I-69 Ends | Michigan Highway Ends

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Interstate 69

Southern Entrance: Indiana State Line, 3 miles south of Kinderhook ¬ 201.4 miles ® Eastern Terminus: Ontario Provincial Boundary, Port Huron

Southern Entrance

I-69 crosses from Michigan into Indiana south of Kinderhook. The WELCOME TO INDIANA sign is located behind the speed limit signs in the distance. 1.5 miles ahead, I-69 will arrive at an interchange with I-80 / I-90, the Indiana Toll Road.
(PHOTO # 1: Michael Swope | June 13, 2002)

Here, Mike shows a side view of the WELCOME TO MICHIGAN sign that greets motorists heading north on I-69 across the state line, as taken from the same point as the previous photo.
(PHOTO # 2: Michael Swope | June 13, 2002)

Orientation Change

I-69 is still signed as a north / south Interstate as it multiplexes with I-96 along the western fringes of Lansing. Note the size of the shields on this pole. This abides by the general MDOT standard of signage of multiplexing routes along freeways. The superceding route in the multiplex, in this case I-96, has a freeway-standard size shield. The secondary route in the multiplex, in this case I-69, has a smaller size shield.
(PHOTO # 1: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

On the Willow Highway overpass is the first acknowledgement of the upcoming split of I-69 from west I-96, 1.25 miles ahead. This is also the first reference to EAST I-69.
(PHOTO # 2: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

This interchange marks the northern split of the I-69 / I-96 multiplex. As of this point, I-69 changes direction, from north / south to east / west.
(PHOTO # 3: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

Interestingly, the I-69 shield that appears immediately after the split from westbound I-96 has a NORTH tab above it, instead of an EAST one. The change of direction is not officially noted until after the merge of the ramp from east I-96 to east I-69.
(PHOTO # 4: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

A special guide sign previously stood just east of the merge of the west I-96 ramp to east I-69 to acknowledge the change in orientation of I-69 from north to east. For some reason, this sign, and a like one in the opposing direction, were taken down in the spring of 2002.
(PHOTO # 5: Eric Vander Yacht | June 1, 2001)

In place of the guide sign that previously stood there, a new EAST I-69 shield has been erected. It is the first I-69 shield with an EAST tab above it.
(PHOTO # 6: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

In the opposing direction, this is the final I-69 marker with a WEST tab above. It is located just west of the Airport Road interchange (Exit 84).
(PHOTO # 7: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

As I-69 proceeds toward eastbound I-96, the first I-69 shield with a SOUTH tab appears. This shield replaces a special guide sign which denoted the change in direction of I-69 from west to south.
(PHOTO # 8: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

Historic Eastern Terminus (1973 - 1984)

From 1973 until 1984, the eastern terminus of I-69 was at I-475 in downtown Flint. M-21 continued on as a freeway east of the I-475 interchange to M-24 at Lapeer during this time frame. In fact, M-21 multiplexed with I-69 for its easternmost 15 miles at the time, from M-13 to I-475.

Here, east I-69 approaches its historic eastern terminus at I-475. Note the "I" shaped props of a former sign are remnant on the bridge I-beam to the left of the I-475 exit sign. The sign that the props formerly held read M-21 PORT HURON.
(PHOTO # 1: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

This is east I-69 in the midst of the four-level stack interchange it has with I-475. At this point, east I-69 ended, and the I-69 / M-21 multiplex became just M-21. I-69 is the second level of this stack. I-475 passes underneath I-69, the ramps from I-69 to I-475 make up the third level, and the ramps from I-475 to I-69 comprise the uppermost level.
(PHOTO # 2: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

West I-69 is passing in the midst of the I-475 interchange in this photo. This marked the beginning of west I-69 in the 1973 to 1984 time frame. As such, the solo M-21 became the I-69 / M-21 multiplex here.
(PHOTO # 3: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

From the perspective of north I-475, this is an advance exit sign for I-69, 0.5 mile from the interchange. During the period of time in question, I-475 ended just north of the I-69 interchange, at what was the M-56 (current M-21) interchange. Slight remnants of a FREEWAY ENDS 3/4 MILE sign that stood to the left of the clearance sign still exist on the I-beam of the pedestrian bridge.
(PHOTO # 4: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

At this point, the I-69 exit ramp diverges from north I-475. At the time, the I-69 shield on the exit sign farthest right would have been accompanied by an M-21 diamond, and the M-21 diamond currently on the Court Street exit sign at left would have had an M-56 diamond instead. North I-475 traffic was forced off at the Court Street interchange, as I-475 north of there was not completed until around the same time as the extension of I-69 to Port Huron. Beneath the clearance sign are remnants of two "I" shaped props that held up a FREEWAY ENDS sign.
(PHOTO # 5: Don Hargraves | November 2002)

No coverage of the historical eastern endpoint of I-69 from the perspective of south I-475 is presented, because since I-475 was completed around the time of the I-69 extension, such coverage would be out of context, and therefore misleading. However, such coverage can be found on the M-21 page, as the Court Street interchange off of I-475 now marks M-21's eastern terminus.

Eastern Terminus

Following a brief multiplex, I-94 and I-69 arrive at a common eastern terminus at the Blue Water Bridges, which connect Port Huron with Sarnia, Ontario. The advisory sign shown here warns of the upcoming end to I-94 / I-69, 1 mile ahead.
(PHOTO # 1: Dan Garnell | April 20, 2003)

On the Water Street overpass are these guide signs, which explain the possible destinations for motorists at the eastern end of I-94 / I-69, 0.75 mile from this point. The left exit is a connector to M-25, which serves the Thumb region, while the right exit is for Canada-bound traffic.
(PHOTO # 2: Dan Garnell | April 20, 2003)

This sign gantry marks the official end to east I-94 / I-69. What is interesting here is that those who are heading to Canada must actually exit off of the main roadway. The two lanes for east I-94 / I-69 default onto the connector to M-25.
(PHOTO # 3: Dan Garnell | April 20, 2003)

Here are the dual Blue Water Bridges as they span the Saint Clair River. Each bridges carries three one-way travel lanes. The near (eastbound) bridge opened in 1997. The far (westbound) bridge opened in 1938, and was renovated and reopened in 1999. The Blue Water Bridges connect Michigan with Ontario, and funnel I-94 and I-69 travelers onto ON 402 on the Ontario side, which ultimately connects to ON 401 for London, Toronto, and points east.
(PHOTO # 4: Eric Vander Yacht | June 1, 2001)

These are the first reassurance markers for west I-94 and I-69. Merging in from the right side is the connector from M-25.
(PHOTO # 5: Dan Garnell | September 5, 2002)

Links

I-69 @ AARoads Interstate Guide (Alex Nitzman / Andy Field)

I-69 @ Indiana Highway Ends (Don Hargraves)

I-69 @ Michigan Highways (Chris Bessert)