Detroit To Build A Self-Driving Corridor To Ann Arbor

• This would be the first of its kind in the country.

• The project aims to remind all that Michigan is still at the epicenter of the auto industry.

Detroit is seeing betters, and has seen better days, as we all know. Among the many efforts put forth by many organizations is the creation of this new roadway that will connect downtown Detroit to Ann Arbor. Ford is one of the project’s partners.

This new road will mean a great many things to southeast Michigan. The area was once the hub of all things automotive and many want to see this become the case once more. Ford is among the players involved in the undertaking but they also have other ongoing projects, namely renovating the Michigan Central Depot and surrounding buildings to the tune of $750 million. This building will serve as an “innovation” hub housing some 5,000 employees.

Ford’s stake in the roadway relates to the connected and autonomous vehicle corridor that will be integrated into the new road. The latter, according to detroitnews.com, will connect key milestones as the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, the University of Michigan, and more.

Project partners include the Michigan Department of Transportation, the American Center for Mobility, and the University of Michigan. Leading the project team is Cavnue, a company that “builds, owns, operates and invests in both advanced infrastructure projects and technology companies with innovations that enable and apply to those projects,” according to its website.

The route would be publicly accessible and include both public transit and a number of autonomous shared mobility options. There’s still much to be done before construction begins, including determining the exact route, and many other considerations. The feasibility study will take up to two years.