Interstate Highway era Interstate 69 in Michigan

1958 planning map michigan s interstate highways

the first planning maps 1947 later became interstate highway system did not include highway along i-69 s route; instead highway further west connecting south bend, indiana, kalamazoo included. alternative highway maintained on 1955 plan national system of interstate , defense highways , , numbered i-67 in august 1957. june 1958, freeway had been shifted further east , renumbered i-69, connecting indianapolis, indiana, marshall; no connections north , east lansing, flint or port huron planned part of interstate highway system. around same time, section of m-146 near port huron converted approach freeway blue water bridge.

by middle of 1960, first section of freeway along m-78 opened in lennon area. next year, freeway had been extended far southwest durand end @ lennon. in 1961, mshd had proposed section of us 27 south of lansing built electronic highway under bid through general motors; testing such roadway done @ ohio state university instead.

1957 map showing predecessor highways i-69 along route in michigan (click enlarge)

by start of 1962, m-78 freeway perry @ junction m-47 way swartz creek near flint. on december 12, 1962, i-96 completed around lansing area, , m-78 rerouted follow it. year later, i-496 partially opened through lansing area, , m-78 routed follow well; former route through downtown redesignated business m-78 (bus. m-78). around same time, i-94 extended along blue water bridge approach freeway.

the first freeway segment of m-21 on east end built wadhams port huron in 1966. next year, m-78 s freeway extended eastward i-75/us 10/us 23 in flint. on october 11, 1967, first segment of i-69/us 27 scheduled open between indiana state line , tekonsha. end of year, freeway extended north i-94 northwest of marshall. mshd requested additional interstate highway mileage in 1968 under federal-aid highway act of 1968 including extension of i-69 marshall port huron; extension approved far i-75/us 23 in flint on december 13, 1968.

a discontinuous section of m-78 freeway east of flint completed in 1969. same year, i-475 named david dunbar buick freeway, after founder of buick motor company in flint; same legislation, house concurrent resolution 22 of 1969 named m-78 freeway through flint louis chevrolet. in 1970, i-496 freeway completed , bus. m-78 designation removed through lansing. freeway segment between flint , lapeer opened in 1971. m-21 routed down m-13 new freeway joined m-78 designation m-13 east. section of m-21 formerly between m-13 , bus. m-54 redesignated m-56. m-78 designation replaced i-69 in 1973 after temporary i-69 (temp. i-69) designation extended northward charlotte through lansing perry. on september 4 of year, i-69 s designation officially extended congress end @ i-475 on east side of flint; extension, , subsequent ones, of non-chargeable mileage, or segments not financed through interstate highway fund.

in 1980, flint-area politician wanted dedicate highway after united auto workers (uaw). result, david dunbar buick freeway name moved off i-475 , applied i-69 in flint. american association of state highway , transportation officials (aashto) approved extension of i-69 designation eastward in 1983 terminate @ international boundary @ port huron; approval contingent on construction of roadway interstate highway standards , other appropriate approvals @ federal government level. remaining segment of freeway connecting lapeer wadhams opened in 1984 i-69 , several additional changes made highway system @ same time. m-21 shortened flint , replaced m-56 through city. former route of m-21 in port huron became bl i-69, , remainder of highway turned local control. i-69 designation officially extended once more under congressional legislation on february 10, 1987; last extension designated i-69 way i-94 in port huron reflect 1984 openings.

another segment of freeway opened in 1987 in clinton county between us 127 near dewitt , temp. i-69 near bath. section connected existing freeway @ perry in 1991. final segment of i-69 completed located southwest of lansing. opened on october 17, 1992, when ribbon cut governor john engler. segment marked last in state complete michigan s portion of interstate highway system. @ time completed, i-69 concurrent us 27 state line north dewitt area (exit 87) , concurrent us 127 exit 89 before running alone port huron.