Business routes of Interstate 196
Encyclopedia
There are three business routes of Interstate 196 in Michigan
. Located in South Haven
, Holland
and Grand Rapids
, these three roadways are former alignments of US Highway 31
(US 31) or M-21
, which were the predecessors to Interstate 196
(I-196). As the freeway segments were completed in those communities, the former highway alignments were redesignated as business route
s, the first two as business loops, and the latter as a business spur.
for 3.74 miles (6.02 km). It begins at Exit 18 on I-196
/US 31
and runs due north along the La Grange Street. It then turns unto Phillips Street and then merging into Broadway Street upon turning east unto Phoenix St where it ends at Exit 20 on I-196. It previously had used the Blue Star Highway for a portion of the route in 1963 until the change to the current alignment in 1972.
and Zeeland
. It has a total length of 7.4 miles (11.9 km) in two segments. The first segment runs from the end of the US 31
concurrency
with I-196 Exit 44 and continues for a 2.1 miles (3.4 km) until the end at the US 31 and the A-2/Blue Star Highway and Washington Ave. interchange in the southern reaches of Holland
. The other 5.3 miles (8.5 km) section of the loop runs from Chicago Drive at the interchange with US 31 to the interchange with I-196 at Exit 55 just east of Zeeland
. The southern section of the loop is freeway and the northern section is an expressway.
The creation of the route occurred back in 1974 when I-196 was completed and routed 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. This route would not change until the early 1990s when a minor route change was completed. The route inside the downtown area of Holland was scheduled to be turned back to local control in 1998, but never the transfer was not made at the time. This transfer was eventually completed when the City of Holland went into talks with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in 2004. The following year MDOT gave back the remaining portions of the route except those already listed.
that serves the Godfrey–Lee Area of Wyoming
and into Grand Rapids
. It starts at Exit 72 on I-196 and then moves onto the surface street Chicago Drive for the majority of the distance in Wyoming. Upon crossing the Grand Rapids city limits, it turns into Grandville Avenue where it runs until turning onto Franklin Street. The spur then ends at the interchange with US 131
. Its total length is 4.15 miles (6.68 km). It can only be accessed from eastbound I-196 on the western end. The first mile (1.6 km) of the route serves the mainly industrial center of Godfrey area of Wyoming upon leaving that section it serves primary as a residential route with businesses lining the street for remaining section of the route.
Its history as a state route started off as M-51
. The route used the current roads to connect Grand Rapids to Holland back in 1918. It was again used for a state route following the US Highway system introduction and was named M-21
in 1926. In 1953 the transportation department completed enough of the Grand Rapids Beltline to reroute M-21 to it. The former routing was named BUS M-21. With the completion of I-196 from Holland to Grand Rapids in 1973 the route was renamed Business Spur I-196. In the 1980s two truncations of the trunkline turned the route to its present length.
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"....
. Located in South Haven
South Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
, Holland
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
and 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...
, these three roadways are former alignments of US Highway 31
U.S. Route 31 in Michigan
US Highway 31 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Alabama, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that runs from the Indiana–Michigan state line at Bertrand Township to its terminus at Interstate 75 south...
(US 31) or M-21
M-21 (Michigan highway)
M-21 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan connecting the cities of Grand Rapids and Flint. The highway passes through rural farming country and several small towns along its course through the Lower Peninsula...
, which were the predecessors to Interstate 196
Interstate 196
Interstate 196 is a long freeway spur route in the US state of Michigan linking Grand Rapids, Holland, South Haven, and Benton Harbor. I-196 is known as the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, or simply the Ford Freeway, in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties, after the 38th President of the United States,...
(I-196). As the freeway segments were completed in those communities, the former highway alignments were redesignated as business route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
s, the first two as business loops, and the latter as a business spur.
South Haven, Michigan
Business Loop I-196 (BL I-196) is a loop that runs in South HavenSouth Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
for 3.74 miles (6.02 km). It begins at Exit 18 on I-196
Interstate 196
Interstate 196 is a long freeway spur route in the US state of Michigan linking Grand Rapids, Holland, South Haven, and Benton Harbor. I-196 is known as the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, or simply the Ford Freeway, in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties, after the 38th President of the United States,...
