitment to building this underpass.  

If you have any comments, questions or concerns you want to share, please contact my office here.  

In solidarity,