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Interstate 96

Western Terminus: US 31, 2 miles southeast of Muskegon  ¬ 192.3 miles ®  Eastern Terminus: I-75, Detroit


Western Terminus


There is currently no coverage of the Western Terminus of I-96.

If you can get any photographs of this endpoint, at US 31 southeast of Muskegon, please contact Dan.
 


Historic Eastern Terminus (1958 - 1977)


For the first 19 years of its life, I-96's eastern terminus was in Farmington Hills at the eastern end of the then Brighton - Farmington Expressway at Grand River Avenue, northwest of Middlebelt Road.  Originally, I-96 was multiplexed with US 16, then US 16 continued southeastward along Grand River Avenue from that interchange into downtown Detroit.  In 1962, US 16 was decommissioned, then replaced with a BS I-96 designation.  By 1977, with the completion of I-275 and the Jeffries Freeway, I-96 was re-routed onto its current path along I-275 and the Jeffries Freeway.  At that time, the former route of I-96 became an extension of M-102, which then followed Grand River Avenue to 8 Mile Road, where the M-5 designation then took over for M-102, which turned onto east 8 Mile Road.  However, in 1994, M-102 was truncated to the intersection of Grand River Avenue and 8 Mile Road, and M-5 was extended over Grand River Avenue and the former I-96 freeway up to the I-96 / I-275 / I-696 interchange.  Now, M-5 continues north from that humongous interchange on a new eight-lane expressway.

As east M-5 approaches the eastern end of its freeway stretch, a pair of FREEWAY ENDS 3/4 MILE diamond advisory signs are present.  The overpass in the background is Orchard Lake Road.
(PHOTO # 1: Dan Garnell | November 12, 2002)
Another diamond advisory sign designates the end of the M-5 freeway, as well as the historic eastern terminus of I-96, at the point where Grand River Avenue merges in.  The four-lane M-5 freeway turns into an eight-lane divided boulevard as of this point.
(PHOTO # 2: Dan Garnell | December 28, 2002)
This photo shows what was once the starting point of west I-96, as seen from west M-5 as it splits off of Grand River Avenue.
(PHOTO # 3: Dan Garnell | December 28, 2002)

Eastern Terminus


The basic layout of I-96's eastern terminus at I-75 near downtown Detroit is a directional "Y" interchange.  However, US 12, M-10, and the Ambassador Bridge interchange all play a role in making the interchange between I-96 and I-75 a somewhat complex configuration.

The first mention of the upcoming I-75 interchange on east I-96 is this guide sign, located 1.25 miles before the endpoint, in the midst of I-96's interchange with I-94.  The bridge on which the sign is mounted carries the ramp from east I-96 to east I-94.
(PHOTO # 1: Dan Garnell | March 4, 2003)



A sequence of three sets of overhead signs stand over east I-96 as it approaches its eastern terminus, which show where the different lanes go at the interchange.  The far left lane ultimately left merges into north I-75, while the left-center lane hooks into a connector to M-10, which straddles north I-75 for 0.75 mile.  The right two lanes lead to south I-75.  I-96, however, does not end with the divergence of the two left lanes from the two right lanes.   The I-96 designation continues for another 0.5 mile along the ramp to south I-75, to the exit for the Ambassador Bridge, which spans the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
(PHOTOS # 2 - 4: Dan Garnell | April 28, 2003)
At the exit for the bridge to Canada, there is an END I-96 shield which marks the official end to the intrastate Interstate.  This is a rare case for signing an endpoint in Michigan, as the normal MDOT standard is to place an ENDS plate beneath the route marker.  The two lanes which carried the I-96 designation to this point merge in with south I-75 just ahead.
(PHOTO # 5: Dan Garnell | July 9, 2002)
This is the first reassurance marker for I-96 in the westbound direction, located where the ramps from north I-75, south I-75, and M-10 converge to form west I-96.
(PHOTO # 6: Dan Garnell | April 28, 2003)



A progression of three overhead signs along north I-75 located at 1.5 miles, 1 mile, and 0.25 mile, respectively, before the I-96 interchange, each feature a diagram denoting the possible lane maneuvers at the upcoming split.
(PHOTOS # 7 - 9: Dan Garnell | April 28, 2003)
On the Lafayette Boulevard overpass, just before west I-96 begins upon splitting from north I-75, are these lane distribution signs.  Two lanes of the five north I-75 has entering into the interchange are yielded to west I-96, while three are maintained for north I-75.
(PHOTO # 10: Dan Garnell | October 19, 2002)
The first acknowledgement of the upcoming I-96 interchange on south I-75 is 0.75 mile away, on the Trumbull Avenue bridge.
(PHOTO # 11: Dan Garnell | December 19, 2002)
The right lane of south I-75 becomes exit only to west I-96.
(PHOTO # 12: Dan Garnell | December 19, 2002)
This is the gantry present at the exit for west I-96 on south I-75.
(PHOTO # 13: Dan Garnell | December 19, 2002)
Upon emerging from the Ambassador Bridge, motorists will arrive at a traffic light with the north I-75 service drive, which from this perspective comes in from the left and then goes straight ahead through the signalized intersection.  Immediately after the light, a direct ramp to west I-96 splits off of the north I-75 service drive.  A second ramp promptly splits off of the service drive after the I-96 ramp, this one serving north I-75.  Traffic to south I-75 must utilize the service drive.
(PHOTO # 14: Dan Garnell | January 3, 2003)
At the split of the ramp to west I-96 from the north I-75 service drive are these shields.  TO I-94 shields accompany the west I-96 markers.  This ramp merges in with west I-96 immediately after the split from north I-75.
(PHOTO # 15: Dan Garnell | January 3, 2003)
This guide sign stands on north M-10 as it approaches the I-75 interchange.  Traffic can go from M-10 to I-96 without actually merging into mainline south I-75, courtesy of an extended ramp which parallels south I-75 to the right.
(PHOTO # 16: Dan Garnell | March 4, 2003)
The gantry present at the split of the ramp from north M-10 to south and north I-75, respectively, also features a TO I-96 shield which points to the south I-75 ramp.
(PHOTO # 17: Dan Garnell | April 28, 2003)



On the connector from M-10 to I-96 are three sets of overhead signs which direct traffic wishing to access I-96 to use the right lane.  The left lane leads to south I-75.
(PHOTOS # 18 - 20: Dan Garnell | April 28, 2003)
This is the gore signage present between the ramps to south I-75 and west I-96, respectively.
(PHOTO # 21: Dan Garnell | April 28, 2003)

Links


  • I-96 @ AARoads Interstate Guide (Alex Nitzman / Andy Field)
  • I-96 @ Michigan Highways (Chris Bessert)
     


  • © 2002-03, Michigan Highway Ends
    Page Created: July 21, 2002
    Last Updated: May 5, 2003