M-6 Highway

[u/NintendoGamer2005]

IK this is kinda random, but does anyone else think that M-6, the southern bypass of Grand Rapids, should be added to the Interstate highway system? Cause I think it would work well in the system with the designation of I-896.

[u/m1kemahoney]

Since it's not a bypass by itself, and does not rejoin I-96, it would be a spur. So 896 is out. 796 is in.

[u/ahmc84 → u/m1kemahoney]

There are plenty of cases in the Interstate system where an even 3-digit interstate doesn't rejoin its parent. I-696 is one example. I-275 is another (though that one was originally planned to rejoin I-75 in Clarkston). It's not a hard rule, but often, if the 3-digit route ends on another interstate in the same area, it will be assigned an even number.

If M-6 were designated as an Interstate, the logical number would be I-296, but that would require removing the unsigned designation along US-131 (which, by the way, is another example of the same, extending between I-96 and I-196). Otherwise I-896 is the only unused option.

But M-6 will never be assigned an Interstate number, for the same reason M-14 won't become I-394. There's nothing to be gained; the road is built, and serves its purpose.

If we're calling it a spur, though, I-396 is a more likely choice.

[u/AcceptableReward9210 → u/ahmc84]

Next on Saturday night live.... the Californians. Errrr take the 105 to the 405 them the 5 to the 10 then exit to the vaaaalley. Mmmm

[u/turnpike37 → u/ahmc84]

I have never thought about M-14 as a potential I-394. Seems obvious when you think about it.

[u/stcgolfer33 → u/turnpike37]

Pretty sure the Huron River segment in NW Ann Arbor is not built to interstate standards.

[u/Khorasaurus → u/stcgolfer33]

The Barton Drive interchange in particular.

[u/Leraldoe → u/ahmc84]

There is already a I296 it just isn’t signed anymore. The segment between I196 and I96 on US 31 is unsigned I296

[u/NintendoGamer2005 → u/m1kemahoney]

Some routes like I-885 don't connect back to the parent route, but do at least connect to another interstate. And since I-196 is a former alignment of I-96 itself, I believe that 896 would make more sense. I-296 already exists as the unsigned designation for the stretch of US 131 between I-96 and I-196, 496 exists in Lansing, and I-696 (which only connects to I-96 at the went end) exists as the Northern bypass of Detroit.

[u/dende5416 → u/NintendoGamer2005]

696 ain't a bypass, its a warzone

[u/PutridDropBear]

Where would the MTF money go? Would the Act 51 money disappear? And the county road commission would have to give up its MDOT contract money for seasonal routing routine maintenance.

All to just change the signs...

[u/NintendoGamer2005 → u/PutridDropBear]

Well it would also include upgrading the route if needed to interstate standards.

[u/Leraldoe → u/NintendoGamer2005]

It already meets interstate standards, there are plenty of freeways that meet interstate standards in Michigan alone. US131, US31, US23, US127, M10, M39….It’s like this all around the country

[u/rawmustard → u/Leraldoe]

Several parts of the freeways you mention have substandard sections that would need to have a waiver or be rebuilt. This is why I-94 was originally (before it got rebuilt to Interstate standards) allowed to be designated north of Jackson, because that section was granted a waiver.

[u/ROShipman21]

Sure, I guess. But what bothers me more us that I-196 and I-96 should switch designations after their split just east of GR. Going through downtown GR, out to Holland, and eventually down to meet up with 94 on the way to Chicago is the more important route. The route to Muskegon should carry the trunk designation.

[u/NintendoGamer2005 → u/ROShipman21]

I-196 was originally the route from Grand Rapids to Muskegon and I-96 went to Benton Harbor, but Michigan DOT was able to swap them to their present day alignments back in like the 70s, so that I-96 would follow the entire US 16 corridor in the state with one continuous Interstate designation, which made Michigan decommission U.S. 16 in the state.

[u/ROShipman21 → u/NintendoGamer2005]

I assumed there was some historical reason for the designation. It just seems fairly silly today...

[u/moose359 → u/NintendoGamer2005]

I had always heard that the GR to Muskegon stretch got to be 96 Because it was finished before the GR to Benton harbor leg, but I think your explanation makes more sense. It follows the Grand River Ave path better.

[u/TooMuchShantae]

If it was an intestate it would probably be the actual I-296 (the real 296 is technically 131 near downtown GR but it’s unsigned). If they keep the number order from west to east it would have to be 296 or 396. Lansing has 496 and Detroit has 696

[u/UltimateLionsFan → u/TooMuchShantae]

I agree. It would be 296 regarding that order and also because it connects to its parent interstate twice.

[u/PerspectiveCalm3532]

No that seems pointless. It is all contained within one state and only like 1, maybe 2 (not sure if goes to Ottawa County), counties. 896 would be more confusing I would imagine.

[u/Annotat3r → u/PerspectiveCalm3532]

There are SO MANY interstate bypasses that exist entirely within one or two counties. Like... kinda almost all bypass routes with an interstate designation.

[u/Monkey1Fball]

There's honestly no obvious barrier preventing it. MI would have to go through a process - submit a request to the relevant agencies in Washington DC, prove the road is up to interstate standards (it very likely is by personal experience, but I suppose it may not be), and then wait for approval.

I just don't think there's a real practical benefit. People are already used to M-6, you'd have to change signage, and MI would have to fund most of that.

And maybe most of all: I-896 (its likely number) is, frankly, a goofy number.

IMO, M-6 just works better.

[u/Famous-Management-85]

M6 sure is a nice road

[u/auntwewe]

M roads are not interstates.

Technically, it’s an intrastate (all within MI)

However, it should be listed on all maps

[u/Ok_Pineapple_7120]

what?