Interstate 194 (I-194) is a 3.4-mile-long (5.5 km), north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway between downtown Battle Creek and I-94 in the southern portion of the city. The highway has been designated the Sojourner Truth Downtown Parkway by the state after the abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who was active in the Battle Creek area. Locals refer to the freeway by its semi-official nickname, "The Penetrator". I-194 is the only three-digit spur or loop route off I-94 in the state of Michigan and runs concurrently throughout its length with M-66, which continues both north and south from the termini of I-194. The freeway was initially opened in 1961 and completed in its current form in 1966. The highway was named in 1976 for Truth in honor of her local connections to the area.
Part of the much longer highway, I-194 starts when M-66 widens out to a full freeway just south of I-94 near Beckley Road. The start of I-194 is marked by the full cloverleaf interchange. It is numbered as exit 98 along I-94 and exit 1 using I-194's mileage along the I-194/M-66 freeway. The roadway crosses Minges Creek north of the I-94 interchange. To the west of the freeway are residential subdivisions; the eastern side is marked by gently-rolling, wooded terrain.[4] This section of I-194 carries 26,300 vehicles on average day according to surveys done by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in 2007.[5] Of these vehicles, 1,200 trucks were included in the totals.[6]
Signage for I-194/M-66, the Sojourner Truth Downtown Parkway
After crossing Golden Avenue, I-194 curves to the northwest to meet the M-96 (Columbia Avenue) interchange. The freeway runs underneath the Columbia Avenue overpass before running parallel to the west bank of the Kalamazoo River. The freeway crosses the river at the southern end of Lower Mill Pond. Curving back around to the northeast, I-194 meets Business Loop I-94 (BL I-94, Dickman Road).[4] Here the traffic averages 24,400 vehicles a day.[5] The freeway ends at an at-grade intersection with Hamblin Avenue, and continuing north of the intersection, the highway becomes just M-66. BL I-94 runs east of the freeway end on Hamblin Avenue to connect to Michigan Avenue.[4] All of I-194 is listed on the National Highway System, a system of strategically important highways,[7] and it is concurrent with M-66 for the length of the freeway.[8]
Historyedit
Planning map for Interstate freeways in Battle Creek
From its initial opening in 1961[2][3] until 1964,[9] I-194 also carried the BL I-94 and M-78 designations. BL I-94 was rerouted in Battle Creek to Martin Luther King Drive and M-78 in 1964, and M-78 was replaced by M-66 in 1965.[10] The last change to the I-194 routing was the extension of the northern end of the freeway from Columbia Avenue to Michigan Avenue in 1966.[11] At the time, MDOT's predecessor, the Michigan State Highway Department, called all auxiliary Interstate Highways "Penetrator" when planning the freeway network in the state;[12] a name which stuck to I-194.[13]
Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, Sojourner Truth settled in the Battle Creek area in the 1840s. She travelled through the Midwest and New England speaking against slavery and for women's rights. She lived in the area until her death in 1883. Her connection to the state of Michigan was honored by the state American Revolution Bicentennial Commission in 1976 which urged the Michigan Legislature to name a highway in her honor. Public Act 93 of 1976 named all of M-66 in Calhoun County as the Sojourner Truth Memorial Highway. The highway was dedicated to her on May 21, 1976.[14]
The Cereal City Development Corporation (CCDC) asked the Legislature to amend the memorial designation in 1993. They felt the highway was better known to locals as The Penetrator, and they wished to restore emphasis to Truth, they asked for the "Sojourner Truth Downtown Parkway" name to be applied to "M-66 between Interstate 94 and Hamblin".[14] The Legislature passed Public Act 208 of 1993 to affect the change, restoring "the link between Sojourner Truth and the City of Battle Creek, which was once the center of abolitionist sentiment in the state".[14]
^ abMichigan State Highway Department (1960). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Battle Creek inset. OCLC 12701120, 81552576. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1960)
^ abMichigan State Highway Department (1961). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Battle Creek inset. OCLC 12701120, 51857665. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1961)
^ abcGoogle (November 14, 2008). "Overview Map of I-194" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
^ abMichigan Department of Transportation (2007). Battle Creek AADT Map(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
^Michigan Department of Transportation (2007). Commercial Battle Creek AADT Map(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
^Michigan Department of Transportation (April 23, 2006). (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
^ abMichigan Department of Transportation (2008). Michigan: Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:221,760. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Battle Creek inset. OCLC 42778335.
