Woodward Avenue Lane Closures In Ferndale, As $9.6M Project Begins

FERNDALE, MI — Road work to permanently reduce Woodward Avenue between 8 Mile Road and Interstate 696 in Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge to three lanes began Monday morning, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The Woodward Moves project will reduce a lane in each direction on Woodward Avenue to add bike lanes in both directions, as well as other road work including resurfacing, curb improvements and sidewalk upgrades, according to state officials.

The $9 million project (with $5.6 million from MDOT) will be broken into two phases with most of the work being done project in 2023, according to state officials.

During the first phase of the project, which will include road resurfacing, curb replacement and sidewalk upgrades on Woodward Avenue, drivers can expect the left lanes in both directions on the road to be closed with double lane closures at night, according to state officials. The work is expected to be completed by November.

The second phase of the project was expected to begin in spring 2023 and continue through fall, and will include adding the bike lanes, working on traffic signals as well as more road resurfacing on Woodward Avenue, according to state officials.

The project was spurred out of public safety concerns, particularly in Ferndale, as more people transition toward walking, biking and riding scooters in the area.

"This is a pivotal moment for this community," Ferndale Mayor Melanie Piana. "Streets and communities where walking and biking is safe and accessible are areas where people thrive. This project is about letting Woodward Avenue evolve to meet the needs of the current and future residents, businesses, and visitors."