Roadways of Dearborn, Michigan

Overview of Dearborn’s Roads

Dearborn has an extensive network of roads that facilitate transportation and connect different parts of the city. Some key things to know about Dearborn’s roads:

Main Highways

The main highways running through Dearborn are Interstate 94, Interstate 275, Michigan Avenue (M-153), and Outer Drive. These high-capacity roads allow for high-speed travel into and out of Dearborn.

Major Arterials

Beyond the highways, arteries like Michigan Ave, Telegraph Road, Ford Road, and Greenfield Road serve as major east-west routes, while arteries like Southfield Freeway (M-39), Wyoming Ave, and Warren Ave serve as key north-south routes. These roads allow travel between neighborhoods.

Historic Ford Road

Ford Road has special significance in Dearborn as it runs right by Ford Motor Company’s massive River Rouge Complex. The name honors Ford Motor Company’s history in Dearborn.

Neighborhood Streets

Dearborn has an extensive network of residential streets that run through the city’s neighborhoods and provide access to homes, shops, and other destinations. Most streets have two lanes.

Key Roads and Highways

Here is more detail on some of the most significant roads and highways in Dearborn:

Interstate 94

I-94 runs east-west through the middle of Dearborn, connecting it to Detroit and Ann Arbor. It has three lanes in each direction and speeds limits ranging from 55 to 70 mph. Exits include Oakwood Blvd, Telegraph Rd, Michigan Ave, and more.

Interstate 275

I-275 forms part of Dearborn’s southern border with a north-south orientation. It allows quick access to/from western Wayne County suburbs like Livonia and Farmington Hills. It has two travel lanes in each direction.

Michigan Ave (M-153)

Michigan Ave starts in downtown Detroit and runs westward through Dearborn. It is an extremely important arterial with connections to the Ford campus, the Henry Ford museum complex, Greenfield Village, Umich-Dearborn and other destinations.

Southfield Freeway (M-39)

M-39 runs north-south through western Dearborn, curving into Oakwood Blvd. It provides an alternative north-south route to Telegraph Rd.

Telegraph Road

Telegraph Rd runs up through the middle of Dearborn in a north-south orientation, intersecting with the Ford campus and Michigan Ave. It is one of metro Detroit’s most prominent arterial roads.

Outer Drive / Greenfield Road

These parallel east-west roads provide alternatives to Michigan Ave a bit further north and south, spanning between Southfield Fwy and Telegraph Rd.

Key Intersections and Landmarks

Some key intersections and nearby landmarks in Dearborn:

Michigan Ave and Oakwood Blvd

• Major east-west and north-south routes intersect
• Near Ford World Headquarters and Ford Research campus

Michigan Ave and Greenfield Rd

• Marks entrance to UM-Dearborn campus
• Also near Henry Ford Centennial Library main branch

Michigan Ave and Telegraph Rd

• Metro Detroit’s busiest intersections
• Near massive Ford Rouge manufacturing complex

Southfield Fwy and Michigan Ave

• Southfield Fwy terminates at Michigan Ave here
• Marks Dearborn’s eastside border with Detroit

Neighborhood Streets

In addition to the main arteries, Dearborn has many residential streets that run through its neighborhoods:

West Dearborn

West Dearborn neighborhoods like Dearborn Hills are situated west of Telegraph and feature winding streets and cul-de-sacs. Lots of trees lend to scenic drives.

East Dearborn

East Dearborn features a traditional street grid system, with numbered streets running north-south and lettered streets going east-west. Block lengths vary.

South End

South End features straight narrow residential roads flanked closely by homes, including lots of brick streets lending to iconic Dearborn charm.

Vehicle Traffic and Congestion

With Ford headquarters, several manufacturing plants, and other large employers, Dearborn sees very high vehicle traffic volumes, especially during rush hour:

Morning Traffic

Many major roads back up between 7-9am as people commute into Dearborn. Particularly congested roads include Telegraph Rd, Southfield Fwy, Michigan Ave eastbound, and Greenfield Rd eastbound.

Evening Traffic

Evenings see heavy traffic from 4-6pm on arteries leading out of Dearborn, like Michigan Ave westbound, Telegraph Rd northbound, and the Interstates. Friday rush hour starts earlier.

Ford Shift Changes

Shift changes at Ford plants also snarl traffic at non-standard times, including early morning and mid-afternoon changeovers.

