Brown Street construction begins Friday, June 2

A Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project to improve pedestrian crossings at the Woodward and Forest/Brown intersections will begin in September 2023, and in order to prepare for the project, the city of Birmingham is reducing one lane of E. Brown Street between S. Old Woodward and Woodward Avenue, beginning Friday, June 2.

The project includes reducing eastbound Brown Street to one lane with an extended sidewalk, a mid-block pedestrian crossing, and an additional median island west of Peabody Street.

The portion of E. Brown Street will close for the duration of the project, expected to be through the end of August. Drivers are advised to detour by taking S. Old Woodward south to Hazel, and then south to Woodward, and vice versa. Drivers headed westbound are advised to take Maple south to S. Old Woodward to E. Merrill Street, and vice versa.

The Peabody parking garage will remain open throughout construction and may be accessed by traveling south on Peabody Street. Access to the businesses along Brown Street will be maintained by a temporary walkway. Access to Jax Kar Wash will be maintained by a temporary access drive from Peabody Street to the car wash entrance.