Capitol Loop (Lansing, Michigan)
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| Capitol Loop Business loop of the Interstate Highway System |
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| Capitol Loop 496 (CL I-496) Maintained by MDOT |
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| Length: | 2.13 mi[1] (3.43 km) | ||||||||
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| Formed: | 1989[2] | ||||||||
| West end: |  & I-496 & M-99 in Lansing Exit 5 |
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| Major junctions: |
 BL I-96 in Lansing |
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| East end: | & I-496 & BL I-96 in Lansing Exit 7 |
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| Counties: | Ingham | ||||||||
| Major cities: | Lansing | ||||||||
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The Capitol Loop is a loop route running through Lansing, Michigan. It was commissioned in 1989. It is known internally at MDOT as Connector 81. A portion of it runs concurrently with BL I-96. Unlike other business loops in Michigan, it has its own completely unique reassurance marker as shown to the right.
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[edit] Route description
The Capitol Loop serves as a connection to the Michigan State Capitol complex. The Capitol Loop starts at the northern end of M-99 at exit 5 on I-496. It runs north on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard. At Allegan Street, eastbound Capitol Loop turns off on a one-way street. Ottawa Street, one block to the north, carries the westbound direction. The State Capitol is located between Ottawa and Allegan off Capitol Street. At Grand Avenue, the two directions of traffic merges together on Michigan Avenue to cross the Grand River. Capitol Loop merges with BL I-96 along the one-way pairing of Cedar and Larch streets to connect back to I-496 at exit 7. Cedar runs south carrying westbound traffic and Larch runs north carrying the eastbound traffic.[3]
[edit] History
[edit] Creation
According to MDOT, "the Capitol Loop was established in 1986 as part of a larger effort to revitalize Michigan’s Capitol city and the downtown area. It is one of several elements intended to create and enhance historic, cultural, educational, recreational and economic opportunities for visitors, businesses and residents in the Capitol Complex area. Other aspects which are already set in place include:
- Renovation of the State Capitol Building
- Construction of the State Library and History Museum
- Creation of a Capitol Park with the core of the Capitol Loop"[2]
[edit] Reconstruction
The Capitol Loop was completely reconstructed from April 2004 until 2005-06-30. The work was completed in stages and involved infrastructure improvements and streetscape enhancements along Allegan, Ottawa, Capitol, Pine and Walnut streets. The project was finished three months early and opened to traffic at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Lansing.[4]
[edit] Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Roads | Notes |
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| Ingham | Lansing | 0.00 | I-496 M-99 ML King Jr. Blvd |
Western terminus of Capitol Loop; Northern terminus of M-99 |
| BL I-96 Cedar St./Larch St. |
Eastbound traffic travels south along Cedar St.; westbound traffic travels north along Larch St. | |||
| 2.13 | I-496 BL I-96 Cedar St. |
Eastern terminus of Capitol Loop; highway continues south as BL I-96 |
| Legend | |||||
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| Crossing, no access | Concurrency terminus | Deleted | Unconstructed | Closed | |
[edit] References
- ^ Bessert, Christopher J. (2006-10-22). Michigan Highways: Business Connections 96 through 496. Michigan Highways. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
- ^ a b Capitol Loop Fact Sheet. Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
- ^ Michigan Department of Transportation. Official 2008 Department of Transportation Map [map]. (2008) Lansing inset. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
- ^ Capitol Loop Reopening. Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