Game Days

Traffic on Michigan Ave and near Ford Field is very heavy on Detroit Lions game days. Oakwood Blvd also backs up near UM-Dearborn’s athletic facilities during events.

Public Transportation Options

Beyond personal vehicles, Dearborn offers some public transportation options:

SMART Bus System

Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) runs several bus routes through Dearborn. Major routes include Michigan Ave, Telegraph Rd, Greenfield Rd and others.

Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT)

DDOT crosses into Dearborn with Route #47 (Vernor) and Route #82 (Michigan), linking East Dearborn with Downtown Detroit.

Dearborn Street Railway

This non-profit offers weekend trolley/shuttle rides passing by Dearborn attractions, mostly aimed at visitors without cars.

Amtrak Station

While not mass transit, Dearborn’s Amtrak station serves the Wolverine line from Chicago and the Pontiac line from Detroit.

Transportation Center

Dearborn’s new Transportation Center near Wagner Place will eventually combine multiple transport modes like SMART and shuttle buses in one central hub.

Cycling Infrastructure

Dearborn has added increased cycling infrastructure recently:

Bike Lanes

You can find designated on-street bike lanes on Livernois Rd, Wyoming St, and segments of Oakwood St plus a few other roads.

Share the Road

Many roads have “Share the Road” signage and “sharrows” to remind motorists that bikes may be present, like on Military St.

Trails & Routes

Off-road hiking/biking trails like the Rouge River Trail also serve as cycling arteries. The Iron Belle Trail for cross-state journeys passes through.

Bike Racks & Storage

Bike racks and storage units can be found at most major destinations like the Ford Campus, UM-Dearborn, and municipal facilities.

Winter Roadway Maintenance

Dearborn faces significant snow and freezing weather during winter:

Salting Highways

Key roads like expressways, Telegraph and Michigan get salted whenever ice is expected to prevent slippery conditions.

Plowing Operations

Major snow events lead to declaring “Snow Emergencies” where parking on key routes is prohibited for 1-2 days so plows can fully clear everything curb-to-curb.

Neighborhood Streets

Residential streets typically get plowed within 24 hours of major snowfalls ending. Clean-up can take 2-3 days to hit every subdivision in the city.

Alleys

Depending on available resources, alleys may take longer to reach and will generally only get plowed if impassable.

Roadway Expansions

Due to high traffic volumes, Dearborn has seen several road upgrade projects in recent years:

Southfield Freeway

Southfield Fwy was expanded to double its width for most of its length through Dearborn.

Michigan Ave West

West of Military, Michigan Ave added a center left turn lane and upgraded intersections to ease congestion.

Lilly Road Bridge

The new Lilly Rd bridge over I-94 reduced a huge bottleneck near Ford headquarters and improved access to parking areas.

Wagner Place

Current Wagner Place construction will significantly expand road capacity plus add the multi-modal Transportation Center.

More expansions are likely on the horizon to upgrade Dearborn’s transportation network.

Historic Streets

Dearborn also has some iconic historic streets and pathways:

Rouge Plant Ramps

The famous pedestrian/vehicle ramps winding through the Rouge manufacturing campus have been used for decades and appeared in films like “8 Mile”.

Park Place

The curving Park Place once led guests to Henry and Clara Ford’s estate, and still boasts early 20th century homes from Ford execs.

Miller Road

Miller Rd in West Dearborn was the closest thing the city had to a “downtown” in the 1920s and still holds many beautiful Art Deco structures.

Ranking Dearborn’s Roads

Best Roads

Based on scenery, amenities, and transportation functionality, here are some picks for Dearborn’s best roads:

1. Michigan Ave – Ideal blend of shopping, sights, walkability and vehicle capacity
2. Park Place – Ultra scenic winding road through historic district
3. Miller Road – Quaint vintage buildings with classic “Main St” feel

Worst Roads

In terms of congestion, disrepair, and safety issues, these rank among Dearborn’s most troublesome roads:

1. Telegraph Rd – Notorious for potholes and heavy traffic at all hours
2. Greenfield Rd – Narrow for a major E-W artery leading to accidents and frustration
3. Wyoming Ave – Odd offsets, 4-way stops, and speeders threaten pedestrians

Closing Thoughts

Dearborn’s roads aim to balance neighborhood livability with moving people and commerce efficiently. Major investments overtime have built an advanced network that supports residents and major employers alike. While frustrations can occur, most roads allow people to navigate the city smoothly. Ongoing improvement projects promise to enhance Dearborn’s connectivity continually into the future.