This post is a compilation of all the pedestrian bridges across the Lodge Freeway from downtown to Wayne State University/I-94, plus the Trumbull Crossing bridge across I-94 because its southern end is on the WSU athletic campus. I didn’t necessarily ride these bridges in order or on the same day, so I’m going to present them from south to north (up from downtown).

The southernmost bridge across the Lodge is also the only covered bridge. It connects the municipal parking deck at 900 West Jefferson Avenue with the rear of the TCF Center. This has been my favourite pedbridge in Detroit for a while, since the cylindrical shape with porthole windows makes it look like an airplane or a space station.

The TCF Center is obviously closed due to the covid-19 pandemic, and I didn’t attempt to enter the 900 West Jefferson deck (which is open Special Events and Holidays as needed according to its website; I don’t think Sunday 12 July 2020 counted as either), so the best I can do is a few shots from afar.

Looking south from Third Street at Fort Street. Fort Street Presbyterian Church is on the left, and Wayne County Community College District's Downtown Campus is on the right.
Looking south from Third Street at Fort Street. Fort Street Presbyterian Church is on the left, and Wayne County Community College District's Downtown Campus is on the right. (embiggen)
A panorama taken from WCCCD Fort Street Plaza. The helical ramp up to the TCF Center's roof deck is on the left, and the 900 West Jefferson deck is on the right.
A panorama taken from WCCCD Fort Street Plaza. The helical ramp up to the TCF Center's roof deck is on the left, and the 900 West Jefferson deck is on the right. (embiggen)

Mentioned in captions:

The next bridge to the north is Fort Street Plaza, an overpass park on the Wayne County Community College District Downtown campus. (It’s my opinion that overpass parks count as pedbridges. They’re structures crossing a freeway upon which vehicular traffic is forbidden. If this were the Suburban Pedbridge Project, I’d consider Oak Park’s pedestrian plazas over I-696 fair game.) The Plaza includes a stepped amphitheatre area and a grassy area, and there was formerly a more traditional pedbridge over the Lodge just south of it. According to historical Street View imagery, that bridge was demolished sometime between July 2016 and August 2018.

The Plaza, looking northwest from its southeast corner.
The Plaza, looking northwest from its southeast corner. (embiggen)
Looking toward downtown. There's an area of newer concrete where the demolished bridge used to connect.
Looking toward downtown. There's an area of newer concrete where the demolished bridge used to connect. (embiggen)
“Decolonize!” graffiti on the west wall. Also, an area of newer concrete where the demolished bridge used to connect.
“Decolonize!” graffiti on the west wall. Also, an area of newer concrete where the demolished bridge used to connect. (embiggen)

The Porter Street bridge is tucked in between Most Holy Trinity Parish on Corktown’s eastern border and the Pig Farm Detroit Public Safety Headquarters. I’m always a little uneasy riding across it, since my usual route involves going east across the bridge and a bit of wrong-way sidewalk riding up the Lodge Service Drive and Howard Street to get downtown. I’m afraid that a DPD cop or federal security officer with nothing better to do will harass me for that perfectly legal biking manoeuvre.

Approaching the bridge from Most Holy Trinity, looking across it to DPSH.
Approaching the bridge from Most Holy Trinity, looking across it to DPSH. (embiggen)
Looking south toward... a LED message sign. Also the Detroit/Windsor World Trade Center, visible on the right.
Looking south toward... a LED message sign. Also the Detroit/Windsor World Trade Center, visible on the right. (embiggen)
Looking north toward MotorCity Casino Hotel.
Looking north toward MotorCity Casino Hotel. (embiggen)
Looking west from the back of DPSH, toward Most Holy Trinity.
Looking west from the back of DPSH, toward Most Holy Trinity. (embiggen)

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Speaking of MotorCity Casino Hotel, that’s very near the Spruce Street bridge, which connects MCCH’s surface lots to a small warehouse district along Grand River Avenue and Fifth Street.

Looking eastward along the bridge toward the warehouse district. There's no curb cut on this side.
Looking eastward along the bridge toward the warehouse district. There's no curb cut on this side. (embiggen)
The view south toward downtown.
The view south toward downtown. (embiggen)
The view north toward Temple Street and Core City.
The view north toward Temple Street and Core City. (embiggen)
Looking west toward the casino. This is a good crosswalk, with curb cuts and tactile bumps.
Looking west toward the casino. This is a good crosswalk, with curb cuts and tactile bumps. (embiggen)
A view of MotorCity Casino Hotel from across the Lodge.
A view of MotorCity Casino Hotel from across the Lodge. (embiggen)

The next bridge up the Lodge is Selden Street, which connects the Woodbridge Estates apartment and condo community with the Cass Corridor/Midtown commercial districts and the under-construction Midtown West condo building. The neighborhood streets in Woodbridge Estates are all named after Motown musicians and music groups, e.g. Miracles Drive, Temptations Drive, and Contours Lane.

