Business Route 96 - Interstate Business Loop Guide
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Interstate Business Route 96

Interstates 96, 196, and 496 all have existing business connections. Interstate 696 has a decommissioned business spur. For more information on many of these routes, go to Chris Bessert's Michigan Highways Page.

MICHIGAN
Muskegon Decommissioned Former Business Spur I-96 used to begin in downtown Muskegon, then traveled south via Business U.S. 31 to meet Interstate 96 at the U.S. 31 junction (Exit 1). It was removed by the 1990s.
Portland Active Business Spur I-96 into Portland follows old U.S. 16 for a distance of 1.29 miles. Chris Bessert comments that this spur is unusual in that it could theoretically continue westward for about two miles to rejoin Interstate 96 thus making it into a business loop, but it is not maintained as such.
Lansing Active This business loop into the capital city follows Grand River Avenue and Cedar Street between Exits 90 and 104 for a distance of 13.97 miles. The eastern interchange with Interstate 69, Interstate 96, U.S. 27, and Business Loop I-96 must have interesting signage.
Howell Active Business Loop serves Howell between exits 133 and 141 for a distance of 8.07 miles (Chris Bessert).
Farmington Hills/Detroit Decommissioned What's now Michigan 5 (Grand River Avenue) was once Business Loop I-96 in the 1970s and Michigan 102 in the 1980s. Edward Curtis elaborates, "Grand River Avenue spent a number of years as (Interstate) Business Route 96, while Interstate 96's Metro Detroit sections were being built. Interstate 96 was built starting at its present intersection with Interstate 75 near the Ambassador Bridge, and was slowly routed through Detroit and Livonia to meet Interstate 275. Until its completion in 1977, Grand River heading outbound was marked with "TO Interstate 96" trailblazer signs in addition to the Green 96 reassurance signs. If I recall correctly, Grand River was changed to Michigan 5 not long after Interstate 96 was completed -- but while Green 96 went all the way into downtown Detroit, Michigan 5 is cut off at Interstate 96 Exit 184, the first of the two times Grand River crosses that interstate. There is also the matter of the Grand River-to-Interstate 96 connector freeway in Farmington. This used to be part of U.S. 16, as I remember from an old 1950s era Detroit map I used to have. I think it was later actually signed as Interstate 96, before becoming Business I-96. When Green 96 was decommissioned, Michigan 102, 8 Mile Road's designation, was extended onto Grand River from Eight Mile to the connector, and onto the connector itself. The connector was changed to Michigan 5 a few years ago, and Michigan 102 truncated back to the Grand River/Eight Mile intersection, when the new freeway section of Michigan 5 from 12 Mile Rd. to the Interstate 96/Interstate 696/Interstate 275 mega-interchange was finally completed." Dyche Anderson adds, "the original plan for Interstate 96 was to parallel Grand River (then U.S. 16). It was partially complete at both ends, making out on the Downtown side about as far as West Chicago, and it was signed as such. Back in the mid-1970s, the routing was changed, and a "jughandle" was built (as it was described by the Detroit media at the time) that got it heading due west, where for much of the length it went goes the median of Schoolcraft Ave (which, if I recall correctly, was signed as Michigan 5 during the construction of Interstate 96)."

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MICHIGAN
South Haven Active Old U.S. 31 between Exits 18 and 20, Business Loop I-196 runs for 3.57 miles (Chris Bessert). Interestingly, all three signed I-x96 routes in Michigan (196, 496, and 696) have or had business routes, but Interstate 296 (hidden designation for U.S. 131 between Interstates 196 and 96 in Grand Rapids) does not have a business connection.
Holland Active Between exits 44 and 55, Business Loop I-196 in Holland runs for 12.26 miles and is concurrently designated with U.S. 31, then with Business U.S. 31 from that point through downtown Holland to the north junction with U.S. 31 between Holland and Zeeland. From U.S. 31 east past Zeeland to rejoin Interstate 196, Business Loop I-196 replaces the former state route Michigan 21. (Information on the mileage and Michigan 21 courtesy of Chris Bessert.)
Grand Rapids Active Business Spur I-196 begins at Interstate 196 Exit 72 and follows Chicago Drive, Grandville Avenue, and Franklin Street before it ends at U.S. 131 Exit 83B. This spur is 3.75 miles long (Chris Bessert).

MICHIGAN
Lansing Active Officially called the "Capitol Loop," Capitol Loop I-496 runs from Exits 5 (Michigan 99) and 7 (Business Loop I-96) via Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Michigan Ave, and Cedar Street for 2.26 miles. The Capitol Loop I-496 routing takes travelers to the foot of the State Capitol and downtown Lansing, then returns to I-496. Chris Bessert writes, the "Capitol Loop" has its own signs, completely unrelated to Interstate 496 or any other route. Shown above, it's on a regular-sized "blank" and starts off with a "Business Loop Green" background. Centered in it is a white circle. Inside the top half of this circle is an outline of Michigan's state capitol dome and the bottom half of the circle features the words "Capitol Loop." The entire route is both signed and maintained as a "real" state highway. There are several "Capitol Loop" signs at Interstate 496 westbound Exit 7 and eastbound Exit 5, just as if it was a "real" Business Loop. Check out Chris's Michigan Highways page for more ... MDOT designates this highway on some of its internal maps as "Capitol Loop I-496" or "Connector 81." Capitol Loop image and information courtesy of Chris Bessert.

MICHIGAN
Southfield and Detroit Decommissioned When Interstate 696 consisted only of the western section from the current Interstate 96, Interstate 275, Interstate 696, and Michigan 5 interchange eastward to the Interstate 696, U.S. 24, and Michigan 10 interchange there was a Business Spur I-696. The Interstate 696 Business Spur was signed along the current Michigan 10 Lodge Freeway in the 1970s, but is signed as such any more, since the Lodge became U.S. 10 around the time construction of Interstate 96 in Detroit city proper began (early 1970s). The Lodge Freeway was part of U.S. 10 prior to its retraction to Bay City in the 1980s. There was a marker for Business Spur I-696 at the entrance to the Lodge Freeway at Tiger Stadium well into the 1980s that may still be erected. Edward M. Curtis provided most of the Business Spur I-696 information. Michael Swope visited the area in December 2000, and he was unable to find any Business Spur I-696 markers.

Page Updated July 26, 2004.