I-275 Metro Trail, Oakland, Wayne, Monroe Counties, MI

Photo Gallery 1 (Ann Arbor Road to Ford Road)

History of the Metro Trail

The Michigan Department of Transportation built the I-275 Bikeway in the mid 1970's in response to the energy crisis. It was an idea whose time had not yet come. For the next 30 years, the trail fell into a state of disrepair. It lacked the construction standards and maintenance schedules of today's trails, but it did link the communities in Wayne, Oakland, and Monroe counties across a 44 mile stretch.

Present

Today, many sections of the trail have been repaired and refurbished through funding from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and federal stimulus funds. Once refurbished, these sections are often 8-10 feet wide, asphalt paved and at least 30 feet from the freeway. The section from Hines Drive to Michigan Avenue is one of the highest qualities sections. From north to south, the bikeway passes through the communities of Novi, Farmington Hills in Oakland County, Livonia, Plymouth Township, Canton Township, Wayne, Van Buren Township, Romulus, Huron Township in Wayne County and Ash Township and Frenchtown Township in Monroe County. Adjacent communities which do not actually have the bikeway running through it, but are close enough for a nonmotorized connection include: Northville Township, Plymouth, Westland, Belleville, and Flat Rock.

Access Points

There are access points all along the trail for walkers, runners, inline skaters, and cyclists. Canton access points include Michigan Avenue, Cherry Hill Road, and Ford Road. In Plymouth there are access points on Ann Arbor Rd east of I-275 and along Hines Dr, which the trail uses for a bit. The links section of this page below contains an excellent Google Interactive Map of them.