Interstate 196

Route map:
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Interstate 196 marker

Interstate 196

Map
I-196 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-96
Maintained by MDOT
Length80.594 mi[1] (129.703 km)
Existed1963[2]–present
Tourist
routes
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end I-94 / US 31 near Benton Harbor
Major intersections
East end I-96 / M-37 near Grand Rapids
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesBerrien, Van Buren, Allegan, Ottawa, Kent
Highway system
←
M-196

Interstate 196 (I-196) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that runs for 80.6 miles (129.7 km) in the US state of Michigan. It is a state trunkline highway that links Benton Harbor, South Haven, Holland, and Grand Rapids. In Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan counties, I-196 is known as the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, or simply the Ford Freeway, after President Gerald Ford, who was raised in Grand Rapids and served Michigan in the House of Representatives for 25 years. This name generally refers only to the section between Holland and Grand Rapids. I-196 changes direction; it is signed as a north–south highway from its southern terminus to the junction with US Highway 31 (US 31) just south of Holland, and as an east–west trunkline from this point to its eastern terminus at an interchange with I-96, its parent highway. There are three business routes related to the main freeway. There are two business loops (BL I-196) and one business spur (BS I-196) that serve South Haven, Holland and the Grand Rapids areas. Another business spur for Muskegon had been designated relative to the I-196 number.

The freeway numbered I-196 is the second in the state to bear the number. Originally to be numbered as part of the I-94 corridor in the state, the Benton Harbor–Grand Rapids freeway was given the I-96 number in the 1950s while another Interstate between Muskegon and Grand Rapids was numbered I-196. That I-196 was built in the late 1950s and completed in the early 1960s. The first segment of the current I-196 was opened as I-96 near Benton Harbor in 1962. Michigan officials requested a change in 1963 which reversed the two numbers, and the subsequent segments of freeway opened northward to Holland and from Grand Rapids westward under the current number. The gap between Holland and Grandville was filled in the 1970s, and a section of freeway that runs through downtown Grand Rapids was rebuilt as a wider freeway in 2010.

Route description

Like other state highways in Michigan, I-196 is maintained by the

Lake Michigan Circle Tour (LMCT), a tourist route that follows Lake Michigan.[8]

Benton Harbor to Holland

The freeway starts northeast of Benton Harbor at exit 34 on I-94 in

trumpet interchange, I-196 runs north from I-94 and passes to the west of the Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club. US 31 joins I-196 from the southwest and runs concurrently with I-196 as the freeway passes through farm fields in southwestern Michigan. The trunkline turns northwesterly near the Lake Michigan Hills Golf Course and crosses the Paw Paw River. Past the river, the freeway turns northeasterly and runs roughly parallel to the Lake Michigan shoreline several miles inland. At the community of Lake Michigan Beach, I-196/US 31 meets the northern terminus of M-63 at exit 7, and the LMCT joins the freeway for the first time. North of this interchange, the freeway parallels A-2, a county road that follows the Blue Star Highway, the former route of US 31.[8][9]

Photograph of I-196
Crossing the Black River bridge near South Haven

A bit further north, I-196/US 31 crosses into

Business Loop I-196 (BL I-196) and M-140. The freeway crosses over M-43 without an interchange and then intersects the other end of the business loop about two miles (3.2 km) later. It crosses the Black River near the Van Buren–Allegan county line.[8][9]

In Allegan County, I-196/US 31 passes a pair of golf courses and continues northward through farm fields. Near the community of

Glenn, A-2 crosses over the freeway and runs parallel to it on the east. They trade places again when I-196/US 31 turns northeasterly on the south side of the twin cities of Saugatuck and Douglas. The freeway crosses over a section of Kalamazoo Lake, a wider section of the Kalamazoo River that flows between the two towns. A-2 crosses back to the eastern side of the freeway north of Saugatuck, and I-196/US 31 continues north-northeasterly toward Holland.[8][9]

