Detroit is quietly building one of the most ambitious urban trails in America, and 2026 is the year it starts to feel real. The Joe Louis Greenway, a planned 29-mile loop through Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Dearborn, will approach its halfway point as new segments open this year. The most striking addition: a former rail bridge in Highland Park that will carry walkers and cyclists over Woodward Avenue, a crossing that section of the corridor has never had.
Here is where the loop stands, what opens next, and why the quiet trail on the old rail line may end up mattering more than the projects downtown. For the riverfront side of the story, see our Belle Isle trail guide.
At a Glance
| The project | The Joe Louis Greenway, a planned 29-mile walking and biking loop |
| Where it stands | About 8.4 miles complete as of mid-2025, with roughly 7.1 miles under construction and 5.9 more funded, per the city |
| Opening in 2026 | The Highland Park segment from Hamilton to Woodward, including the rail bridge, plus a stretch from Dequindre to McNichols |
| The headline feature | A former rail bridge giving pedestrians a crossing over Woodward for the first time in that section |
| Who it touches | About two dozen neighborhoods, plus connections to the Dequindre Cut and RiverWalk |
| Proof of demand | The Warren Gateway trailhead alone logged about 17,000 visits in 2025 |
| Cost to use | Free |
Where the Joe Louis Greenway Stands Now
The loop is further along than most Detroiters realize. As of mid-2025, about 8.4 miles were complete, according to the city’s greenway planning team, led by chief greenway planner Idrees Mutahr. Another 7.1 miles were under construction, and 5.9 more had funding lined up. Roughly 7.2 miles still need money, so the finish line is not fully paid for yet.
Recent openings pushed the trail west and north. In 2025, crews finished segments from Joy Road to West Chicago, along Oakman Boulevard, and from Intervale to West Davison, and the city opened a new trailhead at Grand River near Oakman. That celebration came with a statue of Joe Louis as a golfer, honoring the champion’s barrier-breaking role in the sport.
What Opens on the Joe Louis Greenway in 2026
Two segments lead this year’s slate. In Highland Park, the stretch from Hamilton to Woodward is expected to finish in 2026, and it includes the project’s signature moment: a former rail bridge converted to carry the greenway over Woodward Avenue. According to Crain’s Detroit Business, that will give pedestrians and cyclists a safe crossing above the road for the first time in that section. On the east side, a roughly 0.75-mile piece from Dequindre Street to McNichols is also expected to wrap in 2026.
Meanwhile, a 1.2-mile segment from Livernois to the Lodge freeway is in early construction. Each new piece stitches the loop closer to the Dequindre Cut and the RiverWalk, which means a Detroiter will eventually ride from McNichols to the river without sharing a lane with a car.
People Are Already Voting With Their Feet
Usage numbers suggest the demand was always there. The Warren Gateway trailhead logged about 17,000 visits in 2025 and roughly 29,500 since it opened in 2023, per city figures. A short segment between Oakman and I-96 drew about 7,000 users within months of opening. For a trail that is not even half done, those are strong signs.
The spillover is physical, too. Next to the route, Intervale Roselawn Park is set for a multi-sport court, picnic shelter, playground, and walking loop, funded by a $400,000 city match and a matching state Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. In other words, the trail is pulling investment into the blocks around it, not just along it.
Why It Matters
The greenway runs through about two dozen neighborhoods, many of them far from the development booms downtown. City planners project that tens of thousands of residents will live within a short walk of the finished loop. That kind of access tends to lift nearby blocks, and the city has publicly addressed resident questions about property values and taxes as the route grows. The honest summary: the greenway is designed to bring investment to neighborhoods that have waited decades for it, and the next few years will show how well Detroit manages that growth for the people already there.
For now, the Joe Louis Greenway is free, open, and growing. Walk a finished segment this summer, and you can say you knew it before the loop closed. Follow RAW’s community coverage as the 2026 segments open.
Joe Louis Greenway FAQ
What is the Joe Louis Greenway?
A planned 29-mile walking and biking loop through Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Dearborn, connecting about two dozen neighborhoods to parks, the Dequindre Cut, and the RiverWalk.
How much of the greenway is finished?
About 8.4 miles as of mid-2025, with roughly 7.1 miles under construction and 5.9 more funded, according to the city. The 2026 openings push the loop toward its halfway point.
What parts open in 2026?
The Highland Park stretch from Hamilton to Woodward, including the rail bridge over Woodward, and a roughly 0.75-mile piece from Dequindre to McNichols. A 1.2-mile Livernois-to-Lodge segment is also under construction.
What is special about the Woodward rail bridge?
The converted rail bridge will carry the greenway over Woodward Avenue, giving walkers and cyclists a safe crossing above the busy road for the first time in that section, per Crain’s Detroit Business.
Is the Joe Louis Greenway free?
Yes. It is a free public trail network with trailheads like the Warren Gateway offering parking and access.
Published July 17, 2026. Details come from the City of Detroit, Model D, and Crain’s Detroit Business, and construction timelines can shift.