Interstate 69 is one of 4 major interstate routes that cross Michigan along with I-75, I-94 and I-96. Interstate does something odd in Michigan and it's something that is exceedingly rare across the entire interstate system.

I-69 changes direction. North-south interstates have odd numbers and for a great deal of its run, that's exactly what it does. From its original routing from Indianapolis to Port Huron and now extended down to several points on the Mexican border in Texas, I-69 is an overwhelmingly north-south route. Except in Mid-Michigan. I-69 takes a big turn to run east-west from Lansing to Port Huron via Flint. The Michigan Department of Transportation signs this roadway as east-west.

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The idea of I-69 running east-west was a surprise to many on the internet who discovered this little quirk of Michigan's highway system. The topic came up on a Facebook group dedicated to road and and highway topics. The posting shows a picture of an I-69 sign marked as east rather than north with the caption, 'something is wrong with this picture.'

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The comments were quick to point out despite some people's surprise, this is standard and not wholly incorrect.

I-69 is only East/West between Lansing and Port Huron, so it is signed as such to prevent confusion. This is not the only highway signed like that in the US either. This is 100% compliant.

Keep in mind the intention of I-69 is to be an international highway. It starts in Port Huron, MI at the Blue Water Bridge and it will eventually end in Texas at the Mexican border. It curves north of Lansing and travels east towards Port Huron. That’s why that segment is signed EAST and WEST

Still it feels odd to some.

Michigan should not be allowed to designate I-69 as E/W for a short distance as the majority of the highway is N/S.

weird how perspective makes things different. i’ve lived in the Flint metro my whole life and always thought of I-69 as E/W

Here's where it gets really odd for I-69. Where I-69 meets US 127 north of Lansing, I-69 has not changed its cardinal orientation to south, so the highway is considered 'west' to Fort Wayne, when, of course, it's clearly south. It will be a few more exits until I-69 will officially transition to become south.

i-69 south fort wayne
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It will take decades for I-69 to be complete. The highway has been nearly completed south of Indianapolis to Evansville. There are breaks in Kentucky and long missing stretches in Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas. Michigan is actually decades ahead of other state in completing I-69.

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