Holland to Grand Rapids

On the south side of Holland, the two highways split apart; US 31 separates from I-196 at a partial interchange near the West Michigan Regional Airport (formerly the Tulip City Airport). At this interchange, northbound traffic may follow a left exit to continue on the BL I-196/US 31 freeway or continue along I-196 which turns more eastward; the LMCT departs I-196 at this point as well. Signage along I-196 changes after this interchange. Up to this point, it had been signed north–south, but from the US 31 split onward, the directions are now signed east–west. The freeway passes to the south side of the airport,[8][9] and it crosses a rail line owned by CSX Transportation and used by Amtrak's Pere Marquette train[10] before curving northeasterly through the interchange with M-40. The freeway crosses into Ottawa County south of the Macatawa River before meeting the other two interchanges for Holland, the second of which is the northern end of the business loop in Zeeland.[8][9]

I-196 overpass at 64th Avenue in Zeeland

Continuing past Zeeland, I-196 runs more east-northeasterly as it parallels

unincorporated community opposite the Kent–Ottawa county line. The Ford Freeway name is now prominently used on the freeway signage as I-196 follows a section of the Grand River. Past the interchange for M-11 (28th Street), the freeway crosses into the suburb of Wyoming.[8][9]

In Wyoming, the freeway runs along the river, passing Millennium Park on the opposite banks in Walker and Hopewell Indian Mounds Park on the near banks. To the south of the freeway, the business spur for Wyoming and Grand Rapids departs to follow Chicago Drive near an industrial area. After the interchange for Market Avenue, I-196 crosses the Grand River and enters the city of Grand Rapids. The freeway meanders northward past the transmission antennas for radio stations WJRW and WYHA and around the west side of the John Ball Zoological Garden. The trunkline has an interchange with M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive) on the north side of the zoo before I-196 runs downhill turning eastward.[9][11]

Photograph of I-196
Entering downtown Grand Rapids

At the bottom of the hill, I-196 enters the urban core of Grand Rapids. The freeway runs eastward through residential neighborhoods on the city's west side as it approaches the interchange with

median is replaced by a concrete barrier.[9][11]

As the freeway runs eastward, it passes the area of Grand Rapids known as the "

Butterworth Hospital campus of Corewell Health. The Ford Freeway jogs slightly to the northeast as it crosses a line of the Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad[10] between College and Eastern avenues. It then passes to the south of the office buildings that house the Kent County Health Department, the Sheriff's Department and the animal shelter. A little over a mile and a quarter (2.0 km) east of those offices, I-196 meets its parent highway, I-96 on the east side of the city. This interchange marks the eastern terminus of the Ford Freeway and I-196.[9][11]

History

Previous designation

Interstate 196 marker

Interstate 196

LocationMuskegon–Grand Rapids
Length37.073 mi[1] (59.663 km)
Existed1959[12]–1963[2]

In the first tentative Interstate numbering plans,

American Association of State Highway Officials.[2]

Current designation

Bridges carrying I-196 over the Grand River

In August 1963, a section of freeway along US 31 was opened between I-94 and South Haven.[21] This section was originally designated as part of I-96/US 31.[22][23] After the designation switch later in 1963,[19][20] an additional section was opened from South Haven to Holland as I-196.[24] An additional section of freeway was opened between Grandville through downtown Grand Rapids to meet I-96 at the end of 1964. M-21 was moved to the freeway from its previous surface-street routing.[25] The final link in the freeway was completed in November 1974 along the Holland–Grandville segment, completing I-196 for a second time.[26] At the same time, M-21 was removed from the freeway, truncating that highway designation to end in Grand Rapids.[27][28]

In 2009, access to Jenison was improved by the addition of a partial interchange with Baldwin Street.

business loop at South Haven were designated as part of the West Michigan Pike Pure Michigan Byway.[31]

Exit list

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Detroit, Chicago, South Bend
Southern end of US 31 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance; exit 34 on I-94
1.0511.6911Red Arrow Highway
Riverside
Connects to Coloma Road
6.75110.8657
LMCT south – Benton Harbor, St. Joseph
Southern end of LMCT concurrency; Hagar Shore Road signed northbound only; Benton Harbor and St. Joseph signed southbound only
Covert
Connects to 32nd Avenue
LMCT to M-43 – South Haven, Bangor

