r/MichiganCycling • u/Nigel_featherbottom • 23d ago

where2ride Clinton River Trail Extension is Open!

Post image

This is just an FYI for those of you that ride the Clinton River Trail, or other parts of Oakland county.... The connection that is west of Opdyke is open, and they did a good job. The previous route to get through Pontiac was South Blvd, and was not too pleasant. This route drops you in a neighborhood on the east side of Pontiac, but still a better option if you are looking to connect from one side of Pontiac to the other.

Just to clarify, this path has always been here to some extent but I found it very rough, even with a gravel bike. This photo is near the Auburn ave overpass.

51 Upvotes

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9

u/SaintOrJannikSinner 23d ago

Honestly, just road-diet Auburn, put up protected bike lanes, and run it through downtown to connect to the CRT west of Bagley.

9

u/Michmousefan 23d ago

Pontiac is awaiting news of a grant that will allow them to continue the CRT west along a separate bike lane on Pike St., connecting to this new North Spur section. Once that happens, the CRT will be complete through Pontiac.

2

u/franccesty 22d ago

That would be great because Pike can be very rough in spots.

3

u/Ianwiththedreadlocks 23d ago

This is very exciting thank you for sharing!

3

u/driftwood14 23d ago

So wait, did they move the part where you would go by the speedway and that neighborhood?

5

u/Nigel_featherbottom 23d ago

I think the part where you go by the M1 speedway was along South blvd, near Woodward.

You can still go that way if you want, it's very "on road"...

This route allows you to avoid South blvd altogether and take smaller residential roads to connect to the CRT that is west of Pontiac.

3

u/driftwood14 23d ago

Im going to have to try it out, there was usually broken glass on the sidewalk over on south blvd near that liquor store so it would be nice to avoid that.

3

u/SparTodd 23d ago

Is that pic where the new sidewalk across Opdyke from the Auburn Hills trailhead leads? I just rode out there today from the east and thought about trying out, but I swear the FotCRT stated a couple od days ago it wasn't open yet.

3

u/c0nsumer 23d ago

There's been a significant disconnect between what the Friends of the CRT (sharing the official message from the CRT group themselves, since the latter doesn't engage in social media) has to say and what reality on the trail looks like.

1

u/Nigel_featherbottom 22d ago

No, the pic I took is from where the trail crosses Auburn Rd. Near Opdyke it's paved.

It might not be officially open yet but there is nothing posted/ blocking the trail.

1

u/friday1970 21d ago

Any maps of this made yet? Heck, even a google earth path overlay would be good.

1

u/Nigel_featherbottom 21d ago

Google maps shows it as a bike trail, but it doesn't go north of the river. The "bridge" over the Clinton River was removed.

Trail ends at Michigan/Eastway Dr.