^Michigan State Highway Department (1964). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Battle Creek inset. OCLC 12701120, 81213707. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
^Michigan State Highway Department (1965). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Battle Creek inset. OCLC 12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
^Michigan Department of State Highways (1966). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. Battle Creek inset. OCLC 12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
^Richard, Tim (April 3, 1986). "I-275: The Interstate that Isn't". Observer. Livonia, Michigan. OCLC 22646576.
^Vander Meer, John J. (March 18, 2002). "Penetrator to Get $1.6M Face-Lift". Battle Creek Enquirer. pp. 1A, 7A. OCLC 33956507. Retrieved July 12, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcBarnett, LeRoy (2004). A Drive Down Memory Lane: The Named State and Federal Highways of Michigan. Allegan Forest, Michigan: Priscilla Press. p. 201. ISBN1-886167-24-9. OCLC 57425393.
interstate, michigan, interstate, mile, long, north, south, auxiliary, interstate, highway, between, downtown, battle, creek, southern, portion, city, highway, been, designated, sojourner, truth, downtown, parkway, state, after, abolitionist, sojourner, truth,. Interstate 194 I 194 is a 3 4 mile long 5 5 km north south auxiliary Interstate Highway between downtown Battle Creek and I 94 in the southern portion of the city The highway has been designated the Sojourner Truth Downtown Parkway by the state after the abolitionist Sojourner Truth who was active in the Battle Creek area Locals refer to the freeway by its semi official nickname The Penetrator I 194 is the only three digit spur or loop route off I 94 in the state of Michigan and runs concurrently throughout its length with M 66 which continues both north and south from the termini of I 194 The freeway was initially opened in 1961 and completed in its current form in 1966 The highway was named in 1976 for Truth in honor of her local connections to the area Interstate 194Sojourner Truth Downtown ParkwayThe PenetratorI 194 highlighted in redRoute informationAuxiliary route of I 94Maintained by MDOTLength3 374 mi 1 5 430 km Existed1961 2 3 presentNHSEntire routeMajor junctionsSouth endI 94 M 66 in Battle CreekMajor intersectionsM 96 in Battle Creek BL I 94 in Battle CreekNorth endM 66 Hamblin Avenue in Battle CreekLocationCountryUnited StatesStateMichiganCountiesCalhounHighway systemInterstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future Michigan State Trunkline Highway System Interstate US State Byways M 193 M 194 Contents 1 Route description 2 History 3 Exit list 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksRoute description editPart of the much longer highway I 194 starts when M 66 widens out to a full freeway just south of I 94 near Beckley Road The start of I 194 is marked by the full cloverleaf interchange It is numbered as exit 98 along I 94 and exit 1 using I 194 s mileage along the I 194 M 66 freeway The roadway crosses Minges Creek north of the I 94 interchange To the west of the freeway are residential subdivisions the eastern side is marked by gently rolling wooded terrain 4 This section of I 194 carries 26 300 vehicles on average day according to surveys done by the Michigan Department of Transportation MDOT in 2007 5 Of these vehicles 1 200 trucks were included in the totals 6 nbsp Signage for I 194 M 66 the Sojourner Truth Downtown Parkway After crossing Golden Avenue I 194 curves to the northwest to meet the M 96 Columbia Avenue interchange The freeway runs underneath the Columbia Avenue overpass before running parallel to the west bank of the Kalamazoo River The freeway crosses the river at the southern end of Lower Mill Pond Curving back around to the northeast I 194 meets Business Loop I 94 BL I 94 Dickman Road 4 Here the traffic averages 24 400 vehicles a day 5 The freeway ends at an at grade intersection with Hamblin Avenue and continuing north of the intersection the highway becomes just M 66 BL I 94 runs east of the freeway end on Hamblin Avenue to connect to Michigan Avenue 4 All of I 194 is listed on the National Highway System a system of strategically important highways 7 and it is concurrent with M 66 for the length of the freeway 8 History edit nbsp Planning map for Interstate freeways in Battle Creek From its initial opening in 1961 2 3 until 1964 9 I 194 also carried the BL I 94 and M 78 designations BL I 94 was rerouted in Battle Creek to Martin Luther King Drive and M 78 in 1964 and M 78 was replaced by M 66 in 1965 10 The last change to the I 194 routing was the extension of the northern end of the freeway from Columbia Avenue to Michigan Avenue in 1966 11 At the time MDOT s