At almost a mile in length, the bridge’s upper level is used for vehicular traffic and the lower level was designed for streetcars, but has been largely vacant since 1954 when streetcar service was discontinued. The lower level is occasionally open to the public for tours. A community-driven effort is currently underway to re-open the lower level of the bridge for year-round use as a public space,
performance venue, and bicycle/pedestrian connection. A planning study, co-sponsored by the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Office, was completed with a $75,000 grant through the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency’s Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative and a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The TLCI planning study focused on the lower level of the Detroit Superior Bridge and its potential to provide a sheltered connection for pedestrians and bicyclists between Public Square, the Flats, and the city’s west side neighborhoods.
