Stay Informed as Ann Arbor Plans for Busy Road Construction Season
Ann Arbor’s 2026 construction season will be one of the busiest in recent memory. A convergence of long-planned capital improvements, major utility upgrades, transportation investments, and private development will result in a significant volume of work concentrated in and around the downtown core this spring, summer and fall. Downtown Ann Arbor will remain open for business, special events will proceed and parking structures will be accessible.
From East Kingsley Street in the north to East Hoover Avenue in the south, and from Observatory Street in the east to Third Street in the west, residents, employees, students and visitors should expect sustained construction activity between April and November. There will be road closures, lane reductions, shifting traffic patterns and intermittent utility work.
This level of activity reflects years of planning and community input. Many of the projects scheduled for 2026 are critical to maintaining safe and reliable infrastructure, meeting sustainability and mobility goals, supporting housing development and boosting Ann Arbor’s vitality. While the short-term impacts will be noticeable, the long-term benefits will serve the community for decades to come.
What to expect when traveling in greater downtown
Some projects are expected to require full or partial road closures at points during the construction season. Others will require one or more lane closures. As these projects are underway in and around downtown, Ann Arbor’s annual road resurfacing and maintenance program will be underway in residential neighborhoods outside the city’s core.
Motorists driving downtown should anticipate:
- Temporary road closures and detours
- Slower travel times
- Construction noise and equipment navigating streets and sites
- Likely reductions in on-street parking
Pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders may also experience temporary rerouting around active work zones.
2026 Road and Utility Projects
Transportation Projects
- Catherine/East Ann/Zina Pitcher Resurfacing
- Catherine Street Bikeway
- Fourth Avenue Street Reconstruction & Transit Improvements
Utility and Road Projects
- North University and South Thayer Utilities and Resurfacing
- Ingalls/Kingsley Watermain and Resurfacing
- Washington Street High Level Trunkline Sewer Capacity Improvements
- Ann Street Watermain and Resurfacing
- Packard Street Watermain and Resurfacing
- DTE Gas Main Replacement (Fourth Avenue)
- DTE Gas Main Replacement (Observatory Street)
Other Impactful Projects in 2026
- The 350 South Fifth Street Affordable Housing Development will get underway this season. Both this project and the Fourth Avenue Reconstruction Project will cause the Blake Transit Center to temporarily relocate its bus staging area to Fifth and East Washington from May to November.
- Private Development projects at 1208 South University, 1209 South University, 711 Church Street, and 625 Church Street will create extended road closures along South University.
- Private development projects at 313 Braun Court and 303 Detroit Street will likely create temporary access impacts to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market
Plan Ahead — and Consider New Options
Construction inevitably creates inconvenience. However, it also presents an opportunity to rethink how we move around the city.
To lessen the likelihood of aggravation, residents and visitors are encouraged to:
- Plan ahead. Determine what closures might affect your route before you get in your vehicle. Use online routing tools, like WAZE, to be routed around closures.
- Use park-and-ride lots and take public transportation via TheRide
- Carpool when headed downtown with others.
- Consider walking, biking or using micromobility options for short trips
- Allow for extra travel time
- Park outside the most active construction zones and walk to destinations
- Determine in advance where you plan to park.
Stay Informed
The 2026 construction schedule is being finalized. In the coming weeks, more detailed timelines and traffic impact information will be shared to help residents, visitors, employers and employees plan accordingly.
Up-to-date road and lane closure information is available at www.a2gov.org/roads.
As always, regular email updates about road construction will be sent to “Road and Lane Closure” subscribers.
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Media Contact:
Robert Kellar, Communications Specialist, 734.794.6000 ext. 41524 | rkellar@a2gov.org