[Sharks With Lasers]

I was thinking about the different regions in the southern part of Michigan (east, west, central) and was wondering where the transition zones are. So I was thinking I'd outline my opinions about the transition zones on I-96. I suppose we could do it on I-94 as well, but they don't seem as pronounced there.

While Muskegon is certainly more industrial, once you get on I-96, it seems quite open, with orchards and other farmland around; very West Michigan-ish. This seems to last until you get into Grand Rapids, which kind of has that same feel, but is obviously more urban and busier. On the east side of Grand Rapids, things seem relatively similar from the Lowell exit to the Grand Ledge exit, maybe transitioning a little bit. I don't notice much of a transition until you to 496 on the west side of Lansing. It seems more "closed" there, a little boring and dull, but still relatively calm. Once you get past Fowlerville, things suddenly change, the cars go 5-10 mph faster, and it becomes increasingly chaotic and busier, reaching its peak in Novi. Things slow down a bit once you hit the junction with 696, but on 96 through Livonia, it becomes increasingly built up and urbanized until right before you hit the Southfield Freeway in Detroit. At that point, the creepy abandoned industrial feeling comes in and you feel kind of worried that something bad could happen. I think that lasts until you get to downtown.

So... anybody else have this kind of experience? Would you agree on the transition zones?

[michigan83]

Aha, I am an expert on this! LOL. Thanks for the creative topic. I've never really thought in terms of transition zones in our state from west to east. I think there is much more of a true transition from south to north. But there are some differences from west to east, too.

FYI, this is just my opinion. Starting from Muskegon and going east, the most heavily forested section of I-96 is from Muskegon to about halfway between Nunica and Coopersville. Then things start to open up a little into the "dairy country" of West Michigan. There's a section of rolling hills between Coopersville and Fruit Ridge Ave, but then signs start to pop up that you are nearing Grand Rapids. Farms change to industrial warehouses, office buildings, commercial strips, etc. Things get a little more forested again as you cross the Grand River and drive through some suburban areas of GR. Next, try to survive the stupid I-196 interchange.

There is a transition at about the Lowell exit to more open farmland. It seems to go back and forth between flat and rolling farmland all the way to Lansing, with a short stretch of hills and woods near the Grand River in Portland. The farmland between Lowell and Lansing is a little different than the dairies west of GR, as it is mostly cash crop farming and not dairy. This stretch also has the fewest trees of any stretch of I-96. It reminds me of Indiana.

There seems to be another transition around the 496 interchange to a more more urban/industrial use, with the power plant and the GM plant followed by the tree-filled residential areas on the south side of Lansing.

East of Lansing seems like the official switch to the "east side" of Michigan. It's flat as a pancake. There are farms between Lansing and Howell, but the land has more of a swampy and wooded look to it. People are driving noticeably faster here.

In Howell, it changes to three lanes each way. In my mind, this is the start of metro Detroit. This is where I start to pay less attention to the scenery and more attention to the road. There are some nice hills and lakes between here and Novi, but the big concrete walls ruin the view somewhat.

The "southbound" section of I-96 seems to be the busiest and most business-oriented. Also the most lanes and the most traffic of the entire route. Lots of office buildings here. Then it turns east again and heads into Detroit, through the inner-ring suburbs and through some interesting urban decay. When people say "rust belt," I think of that part of Detroit! Finally, it's downtown. Time to stop gawking and look for a place to park for the Tigers game.

[danielj72]

Ive driven that road plenty and here is my take. West Michigan is everything between Muskegon and Ionia exit (m-66) Central/mid Michigan is anywhere from Ionia to Howell, as Lansing is the heart of mid michigan. Southeast Michigan begins in earnest east of Howell. That is where I have noticed faster driving, and the faster pace of life. Im not sure I agree with the previous poster who says the switch to "east side" michigan begins at Lansing. I live in a rural area between Owosso and Saginaw, and I find it funny when people who live 75 miles west of me come visit and talk about being on the "east side of the state" There is a WHOLE LOT of Michigan east of here lol. Central/mid Michigan is not the east side of the state. I would say anything west of Flint and Saginaw for sure are not east. Even from Flint your looking at at least 70 miles or more to get to the lake. East Michigan= metro Detroit and the thumb area, or in general anything east of I75/US23 corridor. Lansing, St Johns, Chesaning and Owosso are NOT eastern Michigan.