Detroit Infrastructu

reKatie King - Miles Bowman

Michael Leone - Eric Chang

Pedestrian Bridge Collapse

Crash Details• M-39/ Southfield Freeway• A boom on the truck was extended, causing the crash (driver error)

• Driver dead, no other injuries, two cars hit by debris

• Built in 1961• Bridge was not replaced with the freeway in 2009• Inspected by officials in May• Due to be replaced in 2017• Crash was not a structural issue

Bridge Background

• MDOT is working to estimate damage costs

• Insurance money from the trucking company is expected to reimburse the cost of rebuilding

• Unclear when the bridge will be rebuilt• Even if the bridge was new it would not have withstood the collision

Overview

Detroit’s Sewage: A Continuum of

Problems

Prior Issues (August, 2013)

• 980 million gallon maximum compromised by 1.5 billion gallon rainfall

• Result: 110 million gallons of raw sewage sent into Detroit River• Six days after, another 75 million gallons released due to similar situation

Recent Issues (August, 2014)

• Over 800 million gallons of raw sewage dumped into the Detroit River in less than a week• Combination of sewage and low-regulation fertilizer dumping caused record breaking algae in Lake Erie

• The Oakland Commissioners Board is voting whether or not to “take action”• Will give Oakland County a “say-so” in Detroit’s Great Lakes Authority Board• Payments will go into needed repairs and updates for the sewage system

What’s Being Done

First Unitarian Church and

Michigan Central Station

First Unitarian Church – 124 year old church

Michigan Central Station – Famous Detroit Landmark for Decay

First Unitarian Church

• Built in 1890 on Woodward Avenue and Edmund Place

• Joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, but abandoned in the 1990’s

• Stained glass was preserved and is currently in the DIA

First Unitarian Church

• Burned down on May 10, 2014• Controversy with owner, Salim Kemenko• Demolished after burned down

Michigan Central Station

• Opened in 1913 during peak of America’s Rail boom

• Tallest rail station in the world when built

• Closed in 1988 due to competition from highways and airways

Michigan Central Station

• However, MCS is going through a slow revival

• Improvements such as restoration of roof, windows, electricity, and removal of asbestos

Michigan Central Station

• On June 10, 2014, permits for a 9,000lb capacity freight elevator and other safety improvements were confirmed

Packard Plant

Packard Plant-History

• The Packard plant is constructed in 1903 along East Grand Boulevard.

• The plant produced luxury cars and even sold more than Cadillac.

• First plant to use reinforced concrete for industrial construction

• Ceased manufacturing in 1957.

Packard Plant

Packard Plant-Current Events

• The Packard plant was auctioned off.• Fernando Palazuelo, from Spain, is

the current owner.• Paid $405,000 for the initial down-

payment. • Plans to completely re-develop the

area which would cost millions more of dollars.

• Was very successful in transforming abandoned buildings in Spain.

• Determined to keep several pieces of graffiti as art.

• Will restore the plant for commercial, industrial, and culture use.

Any Questions?