Location: Between East William & East Washington - Ann Arbor Concrete Contractor: GM & Sons, Inc. Concrete Supplier: Doan Company Prime Contractor: Fonson Company Design Engineer: Wade Trim & Smith Group Project Owner: City of Ann Arbor & Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority QA/QC: Intertek PSI
Completed in the fall of 2023, the State Street Curbless Street is a pedestrian-focused street in the heart of the State Street District, bordering the University of Michigan’s central campus. Rebuilding this 3-block stretch of roadway spanned over two full construction seasons, from William Street to Washington Street.
The project included:
A complete reconstruction of sidewalks and the street in concrete for long-term durability.
Audible pedestrian signals.
“All-walk” pedestrian signal phases at Liberty, William, & North University.
New LED street lighting.
Extensive stormwater management including underground infiltration systems and rain gardens.
New watermain.
Curbside parking lanes that can also be used for other purposes during special events.
A shared-use path from William to North University.
8-inch thick, fiber-reinforced concrete pavement.
The move was made to prioritize pedestrians in this stretch by improving safety and accessibility.Pedestrian traffic far outnumbers vehicular traffic along this route, and the curbless design will allow for the most flexibility in how the street is used.
Before construction, there were two northbound lanes on State Street, with parking only on the southbound lane. The completed project includes one lane of traffic in either direction, along with some parking on both sides of the street.
The curbless design will allow businesses along State Street to introduce café dining and outdoor retailing. It will also support special events.The design includes many visual cues for drivers to slow down and understand the expected traffic flow.
The project includes complete reconstruction of the street, streetscape, and intersections with the curbless design from William to North University.Although curbs have largely been eliminated, valley gutters were installed in their place for water to drain the concrete surface.