predecessor the Michigan State Highway Department called all auxiliary Interstate Highways Penetrator when planning the freeway network in the state 12 a name which stuck to I 194 13 Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 Sojourner Truth settled in the Battle Creek area in the 1840s She travelled through the Midwest and New England speaking against slavery and for women s rights She lived in the area until her death in 1883 Her connection to the state of Michigan was honored by the state American Revolution Bicentennial Commission in 1976 which urged the Michigan Legislature to name a highway in her honor Public Act 93 of 1976 named all of M 66 in Calhoun County as the Sojourner Truth Memorial Highway The highway was dedicated to her on May 21 1976 14 The Cereal City Development Corporation CCDC asked the Legislature to amend the memorial designation in 1993 They felt the highway was better known to locals as The Penetrator and they wished to restore emphasis to Truth they asked for the Sojourner Truth Downtown Parkway name to be applied to M 66 between Interstate 94 and Hamblin 14 The Legislature passed Public Act 208 of 1993 to affect the change restoring the link between Sojourner Truth and the City of Battle Creek which was once the center of abolitionist sentiment in the state 14 Exit list editThe entire highway is in Battle Creek Calhoun County mi 1 kmExit 8 DestinationsNotes 0 0000 0001 nbsp I 94 Detroit Chicago nbsp nbsp M 66 south SturgisSouthern end of M 66 concurrency signed as exits 1A east and 1B west I 94 exit 98B 2 0483 2962 nbsp M 96 East Columbia Avenue 3 1615 0873 nbsp BL I 94 Dickman Road 3 3745 430Hamblin Avenue nbsp nbsp M 66 north IoniaNorthern end of M 66 concurrency at grade intersection 1 000 mi 1 609 km 1 000 km 0 621 mi Concurrency terminusSee also edit nbsp Michigan Highways portalReferences edit a b Michigan Department of Transportation 2021 Next Generation PR Finder Map Michigan Department of Transportation Retrieved October 11 2021 a b Michigan State Highway Department 1960 Official Highway Map Map Scale not given Lansing Michigan State Highway Department Battle Creek inset OCLC 12701120 81552576 Retrieved October 17 2019 via Michigan History Center Includes all changes through July 1 1960 a b Michigan State Highway Department 1961 Official Highway Map Map Scale not given Lansing Michigan State Highway Department Battle Creek inset OCLC 12701120 51857665 Retrieved October 17 2019 via Michigan History Center Includes all changes through July 1 1961 a b c Google November 14 2008 Overview Map of I 194 Map Google Maps Google Retrieved November 14 2008 a b Michigan Department of Transportation 2007 Battle Creek AADT Map PDF Map Scale not given Lansing Michigan Department of Transportation Retrieved October 7 2008 Michigan Department of Transportation 2007 Commercial Battle Creek AADT Map PDF Map Scale not given Lansing Michigan Department of Transportation Retrieved October 7 2008 Michigan Department of Transportation April 23 2006 National Highway System Michigan PDF Map Scale not given Lansing Michigan Department of Transportation Archived from the original PDF on October 6 2014 Retrieved October 7 2008 a b Michigan Department of Transportation 2008 Michigan Official Department of Transportation Map Map c 1 221 760 Lansing Michigan Department of Transportation Battle Creek inset OCLC 42778335 Michigan State Highway Department 1964 Official Highway Map Map Scale not given Lansing Michigan State Highway Department Battle Creek inset OCLC 12701120 81213707 Retrieved October 17 2019 via Michigan History Center Michigan State Highway Department 1965 Official Highway Map Map Scale not given Lansing Michigan State Highway Department Battle Creek inset OCLC 12701120 Retrieved October 17 2019 via Michigan History Center Michigan Department of State Highways 1966 Official Highway Map Map Scale not given Lansing Michigan Department of State Highways Battle Creek inset OCLC 12701120 Retrieved October 17 2019 via Michigan History Center Richard Tim April 3 1986 I 275 The Interstate that Isn t Observer Livonia Michigan OCLC 22646576 Vander Meer John J March 18 2002 Penetrator to Get 1 6M Face Lift Battle Creek Enquirer pp 1A 7A OCLC 33956507 Retrieved July 12 2018 via Newspapers com a b c Barnett LeRoy 2004 A Drive Down Memory Lane The Named State and Federal Highways of Michigan Allegan Forest Michigan Priscilla Press p 201 ISBN 1 886167 24 9 OCLC 57425393 External links editKML file edit help Template Attached KML Interstate 194 Michigan KML is from Wikidata I 194 at Michigan Highways I 194 at Kurumi com I 194 Michigan at Interstate Guide Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Interstate 194 Michigan amp oldid 1167492304, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
