Earlier today I rode down to the new Bandemer - Barton tunnel project. It was not open yet but it looked mighty near completion. I'll be very glad to have a westward extension for the Border to Border trail heading out of Ann Arbor.
The grand opening is Wednesday 2025-11-05 (this Wednesday) at 100pm
https://www.a2gov.org/news/posts/barton-bandemer-pedestrian-tunnel-grand-opening-ceremony-is-nov-5/
"A brief program and ceremonial ribbon cutting will take place"
The new #AnnArbor pedestrian/bike tunnel has its grand opening a week from Wednesday https://www.a2gov.org/news/posts/barton-bandemer-pedestrian-tunnel-grand-opening-ceremony-is-nov-5/
Concrete work looks about finished, awaiting lamp posts etc.
#Amtrak rails over the new pedestrian tunnel have been reconnected and leveled. Confirmed by midday Wolverine eastbound passing by! Very few workers onsite, who I assume are getting rest after the marathon work session.
My realization is that installing the Lake Shore Drive siding switch will probably involve blocking off that road, which they could not do during the parade of vehicles arriving/leaving tunnel job site.
Now can confirm that the tracks are pulled and excavators are munching away on the railroad berm; spoils are hauled away in a parade of double-trailer trucks. Pedestrians can still gawk for now from the park drive, but not sidewalk.
Amtrak vehicles also buzzing around the Lake Shore Dr. siding but the new switch waiting nearby hasn't moved.
Today's supposed to be the big day for pulling up the Amtrak rails, and using cranes to plunk the precast tunnel sections into place between Bandemer Park and Huron River Drive. Portable floodlight towers are at the jobsite, so presumably work will continue around the clock until the rails are reconnected, aligned and tamped. https://engage.a2gov.org/barton-bandemer-pedestrian-tunnel
Plenty of activity and heavy machinery at the Bandemer tunnel project. As a bonus for you rail nerds, Amtrak has staged a bunch of "maintenance of way" (MoW) equipment over by Lakeshore Drive. It looks like they're going to install new siding switch points there—likely on the same day that the rails are closed for the tunnel cut-through?
It's beautiful out there today. It's been so long since I could take a long ride that I didn't know about the newer piece of the B2B trail, starting at Delhi. Love it!
Hey Ann Arbor regional people,
There is an open house to hear and comment on the plans for improving US-23 from Plymouth to I-94 on October 21. This is sure to impact the B to B trail under US23. Learn more about the plans and open house here:
#AnnArbor #BicycleCommute #Transit #B2BTrail
Please boost/add appropriate hastags to get this seen by the community.
Ed W8EMV 
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