Business routes of Interstate 96
Encyclopedia
There have been five business routes for Interstate 96
in the state of Michigan. Of these, only the business loops in Lansing and Howell are still currently designated. The business spurs in Portland and Detroit and the loop in Farmington are all decommissioned.
through the city of Portland
The western terminus was at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Kent Street in downtown Portland, and its eastern terminus was at Exit 77 south of the city. The routing followed Grand River Avenue
, the former routing of US Highway 16
(US 16) in Michigan. This section of US 16 was decommissioned on March 7, 1960. It would remain under local control until the first quarter-mile section was transferred to state control on September 18, 1978. The route was first marked on state highway maps in 1982. It would be transferred back to local control on October 31, 2007.
, the state capital of the Michigan. The western terminus is at I-96 exit 90 northwest of Lansing near the I-96/I-69
junction, and its eastern terminus is at Exit 104 south of the city.
, US 16 was decommissioned in Michigan in 1962. The former routing of US 16 in Lansing was redesignated as BL I-96. From exit 90 on I-96, BL I-96 follows the Grand River Avenue routing of US 16 southeasterly to then US 27 on Larch Street. There, BL I-96 joined US 27 along a one-way pairing of Larch and Cedar streets. Where US 27 turned to join M-78
at Main Street, BL I-96 continued along US 127
along Cedar Street to terminate at I-96 south of the city at exit 104.
freeway to be constructed southeast of the city. This reouting would last until November 18, 1966 when it was transferred back to the original routing with the completion of the US 127 freeway between Lansing and Mason
. BL I-96 was rerouted along M-43
/BUS M-78 to the I-496/M-78
freeway and back to I-96 at exit 106. Once the US 127 freeway was completed, BL I-96 was rerouted back along the then former US 127 routing to I-96.
, located between Detroit
and Lansing
. The western terminus is at the M-59
junction with I-96 northwest of Howell, and its eastern terminus is at Exit 141 east of the city.
This highway follows the original route of US 16 though downtown Howell. In 1962, I-96 was completed between Lansing and Brighton
, and US 16 was decommissioned in Michigan. At the time, a new limited-access connector road was constructed between I-96 and Grand River Avenue, providing access for the business loop and M-59 to I-96.
through the city of Farmington
, a northwestern suburb of Detroit
in the US state of Michigan
. The eastern terminus is at the M-5
/Grand River Avenue junction southeast of Farmington and its western terminus is at the junction of M-5 and Grand River Avenue west of the city.
The original plans for I-96 called for it to replace US 16 and to run parallel to Grand River Avenue all the way from Farmington into downtown Detroit. Around 1959-1960, the Farmington bypass freeway was resigned as I-96 and in 1961, the business route was redesignated as "BL I-96". In 1977, as the Jeffries Freeway was completed, I-96 was rerouted along it south through Livonia
and then east into Detroit, the portion of freeway bypassing Farmington was redesignated as M-102
(now part of M-5
). Simultaneously, the BL I-96 designation through downtown Farmington was removed and Grand River Avenue became an unsigned state trunkline, a status it has retained to this day.
in a southeast-to-northwest fashion from Detroit
to Grand Rapids
. The portion of Grand River Avenue in Detroit between I-96 and the intersection with Cass Avenue and Middle Street in downtown Detroit is an unsigned state trunkline, sometimes referred to as OLD BS I-96.
In Detroit, Grand River is one of five major avenues (along with Woodward
, Michigan
, Gratiot, and Jefferson
) planned by Judge Augustus Woodward in 1805 that extend from downtown Detroit in differing directions. Grand River Avenue extends northwesterly from the city's downtown.
, a task the company completed by 1853. At Howell
the road connected with the Detroit-Howell Plank Road, establishing the first improved connection direct from the state capital to Michigan's largest metropolis. The Lansing-Detroit Plank Road was a toll road until the 1880s. It eventually evolved into the modern Grand River Avenue.
With the creation of the U.S. Highway System, Grand River became part of US 16. This lasted until the creation of the Interstate Highway System, when Grand River was paralleled by I-96, and the US 16 designation was removed.
When US 16 was deleted in 1962, Grand River Avenue was designated as "BS I-96" (Business Spur I-96). Upon completion of the I-96/Jeffries Freeway in Detroit in 1977, portions were re-designated as M-102
and M-5
(later the extension of M-102 became part of M-5). From the I-96/Jeffries Freeway southeast into downtown Detroit, Grand River Avenue remained under state control as an unsigned state trunkline, sometimes referred to as "OLD BS I-96". In 2004, the state transferred several blocks at the eastern end of Grand River Avenue to the City of Detroit. State trunkline control now ends at the corner of Grand River Avenue, Middle Street, and Cass Avenue.
Interstate 96
Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
in the state of Michigan. Of these, only the business loops in Lansing and Howell are still currently designated. The business spurs in Portland and Detroit and the loop in Farmington are all decommissioned.