 M-140 south – Watervliet
Northern end of LMCT concurrency; northern terminus of M-140, southern terminus of BL I-196; northbound signage omits Watervliet; signed only as M-140 – Watervliet southbound
LMCT (Phoenix Street) – South Haven, Bangor
Southern end of LMCT concurrency; signed only as Phoenix Street northbound; northern terminus of BL I-196; signed as exits 20A (east) and 20B (west) northbound
AlleganCasco Township21.96635.35122North Shore Drive
26.30942.34026109th Avenue – Pullman
Glenn
Ganges signed northbound only
Ganges–Saugatuck township line33.92254.59234 M-89 – FennvilleWestern terminus of M-89
Ganges
Saugatuck and Douglas signed northbound only; Ganges signed southbound only
Laketown Township40.92565.86241 A-2 (Blue Star Highway) – Douglas, SaugatuckBlue Star Highway signed northbound only; Saugatuck and Douglas signed southbound only
44.49571.60844
LMCT north – Grand Haven, Holland, Muskegon, Ludington
Northern end of US 31 and LMCT concurrencies; northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-196 signage changes between north–south and east–west
Holland48.60078.21449 M-40 – Allegan
Holland Township
52.23084.05652Adams Street, 16th Street
BL I-196 west (Byron Road) – Holland, Zeeland
Eastern terminus of BL I-196; eastbound signage omits BL I-196 and Holland; westbound signage omits Byron Road
A-37 (32nd Avenue) – Hudsonville
Georgetown Township64.174–
64.886		103.278–
104.424		64
 M-6 east (Paul B. Henry Freeway) – Lansing		Western terminus of M-6
KentGrandville67.346108.3836744th Street, Rivertown Parkway
68.748110.63969
 M-121 west / Chicago Drive – Jenison		Signed as exits 69A (east) and 69B (west) westbound; eastern terminus of M-121
68.940110.94869CBaldwin StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; exit opened November 2009[29]
69.747112.24770 M-11 (28th Street, Wilson Avenue) – Walker, Wyoming, GrandvilleSigned as exits 70A (M-11 east, 28th Street, Wyoming) and 70B (M-11 west, Wilson Avenue, Walker) eastbound; signed westbound as only Grandville and Walker
BS I-196
east (Chicago Drive)		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance from westbound Chicago Drive only
Grand Rapids73.406118.13673Market Avenue
74.898120.53775
 M-45 west (Lake Michigan Drive)		No access from westbound Lake Michigan Drive to eastbound I-196 or westbound I-196 to eastbound Lake Michigan Drive; eastern terminus of M-45
75.774121.94676Lane Avenue
76.515–
76.567		123.139–
123.223		77 US 131 (I-296 north) – Kalamazoo, CadillacSigned as exits 77A (US 131 north, Cadillac) and 77B (US 131 south, Kalamazoo); southern terminus of unsigned I-296
76.932123.81077COttawa Avenue – Downtown Grand Rapids
77.601124.88778College Avenue
78.491126.31979Fuller Avenue
80.594129.703—

 I-96 east / M-37 south – Lansing		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit 37 on I-96; eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Business routes

There are currently three business loops (BL I-196) and one business spur (BS I-196) along I-196. A

Bus. US 31 before the Muskegon–Grand Rapids freeway was redesignated I-96.[19][23]

South Haven

Business Loop Interstate 196 marker

Business Loop Interstate 196

LocationSouth Haven
Length3.572 mi[1] (5.749 km)
Existed1963[23][32]–present
Tourist
routes

Business Loop I-196 (BL I-196) is a loop that runs in South Haven for 3.572 miles (5.749 km). The loop begins at exit 18 on I-196/US 31 and runs due north along La Grange Street. It then turns onto Phillips Street and merges into Broadway Street. BL I-196 follows Phoenix Street eastward where the trunkline ends at exit 20 on I-196. The entire length is a part of the LMCT.

