Ann Arbor Celebrates Barton-Bandemer Pedestrian Tunnel Opening
On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds gathered at the new Barton-Bandemer Pedestrian Tunnel site for a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking its grand opening. The tunnel is situated on the west side of the Ann Arbor Corridor along Washtenaw County’s Border-to-Border Trail.
This newly constructed tunnel passes beneath a railroad, linking the trail segments through Bandemer Park and Barton Nature Area, enhancing connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists.
Ceremony Highlights and Acknowledgments
Meghan Bonfiglio, director of the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission, opened the ceremony by thanking community members and officials who contributed to the tunnel’s creation.
“This has been a really incredible project,” Bonfiglio said. “A project like this, it’s a long time in the making. It takes a lot of collaboration. Something like this, with this sort of scope and scale, doesn’t just happen overnight.”
She emphasized that the tunnel was a collaborative effort among Washtenaw County officials, the Huron-Waterloo Pathways Initiative, the Ralph C. Foundation, and Davis Construction, Inc.
Project Collaboration
- Washtenaw County officials
- Huron-Waterloo Pathways Initiative
- Ralph C. Foundation
- Davis Construction, Inc.
The tunnel symbolizes a significant advancement in the county’s efforts to improve trail connectivity and promote outdoor recreation.
Author's Summary
The Barton-Bandemer Pedestrian Tunnel opening marks a major milestone in Washtenaw County’s trail system, showcasing successful community collaboration and enhancing safe passage for trail users.