Interstate 96

Interstate 96 Michigan
Muskegon, MI ↔ Detroit, MI•187.05 miles•4 Branch Routes

Overview

Intrastate Interstate 96 traverses southern Michigan from Muskegon east to Detroit. The freeway begins at a cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 31 at Norton Shores. Angling southeast from there, I-96 heads to Crockery Township where it turns east to Coopersville and the north side of Grand Rapids.

Bypassing Furniture City to the north and east, Interstate 96 circles southward to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) and the east end of the M-6 freeway before resuming an eastward course to Portland. Southeast from there, the freeway parallels both the Looking Glass and Grand Rivers to combine with Interstate 69 to the west of Lansing.

East from Interstate 69, I-96 spans the Grand River ahead of south Lansing to Michigan State University and the freeway along U.S. 127. Interstate 496 loops through the city, serving both the state capitol complex and Downtown.

Becoming rural again, Interstate 96 leaves Lansing to pass by the villages of Webberville and Fowlerville and the small cities of Howell and Brighton. The Detroit suburbs ensue from U.S. 23 and Brighton east along I-96 to the interchange complex with Interstate 275, I-696 and M-5 at Novi. I-96 turns south there along side I-275 from Novi to Livonia.

The remainder of Interstate 96 east through Livonia and into Detroit is an urban freeway, with a dual roadway section between Exit 180 (Outer Drive) and Exit 186 B (Davison Street). Beyond the three-wye interchange with M-8, I-96 curves southeast along the Jeffries Freeway to meet I-94 and Interstate 75 (Fisher Freeway) before ending at the ramps to the Ambassador Bridge linking Michigan with Windsor, Ontario.

Mileage by State

Michigan187.05 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2025 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

Parallel U.S. Routes

Interstate 96 wholesale replaced the alignment of U.S. 16 through Michigan. The route used to cross Lake Michigan via a ferry from Milwaukee to Muskegon. It ran east to end in Downtown Detroit until 1962, when it was truncated west to Wisconsin.

History

Originally, Interstate 96 was to begin at the Michigan-Indiana state line cosigned with Interstate 94. Once at Benton Harbor, I-96 was to split from I-94, following current Interstate 196 all the way to Grand Rapids. Northward at Grand Rapids, Interstate 96 was to have turned onto its existing alignment toward Lansing and Detroit. Interstate 196 then was defined to include what is now I-96 between Muskegon and Grand Rapids. Changes were made in 1963 (Bessert, 2025) when I-96 and I-196 west from Grand Rapids traded places. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved the change on June 23, 1969.

The last section of Interstate 96 (between Eagle/Grand Ledge area and east of Howell) opened to traffic in 1962 (Lansing State Journal, 2006). This 59 mile long stretch of freeway replaced former U.S. 16, which subsequently was decommissioned.

Southwest Michigan – 1962 Michigan Official Highway Map
The designations of Interstates 96 and 196 were swapped west of Grand Rapids in 1963 (Bessert, 2025).
Detroit – 1967 Official Michigan Highway Map
Grand River Avenue, from the end of I-96 at Farmington southeast to U.S. 12 in Downtown Detroit, was posted as Business Spur I-96 from 1962 to 1977, when the Jeffries Freeway was completed (Bessert, 2025).

Interstate 96 through the Novi and Wixom areas opened to traffic in 1957. Along this stretch are the first two Single Point Urban Interchanges (SPUI) built in Michigan. Upgrades to the previous diamond interchanges at Beck and Wixom Roads (Exits 159 and 160) were needed after traffic demands overwhelmed both. Rising land costs and a lack of available right-of-way necessitated the need for a new approach to improving the exits. Work began in 2004 on the $27.438 million interchange project at Beck Road with construction of a wider overpass for Beck Road. Ramp construction at Exit 160 followed in 2005. A similar process upgraded the Wixom Road interchange (The Oakland Press, 2003).

Within Detroit, Interstate 96 originally ended at Farmington along what later became Business Spur I-96 and is now M-5 (Brighton-Farmington Expressway). The freeway defaulted onto Grand River Avenue (historic U.S. 16) just west of Middlebelt Road in Farmington Hills, with the portion leading southeast to the Jeffries Freeway at West Chicago never constructed.

As part of the Gateway Project to improve the connection between I-75 and the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Interstate 96 was extended beyond the end at I-75 to the bridge into Canada. $170 million in construction began on February 25, 2008 and the bulk of work was completed on July 2, 2009, when I-75 southbound reopened to traffic (Helms, 2009). Accelerated work was the result of entire shutdowns along the final mile of I-96 and 1.5 miles of I-75 as a new roadway was built to the Ambassador Bridge approach.

East End Interstate 75 (Fisher Freeway) ‐ Detroit, MI

Interstate 96 East at Interstate 75

I-96 east at I-75 - Detroit, MI

Interstate 96 continues 1.25 miles southeast from the systems interchange with I-94 (Edsel Ford Freeway) to the ramp separation for I-75 (Fisher Freeway). 07/19/26

I-96 east at I-75 - Detroit, MI I-96 east at I-75 - Detroit, MI I-96 east at I-75 - Detroit, MI I-96 east at I-75 - Detroit, MI I-96 east at I-75 - 2002 I-96 East at Vernor Hwy in Detroit, MI I-96 East at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, MI

Interstate 75 North at Interstate 96

I-75 north at I-96 - Detroit, MI

Paralleling M-85 (Fort Street), I-75 (Fisher Freeway) makes a northwesterly turn ahead of the Ambassador Bridge and I-96 (Jeffries Freeway) west at Exit 48. I-96 links Detroit with Lansing 86 miles to the west while I-75 leads beyond Downtown to Flint. Photo by Jim Teresco / Rob Foulis (08/01/01).