Bus. US 31 at that time.[33][34] When I-196 was built outside of South Haven in 1963, the former US 31 bypass was redesignated BL I-196.[23][32] In 1972, the loop was shifted to follow the pre-war routing through downtown.[35][36] In 2016, all of the business loop was designated as part of the West Michigan Pike Pure Michigan Byway.[31]

Major intersections
The entire highway is in Van Buren County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
South Haven Township
0.0000.000 I-196 – Benton Harbor, Holland

 M-140 south – Watervliet		Exit 18 on I-196; northern terminus of M-140
1.1891.914 A-2 (Blue Star Highway)
South Haven2.1253.420
 M-43 east – Kalamazoo		Western terminus of M-43
3.2735.267 A-2 (Blue Star Highway)
3.5725.749 I-196 – Benton Harbor, Holland
Phoenix Road		Exit 20 on I-196; roadway continues eastward as Phoenix Road
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Holland

Business Loop Interstate 196 marker

Business Loop Interstate 196

LocationHolland–Zeeland
Length11.649 mi[1] (18.747 km)
Existed1974[27][28]–present
Tourist
routes

Business Loop I-196 (BL I-196) is a loop that runs for 11.649 miles (18.747 km) in Holland and Zeeland. The loop starts at a connection with I-196/US 31 at exit 44 and continues concurrently along the freeway into Holland. BL I-196/US 31 has an interchange for

expressway along the route of Chicago Drive. The loop follows this expressway through Zeeland and back out to I-196 at exit 55.[8]

The loop was created in 1974 when I-196 was completed south of the city of Holland. From that point, the old route of M-21 inside the cities to US 31 was redesignated as a business loop of I-196 with the state taking control of Washington Avenue to the downtown area. Then from downtown looping back up to Chicago Drive, the business loop used the old M-21.

Bus. US 31 designation. The concurrent trunkline inside the downtown area of Holland was transferred to the City of Holland in 2005, and BL I-196 was rerouted to follow US 31.[37][38] In 2016, the section of the business loop that runs concurrently with US 31 was designated as part of the West Michigan Pike Pure Michigan Byway.[31]

Major intersections
All exits are unnumbered.

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
LMCT south – South Haven
Southern end of US 31/LMCT concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance only; exit 44 on I-196/US 31
Holland2.0133.240 A-2 (Blue Star Highway) / Washington AvenueNorthern terminus of A-2; former southern terminus of Bus. US 31; signed as Exit 47A-B
2.8824.638Northern end of freeway
3.4135.493
 M-40 south – Allegan		Northern terminus of M-40
LMCT north – Grand Haven
Northern end of US 31/LMCT concurrency; partial cloverleaf interchange
Zeeland10.95217.626
 M-121 east – Hudsonville		Western terminus of M-121
11.64918.747 I-196 – Grand Rapids, South HavenExit 55 on I-196
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Wyoming

Business Spur Interstate 196 marker

Business Spur Interstate 196

LocationWyoming–Grand Rapids
Length2.433 mi[1] (3.916 km)
Existed1974[39][40]–present

Business Spur I-196 (BS I-196) is a spur that serves the Godfrey–Lee area of Wyoming, Michigan. It starts at the partial interchange for exit 72 on I-196 and then moves onto the surface street Chicago Drive for the majority of the distance in Wyoming, running through an industrial area. After about a mile (1.6 km), the highway runs through residential areas. Upon reaching the Grand Rapids city limits, it ends at Cesar E Chavez Avenue. Its total length is 2.4 miles (3.9 km). It can be accessed only from eastbound I-196 on the western end.[41]

In 1953, the state highway department completed enough of the

Bus. M-21.[42][43] With the completion of I-196 from Holland to Grand Rapids in 1974, the highway was truncated to run between I-196 and US 131 and renamed BS I-196.[39][40] In December 2017, it was shortened further to end at the Grand Rapids city limits at the intersection between Chicago Drive and Clyde Park Avenue when the remainder of the trunkline along Grandville Avenue and Franklin Street[b] was turned over to local control.[45]

