Interstate 675 (Michigan)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 675 is an Interstate Highway in the US state of Michigan
. I-675 is a 7.73 miles (12.44 km) loop route through downtown Saginaw
as I-75
passes on the east side of the city.
One additional reason for I-675's existence, besides improved access to downtown Saginaw
, was to serve as a bypass of the former drawbridge
carrying I-75
across the Saginaw River
in the nearby city of Zilwaukee
, until the present Zilwaukee Bridge
opened in 1988. The former drawbridge allowed navigation up the Saginaw River
for a General Motors
plant located there. The present Zilwaukee Bridge
is much higher, allowing navigation without the need for a drawbridge.
on the eastern side of Saginaw
, turning west going into downtown Saginaw. It runs on the northern end of downtown, crossing the Saginaw River
on the Henry Marsh Bridge to an interchange with M-58
. From there it turns northward, merging back into I-75
north of the Zilwaukee Bridge
.
assumed the freeway loop through Saginaw
into the state highway system. This loop, designated I-675 would not be completed until October 22, 1972. At this time, the highway routings through Saginaw
replaced by the new I-675 freeway were turned back to local jurisdiction and removed from the state highway system.
Starting in April 2011, Interstate 675 was closed from exit 2 easterly to begin renovations. These will include the reconstruction of overpasses and a redesigned exit at Warren Avenue to ease access into downtown Saginaw.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. I-675 is a 7.73 miles (12.44 km) loop route through downtown Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
as I-75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
passes on the east side of the city.
One additional reason for I-675's existence, besides improved access to downtown Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, was to serve as a bypass of the former drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
carrying I-75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
across the Saginaw River
Saginaw River
The Saginaw River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is formed by the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Shiawassee rivers southwest of Saginaw. It flows northward into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron just northeast of Bay City. The watershed area is .The river is an important shipping...
in the nearby city of Zilwaukee
Zilwaukee, Michigan
Zilwaukee is a city in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,799 at the 2000 census. The 2009 Census Bureau estimate places the population at 1,640. The city is adjacent to and was created from Zilwaukee Township...
, until the present Zilwaukee Bridge
Zilwaukee Bridge
The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in Zilwaukee, Michigan, approximately north of Saginaw, Michigan, United States. The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing a four-lane bascule...
opened in 1988. The former drawbridge allowed navigation up the Saginaw River
Saginaw River
The Saginaw River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is formed by the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Shiawassee rivers southwest of Saginaw. It flows northward into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron just northeast of Bay City. The watershed area is .The river is an important shipping...
for a General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
plant located there. The present Zilwaukee Bridge
Zilwaukee Bridge
The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in Zilwaukee, Michigan, approximately north of Saginaw, Michigan, United States. The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing a four-lane bascule...
is much higher, allowing navigation without the need for a drawbridge.
Route description
I-675 splits from I-75Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
on the eastern side of Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, turning west going into downtown Saginaw. It runs on the northern end of downtown, crossing the Saginaw River
Saginaw River
The Saginaw River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is formed by the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Shiawassee rivers southwest of Saginaw. It flows northward into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron just northeast of Bay City. The watershed area is .The river is an important shipping...
on the Henry Marsh Bridge to an interchange with M-58
M-58 (Michigan highway)
M-58 is a east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from M-47 in Saginaw Township east to exit 3 of I-675 near the north part of downtown Saginaw. The trunkline follows State Street through the Saginaw area, and east of Lathrop Avenue, M-58 is split along two...
. From there it turns northward, merging back into I-75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
north of the Zilwaukee Bridge
Zilwaukee Bridge
The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in Zilwaukee, Michigan, approximately north of Saginaw, Michigan, United States. The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing a four-lane bascule...
.
History
On January 24, 1964, MDOTMichigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
assumed the freeway loop through Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
into the state highway system. This loop, designated I-675 would not be completed until October 22, 1972. At this time, the highway routings through Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
replaced by the new I-675 freeway were turned back to local jurisdiction and removed from the state highway system.
Starting in April 2011, Interstate 675 was closed from exit 2 easterly to begin renovations. These will include the reconstruction of overpasses and a redesigned exit at Warren Avenue to ease access into downtown Saginaw.