Portland, Michigan
Business Spur Interstate 96 (BS I-96) was a business spur of I-96Interstate 96
Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
through the city of Portland
Portland, Michigan
Portland is a city in Ionia County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,789. The city is situated in the south central portion of Portland Township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
The western terminus was at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Kent Street in downtown Portland, and its eastern terminus was at Exit 77 south of the city. The routing followed Grand River Avenue
Grand River Avenue
US Highway 16 , also called Grand River Avenue for much of its length, is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Before the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the highway had been designated M-16...
, the former routing of US Highway 16
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
(US 16) in Michigan. This section of US 16 was decommissioned on March 7, 1960. It would remain under local control until the first quarter-mile section was transferred to state control on September 18, 1978. The route was first marked on state highway maps in 1982. It would be transferred back to local control on October 31, 2007.
Lansing, Michigan
Business Loop Interstate 96 (BL I-96) is a business loop of I-96 through the city of LansingLansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, the state capital of the Michigan. The western terminus is at I-96 exit 90 northwest of Lansing near the I-96/I-69
Interstate 69 in Michigan
Interstate 69 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that currently runs from Indianapolis, Indiana, to the US–Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state south of Coldwater and passes through the cities of Lansing and Flint...
junction, and its eastern terminus is at Exit 104 south of the city.
Route description
With the completion of I-96 in between Lansing and BrightonBrighton, Michigan
Brighton is a principal satellite city of Metro Detroit located in the southeast portion of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area...
, US 16 was decommissioned in Michigan in 1962. The former routing of US 16 in Lansing was redesignated as BL I-96. From exit 90 on I-96, BL I-96 follows the Grand River Avenue routing of US 16 southeasterly to then US 27 on Larch Street. There, BL I-96 joined US 27 along a one-way pairing of Larch and Cedar streets. Where US 27 turned to join M-78
M-78 (Michigan highway)
M-78 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The western terminus is the intersection with M-66 north of Battle Creek in Pennfield Township. The roadway runs through rural farmland and the community of Bellevue as it approaches its eastern terminus at an interchange with...
at Main Street, BL I-96 continued along US 127
U.S. Route 127 in Michigan
US Highway 127 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that runs for , entering from Ohio south of Hudson and ending at a partial interchange with...
along Cedar Street to terminate at I-96 south of the city at exit 104.
History
On December 23, 1963 BL I-96 was rerouted onto the first portion of the I-496Interstate 496
Interstate 496 is an Interstate Highway that passes through downtown Lansing, Michigan and is a "child" of Interstate 96. It is ceremonially designated the R.E. Olds Freeway along the portion that cuts through the city of Lansing...
freeway to be constructed southeast of the city. This reouting would last until November 18, 1966 when it was transferred back to the original routing with the completion of the US 127 freeway between Lansing and Mason
Mason, Michigan
Mason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is named after the state's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,252. It is the county seat of Ingham County. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital,...
. BL I-96 was rerouted along M-43
M-43 (Michigan highway)
M-43 is a state trunkline highway in southwestern and central parts of the US state of Michigan. The highway runs from South Haven to Webberville along an indirect path through both rural areas and larger cities...
/BUS M-78 to the I-496/M-78
M-78 (Michigan highway)
M-78 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The western terminus is the intersection with M-66 north of Battle Creek in Pennfield Township. The roadway runs through rural farmland and the community of Bellevue as it approaches its eastern terminus at an interchange with...
freeway and back to I-96 at exit 106. Once the US 127 freeway was completed, BL I-96 was rerouted back along the then former US 127 routing to I-96.
Howell, Michigan
Business Loop Interstate 96 (BL I-96) is a business loop of I-96 through the city of HowellHowell, Michigan
Howell is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 9,489. It is the county seat of Livingston County and is located mostly within Howell Township, but is politically independent from Howell Township...
, located between Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
. The western terminus is at the M-59
M-59 (Michigan highway)
M-59 is an east–west state trunkline highway that crosses the northern part of Metropolitan Detroit in the US state of Michigan. It runs between Howell at Interstate 96 and I-94 on the Chesterfield Township – Harrison Township line near the Selfridge Air National Guard Base...
junction with I-96 northwest of Howell, and its eastern terminus is at Exit 141 east of the city.
This highway follows the original route of US 16 though downtown Howell. In 1962, I-96 was completed between Lansing and Brighton
Brighton, Michigan
Brighton is a principal satellite city of Metro Detroit located in the southeast portion of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area...
, and US 16 was decommissioned in Michigan. At the time, a new limited-access connector road was constructed between I-96 and Grand River Avenue, providing access for the business loop and M-59 to I-96.
Farmington, Michigan
Old BL I-96 was a former business loop of I-96, and is now a 4.74 miles (7.63 km) mile segment of unsigned state trunkline along Grand River AvenueGrand River Avenue
US Highway 16 , also called Grand River Avenue for much of its length, is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Before the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the highway had been designated M-16...
through the city of Farmington
Farmington, Michigan
Farmington is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,372. It is fully surrounded by Farmington Hills, except for a small portion bordered by Livonia to the...