I-75 north at I-96 - Detroit, MI I-75 north at I-96 - Detroit, MI

Interstate 75 South at Interstate 96

I-75 south at I-96 - Detroit, MI

Leading away from the turbine interchange with M-10 (Lodge Freeway) outside Downtown Detroit, I-75 advances 0.75 miles west to Interstate 96. 07/22/24

I-75 south at I-96 - Detroit, MI I-75 south at I-96 - Detroit, MI I-75 south at I-96 - Detroit, MI

Interstate 96 West

I-96 west after I-75 - Detroit, MI

The first confirming marker for Interstate 96 westbound stands ahead of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard just beyond I-75. 11/07/09

East End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 75 South at Interstate 96

I-75 south at I-96 - 2007

Replaced guide sign sides at Exit 49 A along I-75 south. The Rosa Parks Boulevard off-ramp used to be the exit to old Tiger Stadium. Photo by Frank Gillon (09/03/07).

I-75 south at I-96 - 2007 I-75 south at I-96 - 2007 I-75 south at I-96 - 2007

West End U.S. 31 U.S. 31 Business ‐ Muskegon, MI

Interstate 96 West at U.S. 31 U.S. 31 Business

I-96 west 1.75 miles from US 31 in Fruitport Charter Twp, MI

Interstate 96 angles northwest along side Airline Highway (old U.S. 16) to U.S. 31 outside Muskegon. 07/18/26

I-96 west 1.75 miles from US 31 in Fruitport Charter Twp, MI I-96 west at US 31 - Fruitport Charter Twp, MI I-96 West a half mile from Exit 1 B to US 31 North I-96 West at US 31 and US 31 Business I-96 West at US 31 North in Fruitport Charter Twp, MI I-96 west at US 31 - Fruitport Charter Twp, MI The West End of Interstate 96

U.S. 31 Business South at Interstate 96 U.S. 31

Interstate 96 East Begins

The begin sign for Interstate 96 precedes Exit 1 A for the freeway taking U.S. 31 south to Grand Haven. 07/18/26

US 31 Business South a half mile from I-96/US 31 in Norton Shores, MI Interstate 96 East Begins US 31 Business South at I-96 East and US 31 South

U.S. 31 North at Interstate 96 U.S. 31 Business

US 31 north at I-96/US 31 Business - Norton Shores, MI

U.S. 31 advances 0.75 miles north from the commercialized interchange with Sternberg Road to Interstate 96 east and U.S. 31 Business north. 07/18/26

US 31 north at I-96/US 31 Business - Norton Shores, MI US 31 north at I-96/US 31 Business - Norton Shores, MI US 31 north at I-96/US 31 Business - Norton Shores, MI

U.S. 31 South at Interstate 96 U.S. 31 Business

US 31 south at I-96/US 31 Business - Norton Shores, MI

U.S. 31 traverses an area of wetlands associated with Black Creek on the mile preceding Exit 110 A to I-96 east. 07/18/26

US 31 south at I-96/US 31 Business - Norton Shores, MI US 31 south at I-96/US 31 Business - Norton Shores, MI US 31 south at I-96/US 31 Business - Norton Shores, MI

Interstate 96 East

Interstate 96 East of US 31 in Fruitport Charter Twp, MI

The first reassurance marker for Interstate 96 east appears after Exit 1 C to Hile Road. 07/18/26

West End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

U.S. 31 Business South at Interstate 96 U.S. 31

US 31 Business south at I-96/US 31 - Norton Shores, MI

Exit 1 A departs U.S. 31 Business south beyond the Airport Road overpass for U.S. 31 south to Holland. 11/05/09

US 31 Business south at I-96/US 31 - Norton Shores, MI US 31 Business south at I-96/US 31 - 2000 US 31 Business south at I-96/US 31 - Norton Shores, MI US 31 Business south at I-96/US 31 - Norton Shores, MI

Interstate 96 West at U.S. 31 U.S. 31 Business

I-96 west at US 31 - Fruitport Charter Twp, MI

A previous end sign for Interstate 96. 11/05/09

I-96 west at US 31 in Fruitport Charter Twp, MI - 2009 I-96 west at US 31 - Fruitport Charter Twp, MI I-96 west at US 31 - Fruitport Charter Twp, MI I-96 west at US 31 - 2000 I-96 west at US 31 - Fruitport Charter Twp, MI

References

Bessert, C. (2025, March 10). Route Listings: I-96. Michigan Highways. Retrieved from https://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/I-096.html
Road engineers plan new kind of interchange for I-96. (2003, October 12). The Oakland Press.
Interstate roads have shaped the future for many mid-Michigan communities. (2006, July 23). Lansing State Journal.
Helms, M. (2009, July 2). Yes! Both sides of I-75 reopened in Detroit. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 30, -0001 from http://www.michigan.gov/gatewa
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). (2026, March 31). Bridge improvements and resurfacing start April 6 at I-96/US-31 interchange in Muskegon County. [Press release]. Retrieved August 18, 2026 from https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/news-outreach/pressreleases/2026/03/31/bridge-improvements-and-resurfacing-start-april-6-at-i-96-us-31-interchange-in-muskegon-county
Updated August 20, 2026