The Ann Arbor Bridge to Nowhere

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• The City acknowledged an At Grade Intersection at Stadium and State FITS within the property lines of the city.
   

• The University of Michigan is Willing to discuss ways to modify their property to beautify a walkway and efficiently integrate it with their property.
   

• A Brick Walkway from Industrial to the Stadium would provide an open space that could be beautified to welcome visitors to Ann Arbor.  Also, no more slippery, wintery walks up the bridge trying to stumble over the snow from the plows.
   

  

  You'll have to imaging the Golf Course on the Left and the Stadium in the Distance as you walk past the Field Hockey fields...
   

The City is concerned with widening streets to support more traffic.  "Possibly even 5 lanes" would be required of State St.  But...   The Study Leaves out that 3 lanes on State and 5 lanes on Stadium can be added WITHOUT ENCROACHING on private or university property!

Yes, the streets will probably require one lane each, similar to the Stadium / Packard intersection.  But, was there any real attempt to look at how these roads could be widened?  And, why does State Street - a 2 lane road need to be widened to 5 lanes in order to support connectivity?  It seems a dramatic statement meant to sway opinions.

Currently, Stadium has open space that would not require residential easements, and the same is true with State Street.  It is nice the City is concerned with what the University - a Property Tax Free enterprise - may not be receptive of.  But, what they should ultimately be concerned with is what is best for the Tax Payers in the community.

Initially, it seemed that the Field Hockey locker room may need to be encroached upon.  However, after reviewing the Washtenaw GIS system and lot lines, it is apparent that no buildings or private land would need to be encroached upon.  Frankly, there couldn't be an easier intersection in Ann Arbor to add lanes to.  There is plenty of open space even if things were a little tight - which they are not.  The city could almost fit 2 Stadium Blvds.

 

By shaving off 4 feet on the west side of State Street and moving the bike lanes to the sidewalk for the intersection, State St. can have a center turn lane.  And, moving Stadium north 1 lane would also provide for a center turn lane. 

In addition, the small residential road north of Stadium could be turned into a nice walkway, with an extended driveway alongside of it for the one house affected.  The walkway would be much safer than the current bridge.  Just spend a snowy, winter night watching people use the street as a sidewalk when they leave a Basketball Game because the grade is too slippery from the snow plowed onto it.

• The Opinion Letter is concerned with encroaching on Parking Lots and Golf Courses owned by the University.  But...   The Study Leaves out that, really, this won't need to happen!

Well, that concern looks good on paper.   And, it probably scares off some people who might want to question other aspects of the opinion.  But, Google Earth is a wonderful tool.  Take a look at the image below and see what you think.  There might be a squeeze if doubling the width of Stadium, but come on, how about listing only real concerns.  The Southern Footprint can stay the same, and one lane can clearly be added.  But, why is one even needed at this location?