Approaching the Selden bridge from Woodbridge Estates.
Approaching the Selden bridge from Woodbridge Estates. (embiggen)
A pile of leaves and trash accumulated on the west ramp. I should bring a rake, bin bags, and my bike trailer and clean this up sometime.
A pile of leaves and trash accumulated on the west ramp. I should bring a rake, bin bags, and my bike trailer and clean this up sometime. (embiggen)
Looking east along the bridge, toward Midtown and the site of Midtown West.
Looking east along the bridge, toward Midtown and the site of Midtown West. (embiggen)
The view south, toward MotorCity Casino Hotel and downtown. One of the Woodbridge Estates highrises is visible.
The view south, toward MotorCity Casino Hotel and downtown. One of the Woodbridge Estates highrises is visible. (embiggen)
The view north, toward Wayne State University. The former Experiencia Preparatory Academy is on the Lodge Service Drive on the right.
The view north, toward Wayne State University. The former Experiencia Preparatory Academy is on the Lodge Service Drive on the right. (embiggen)
Looking west across the bridge, toward Woodbridge Estates.
Looking west across the bridge, toward Woodbridge Estates. (embiggen)

Mentioned in captions:

Canfield Avenue is the northern border of Woodbridge Estates, and also connects the Calumet Townhomes with William Clay Ford Field and the former GEE Edmonson Academy and Detroit Day School for the Deaf.

Approaching the Canfield bridge from Calumet Townhomes.
Approaching the Canfield bridge from Calumet Townhomes. (embiggen)
Looking west along the bridge.
Looking west along the bridge. (embiggen)
The view north toward WSU.
The view north toward WSU. (embiggen)
The view south, toward Woodbridge Estates, MotorCity Casino Hotel, and downtown.
The view south, toward Woodbridge Estates, MotorCity Casino Hotel, and downtown. (embiggen)
Looking east from the west end of the bridge.
Looking east from the west end of the bridge. (embiggen)

The two northernmost bridges of this post both have one end in the Wayne State University. The more southerly of the two is signed as Merrick Street, though I just think of it as the WSU Athletics pedbridge. It’s very Wayne State-themed.

Looking southeast at the west end of the Merrick bridge. Manoogian Hall is in the distance.
Looking southeast at the west end of the Merrick bridge. Manoogian Hall is in the distance. (embiggen)
Looking east along the bridge, toward WSU's main campus.
Looking east along the bridge, toward WSU's main campus. (embiggen)
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The view south, toward MCCH, downtown, etc.
The view south, toward MCCH, downtown, etc. (embiggen)
The view north, toward the I-94 interchange that's under construction.
The view north, toward the I-94 interchange that's under construction. (embiggen)
“Cycling Is Not a Crime” sticker on the handrail of the east ramp.
“Cycling Is Not a Crime” sticker on the handrail of the east ramp. (embiggen)
The east ramp, painted up in Wayne State colours.
The east ramp, painted up in Wayne State colours. (embiggen)

Mentioned in captions:

The other WSU Athletic Campus pedbridge, and the last one on today’s tour, isn’t actually across the Lodge. It’s the Brooklyn Avenue (signed)/Trumbull Crossing (what I think of it as) bridge across I-94, which links the Trumbull Crossing highrise with Adams Field, WSU’s football stadium.

Approaching the Brooklyn Avenue bridge from the grounds of Trumbull Crossing. A curb means that folks on wheels (bicycles, wheelchairs, etc) can't approach it from the driveway.
Approaching the Brooklyn Avenue bridge from the grounds of Trumbull Crossing. A curb means that folks on wheels (bicycles, wheelchairs, etc) can't approach it from the driveway. (embiggen)
And poor pavement condition around the sewer hole cover means that it's difficult even to approach it from the sidewalk.
And poor pavement condition around the sewer hole cover means that it's difficult even to approach it from the sidewalk. (embiggen)
Looking south down the bridge. More pavement in poor repair.
Looking south down the bridge. More pavement in poor repair. (embiggen)
The view east toward the Lodge Freeway interchange.
The view east toward the Lodge Freeway interchange. (embiggen)
The view west toward Trumbull Avenue.
The view west toward Trumbull Avenue. (embiggen)
Trumbull Crossing.
Trumbull Crossing. (embiggen)
The helical ramp on the bridge's south end.
The helical ramp on the bridge's south end. (embiggen)
Adams Field.
Adams Field. (embiggen)
The iron supports for the ramp. I wonder if the spindly concrete beams were deemed insufficient.
The iron supports for the ramp. I wonder if the spindly concrete beams were deemed insufficient. (embiggen)
A panorama from Adams Field to Trumbull Crossing.
A panorama from Adams Field to Trumbull Crossing. (embiggen)