, a northwestern suburb of Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in the US state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The eastern terminus is at the M-5
M-5 (Michigan highway)
M-5 is a highway in the metro Detroit area of the US state of Michigan.-Route description:M-5's eastern terminus is at the junction of Grand River Avenue and Interstate 96 in western Detroit...
/Grand River Avenue junction southeast of Farmington and its western terminus is at the junction of M-5 and Grand River Avenue west of the city.
History
This highway was the original route of US 16 though downtown Farmington. In 1933, US 16 was routed onto a bypass route which had been constructed south of the city (the present-day Freedom Road) and the route through Farmington was retained as state trunkline. In 1957, a new bypass freeway was built just to the south of the old bypass as part of the "Brighton-Farmington Expressway" and the route through downtown was designated as "BUS US 16".The original plans for I-96 called for it to replace US 16 and to run parallel to Grand River Avenue all the way from Farmington into downtown Detroit. Around 1959-1960, the Farmington bypass freeway was resigned as I-96 and in 1961, the business route was redesignated as "BL I-96". In 1977, as the Jeffries Freeway was completed, I-96 was rerouted along it south through Livonia
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
and then east into Detroit, the portion of freeway bypassing Farmington was redesignated as M-102
M-102 (Michigan highway)
M-102 is a state trunkline in the US state of Michigan, running along the northern boundary of Detroit. It is known as 8 Mile Road for most of its length. As part of the land surveying of the state, the road follows the Michigan Baseline, and it is called Base Line Road in places. M-102 is the...
(now part of M-5
M-5 (Michigan highway)
M-5 is a highway in the metro Detroit area of the US state of Michigan.-Route description:M-5's eastern terminus is at the junction of Grand River Avenue and Interstate 96 in western Detroit...
). Simultaneously, the BL I-96 designation through downtown Farmington was removed and Grand River Avenue became an unsigned state trunkline, a status it has retained to this day.
Detroit, Michigan
Grand River Avenue is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. The modern road cuts across the Lower PeninsulaLower Peninsula of Michigan
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...
in a southeast-to-northwest fashion from Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. The portion of Grand River Avenue in Detroit between I-96 and the intersection with Cass Avenue and Middle Street in downtown Detroit is an unsigned state trunkline, sometimes referred to as OLD BS I-96.
In Detroit, Grand River is one of five major avenues (along with Woodward
M-1 (Michigan highway)
M-1, commonly known as Woodward Avenue, named for Augustus B. Woodward, is a north–south state trunkline in the US state of Michigan. Until a few years ago, the northern terminus of M-1 was at BL I-75 and BUS US 24 in Bloomfield Township between the city limits of Bloomfield Hills and...
, Michigan
Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue may refer to:* Michigan Avenue * Michigan Avenue , a designation for much of both current and former U.S. Route 12 in Michigan...
, Gratiot, and Jefferson
Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)
Jefferson Avenue is a scenic road along the eastern part of the Detroit metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Michigan. It travels alongside Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake Saint Clair. This road also provides access to many recreational facilities in the area...
) planned by Judge Augustus Woodward in 1805 that extend from downtown Detroit in differing directions. Grand River Avenue extends northwesterly from the city's downtown.
History
In 1850, the Michigan State Legislature established the Lansing and Howell Plank Road Company, which set about converting various Indian trails into the Lansing-Howell Plank RoadPlank road
A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Plank roads were very popular in Ontario, the U.S. Northeast and U.S. Midwest in the first half of the 19th century...
, a task the company completed by 1853. At Howell
Howell, Michigan
Howell is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 9,489. It is the county seat of Livingston County and is located mostly within Howell Township, but is politically independent from Howell Township...
the road connected with the Detroit-Howell Plank Road, establishing the first improved connection direct from the state capital to Michigan's largest metropolis. The Lansing-Detroit Plank Road was a toll road until the 1880s. It eventually evolved into the modern Grand River Avenue.
With the creation of the U.S. Highway System, Grand River became part of US 16. This lasted until the creation of the Interstate Highway System, when Grand River was paralleled by I-96, and the US 16 designation was removed.
When US 16 was deleted in 1962, Grand River Avenue was designated as "BS I-96" (Business Spur I-96). Upon completion of the I-96/Jeffries Freeway in Detroit in 1977, portions were re-designated as M-102
M-102 (Michigan highway)
M-102 is a state trunkline in the US state of Michigan, running along the northern boundary of Detroit. It is known as 8 Mile Road for most of its length. As part of the land surveying of the state, the road follows the Michigan Baseline, and it is called Base Line Road in places. M-102 is the...
and M-5
M-5 (Michigan highway)
M-5 is a highway in the metro Detroit area of the US state of Michigan.-Route description:M-5's eastern terminus is at the junction of Grand River Avenue and Interstate 96 in western Detroit...
(later the extension of M-102 became part of M-5). From the I-96/Jeffries Freeway southeast into downtown Detroit, Grand River Avenue remained under state control as an unsigned state trunkline, sometimes referred to as "OLD BS I-96". In 2004, the state transferred several blocks at the eastern end of Grand River Avenue to the City of Detroit. State trunkline control now ends at the corner of Grand River Avenue, Middle Street, and Cass Avenue.