Major intersections
The entire highway is in Kent County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Wyoming0.000–
0.231		0.000–
0.372
 I-196 west – Holland
Chicago Drive		Westbound exit to, and eastbound entrance from, exit 72 on I-196; roadway continues westerly as Chicago Drive
Wyoming–Grand Rapids city line2.4333.916Clyde Park Avenue
Cesar E Chavez Avenue		Roadway continues as Cesar E Chavez Avenue
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

  •  
    Michigan Highways portal

Notes

  1. ^ The MSHD was awaiting final numbering approval in 1959 before it would sign any Interstates in the state,[12] a fact borne out by its 1958 recommendations on the numbers to be used[15] and the 1957 general approval of the numbering scheme.[13]
  2. ^ Grandville Avenue and Franklin Street were renamed to Cesar E Chavez Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Street, respectively, in February 2022.[44]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Michigan Department of Transportation (2021). Next Generation PR Finder (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. ^
    Newspapers.com
    .
  3. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2008). "Traffic Monitoring Information System". Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  4. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (April 23, 2006). National Highway System, Michigan (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  5. ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderley, Kevin (June 26, 2013). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  6. OCLC 220951644. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on November 26, 2003. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  7. OCLC 57425393
    .
  8. ^
    OCLC 42778335, 794857350
    .
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Google (July 11, 2012). "Overview Map of Interstate 196" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  10. ^ a b Michigan Department of Transportation (January 2011). Michigan's Railroad System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  11. ^
    OCLC 42778335, 794857350
    .
  12. ^
    OCLC 12962717. Retrieved November 21, 2010 – via Google News
    .
  13. ^
    Archive.org
    .
  14. Public Roads Administration & American Association of State Highway Officials (August 14, 1957). Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Public Roads Administration. Retrieved September 4, 2010 – via Wikimedia Commons
    .
  15. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department (April 25, 1958). "Recommended Interstate Route Numbering for Michigan". Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Archived from the original on August 5, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  16. ^ Public Roads Administration (c. 1963). National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Bureau of Public Roads. Retrieved September 4, 2010 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  17. OCLC 12701120, 367386492
    .
  18. OCLC 12701120, 51856742
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1958)
  19. ^
    OCLC 9975013
    .
  20. ^
    OCLC 61312043
    . Retrieved September 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. OCLC 10117334
    . Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. OCLC 12701120, 173191490
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  23. ^
    OCLC 12701120
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  24. OCLC 13440201
    . Retrieved May 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. OCLC 12701120
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  26. OCLC 10117334
    . Retrieved July 10, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^
    OCLC 12701177, 83138602
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  28. ^
    OCLC 12701177, 320798754
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  29. ^ a b King, Kyla (November 13, 2009). "New Baldwin, I-196 Interchange Set to Open Tonight". The Grand Rapids Press. Archived from the original on September 17, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  30. OCLC 9975013. Archived
    from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  31. ^ a b c Witt, Jeremy (July 22, 2016). "State's Newest Michigan Byway to be Designated on Monday". West Michigan Tourist Association. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  32. ^
    OCLC 12701120, 81213707
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  33. OCLC 12701143
    .
  34. OCLC 554645076
    .
  35. OCLC 12701120
    .
  36. OCLC 12701120, 81679137
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  37. OCLC 42778335, 71041619
    .
  38. OCLC 42778335
    .
  39. ^
    OCLC 12701177, 83138602
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  40. ^
    OCLC 12701177, 320798754
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  41. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (2019). Truck Operator's Map (PDF) (Map). c. 1:221,760. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Grand Rapids inset. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  42. OCLC 12701120
    .
  43. OCLC 12701120
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  44. ^ Shular, Daniel (February 23, 2022). "Grand Rapids Advocates Use 'Tenacity' to Get Streets Named for Civil Rights Leaders, Icon's Nephew Says". MLive. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  45. ^ Biolchini, Amy (August 24, 2017). "Grand Rapids Will Have More Control Over 11 Streets in MDOT Deal". MLive. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved November 22, 2017.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 196.
KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/Interstate 196
KML is from Wikidata
Mainline
Business routes
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Interstate_196&oldid=1205077577"