/US 31
U.S. Route 31
U.S. Route 31 is a long north–south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with its northern terminus at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and southern terminus at the combined U.S. Route 90 & U.S. Route 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama...
and runs due north along the La Grange Street. It then turns unto Phillips Street and then merging into Broadway Street upon turning east unto Phoenix St where it ends at Exit 20 on I-196. It previously had used the Blue Star Highway for a portion of the route in 1963 until the change to the current alignment in 1972.
Holland, Michigan
Business Loop I-196 (BL I-196) is a partial business loop that runs in HollandHolland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
and Zeeland
Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,805 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township which is politically independent. Its name is derived from the Dutch province of Zeeland...
. It has a total length of 7.4 miles (11.9 km) in two segments. The first segment runs from the end of the US 31
U.S. Route 31 in Michigan
US Highway 31 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Alabama, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that runs from the Indiana–Michigan state line at Bertrand Township to its terminus at Interstate 75 south...
concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with I-196 Exit 44 and continues for a 2.1 miles (3.4 km) until the end at the US 31 and the A-2/Blue Star Highway and Washington Ave. interchange in the southern reaches of Holland
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
. The other 5.3 miles (8.5 km) section of the loop runs from Chicago Drive at the interchange with US 31 to the interchange with I-196 at Exit 55 just east of Zeeland
Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,805 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township which is politically independent. Its name is derived from the Dutch province of Zeeland...
. The southern section of the loop is freeway and the northern section is an expressway.
The creation of the route occurred back in 1974 when I-196 was completed and routed south of the city of Holland. From that point, the old route of M-21
M-21 (Michigan highway)
M-21 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan connecting the cities of Grand Rapids and Flint. The highway passes through rural farming country and several small towns along its course through the Lower Peninsula...
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. This route would not change until the early 1990s when a minor route change was completed. The route inside the downtown area of Holland was scheduled to be turned back to local control in 1998, but never the transfer was not made at the time. This transfer was eventually completed when the City of Holland went into talks with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in 2004. The following year MDOT gave back the remaining portions of the route except those already listed.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Business Spur I-196 (BS I-196) is a business routeBusiness route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
that serves the Godfrey–Lee Area of Wyoming
Wyoming, Michigan
Wyoming is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 72,125. That makes it the 2nd largest community or city in West Michigan, the 14th largest city in the state of Michigan, and the 18th largest community in the state as well...
and into 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...
. It starts at Exit 72 on I-196 and then moves onto the surface street Chicago Drive for the majority of the distance in Wyoming. Upon crossing the Grand Rapids city limits, it turns into Grandville Avenue where it runs until turning onto Franklin Street. The spur then ends at the interchange with US 131
U.S. Route 131
US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...
. Its total length is 4.15 miles (6.68 km). It can only be accessed from eastbound I-196 on the western end. The first mile (1.6 km) of the route serves the mainly industrial center of Godfrey area of Wyoming upon leaving that section it serves primary as a residential route with businesses lining the street for remaining section of the route.
Its history as a state route started off as M-51
M-51 (Michigan highway)
M-51, is a north–south state trunkline highway in the southwestern portion of the US state of Michigan. The northern terminus is on I-94 west of Paw Paw, where it continues north for less than a mile to W Red Arrow Highway as Van Buren CR 671, and the southern terminus is at the Indiana state...
. The route used the current roads to connect Grand Rapids to Holland back in 1918. It was again used for a state route following the US Highway system introduction and was named M-21
M-21 (Michigan highway)
M-21 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan connecting the cities of Grand Rapids and Flint. The highway passes through rural farming country and several small towns along its course through the Lower Peninsula...
in 1926. In 1953 the transportation department completed enough of the Grand Rapids Beltline to reroute M-21 to it. The former routing was named BUS M-21. With the completion of I-196 from Holland to Grand Rapids in 1973 the route was renamed Business Spur I-196. In the 1980s two truncations of the trunkline turned the route to its present length.