How Michigan Made U.S. Highway History with I-94

Michigan can brag about a lot of transportation firsts: the first assembly line (obviously), the first double yellow lines placed in the middle of the road (we've been crossing them ever since), and even the nation's first traffic light. But did you know that Michigan was the first in the country to complete a state-spanning interstate?

The Birth of the Interstate Era

Though the Interstate Highway Act was signed in 1956, work wouldn't officially begin on the highway until 1959. According to MichiganHighways.org, much of the interstate construction involved absorbing several existing highways, including sections of US-12, M-17, M-29, and M-112.

I-94: From St. Joseph to Detroit

By December 30, 1960, the construction was done, signs were posted, and Michigan officially proclaimed it to be the United States' first border-to-border interstate, running from the shores of St. Joseph through Detroit.

Also referred to as Michigan's Main Street, I-94 has not only been a significant trade route for interstate and international shipping, but it has also served as a pipeline for residents and tourists alike to travel quickly from one Great Lake to another.

I-94's Daily Traffic Totals Across Michigan

Since then, it's become one of the state's busiest highways, according to Mid-America Freight.. Battle Creek and Jackson each average just over 50,000 vehicles daily, and Kalamazoo over 75,000. The highest average was Detroit, with over 150,000 cars on I-94 daily.

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Although Detroit experiences the highest daily traffic on I-94 in Michigan, the stretch that now passes through Chicago, Illinois, sees over 300,000 cars a day.