Better than Detroit, eh? :P we just have more going on in terms of development. Many people from out of state are quite surprised at how impressive our city is! Thanks for visiting!
Hey FWJ, thanks for visiting my town! A couple more interesting facts: Speed limits were raised on the downtown freeways just last summer (Aug 2010). Also, someone told me once that the building you show at 2:53 (on the right, with the billboard) holds some record for being the closest building to a freeway--11 inches! As you noted, the S curve rebuild in the early 2000s caused this.
The safer 4-leaf clover interchange looks similar to Expressways 20 and 30 near Montreal, Quebec, Canada. And isn't it one of the cities that has Gardner White Furniture stores? Detroit area might have at least one.
Sweet about the Detroit videos, dude. They've done a wonderful job redoing almost all of the city's major freeways. The area around the Ambassador bridge is breathtaking now.
@lyricsfromsweden Thanks I appreciate that, the thing is that those songs are not always appropriate to the footage, picking songs is not that easy to be honest, sometimes it can take a hours to find the right one. And I do purposely try to mix it up and not get locked in to one genre. You probably won't like the next two song choices :)
OMG JIM YOU CAME TO MY STATE,if you come in my area of SE MICHIGAN AVOID (M-39 Construction) I-75,96,696 AND I-275 ARE OKAY And hope you are treated with kindness in our State
Definitely some interesting freeways in this one. The S-Curve has gotta be one of the neatest features along Michigan's freeway network. The I-196 rebuild thru the downtown area also looks great; I'd love to drive thru there one day. Great tune on this one, too. "Thumbs up!"
Very nice video, I am from Grand Rapids! Glad to see it on this channel. I've never heard of a such I-296, though. that must have been before my time!
@irw08 Thanks, notice the first map scan in the opening from 1962, it showed I-296, not exactly sure when MDOT decommissioned it but it's still on the Federal books.
You got the I-196/US-131 interchange from the best approach IMO (east on I-196). It's amazing to me just how much the Medical Mile (which is Michigan Ave immediately to the south of where The Fix occurred) has grown in just the last few years.
As for the speed limit, Michigan has been very proactive in raising freeway limits (and some non-freeway limits) where speed studies have warranted. Even I-94 through the Jackson area (a very substandard freeway dating to the early 50s) was raised to 70
@thomasrosiefan1 I'm not naming them all here, you can go back to 2009 in my videos, they are all there together, I even have a NY City playlist, look for that.
I'm familiar with all of those roads as I go to college approximately fifteen miles west of the US-131/I-196 interchange.
If you had kept the video going approximately two miles farther east on I-196, you would have run into one of Michigan's worst interchanges (I-96/I-196/M-37/M-44).
M-6 is a very nice and quick drive.
The section of I-196 immediately west of downtown is very interesting as it is cut into the side of a hill.
Better than Detroit, eh? :P we just have more going on in terms of development. Many people from out of state are quite surprised at how impressive our city is! Thanks for visiting!
XXChicagoGuy 3 months ago
Hey FWJ, thanks for visiting my town! A couple more interesting facts: Speed limits were raised on the downtown freeways just last summer (Aug 2010). Also, someone told me once that the building you show at 2:53 (on the right, with the billboard) holds some record for being the closest building to a freeway--11 inches! As you noted, the S curve rebuild in the early 2000s caused this.
stanleygustafson 4 months ago
@stanleygustafson Good stuff, I thought your city was pretty cool, better than I expected!
Freewayjim 4 months ago
Freewayjim I like your videoclips they are great
Viktorsiable 4 months ago
@Viktorsiable Thank you!
Freewayjim 4 months ago
"Nest Stop"?
uptownbronze 4 months ago
@uptownbronze I would never make it as a typist or proof reader :)
Freewayjim 4 months ago
Awesome!
dave11686 5 months ago
Awesome video! I don't get over to Grand Rapids much. Do you have plans for a video around the Flint area?
727JeffN 5 months ago
@727JeffN Thanks, I filmed this back in July so I'm back home in Atlanta now and I did not go to Flint.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
Grand Rapids is in a beautiful area in Michigan
Westtoledoguy 5 months ago
The safer 4-leaf clover interchange looks similar to Expressways 20 and 30 near Montreal, Quebec, Canada. And isn't it one of the cities that has Gardner White Furniture stores? Detroit area might have at least one.
McBearNB 5 months ago
Hey FWJ the vids are fantastic the freeways in the US do not compare to our MWAYS in NZ great stuff mate!!
timmoh89 5 months ago
go left, right, up, down, loop and loop and loop
MrMarkingston 5 months ago
Nice video! Ramps at 2:43 remind me of the Ike.
FreewayTitan 5 months ago
@FreewayTitan Thanks! yes I see the similarity too.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
nice as always, I'll say again I love midwest, hope you filmed ann arbor
bsdpowa 5 months ago
@bsdpowa Thanks, I did not film anything in or near Ann Arbor.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
Sweet about the Detroit videos, dude. They've done a wonderful job redoing almost all of the city's major freeways. The area around the Ambassador bridge is breathtaking now.
Uaarkson 5 months ago
@Uaarkson I got the Ambassador Bridge area on I-75 in both directions, you're right, they did a great job with it.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
What freeways did you film in Detroit?
MoviMalley 5 months ago
@MoviMalley You'll see as I post them, I-96 East is first.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
Comment removed
MoviMalley 5 months ago
Wonderful, I saw a bunch of freightcars. Sometimes I wonder if there is a CSX or Norfolk Southern.
interstateruler 5 months ago
kinda lost the touch without the calm & smooth music
lyricsfromsweden 5 months ago
@lyricsfromsweden I keep the music diverse, so I would not say I lost "the touch" sometimes hard rocks works just right.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
@Freewayjim maybe, but i just love watching your videos with that nice elevator type music
lyricsfromsweden 5 months ago
@lyricsfromsweden Thanks I appreciate that, the thing is that those songs are not always appropriate to the footage, picking songs is not that easy to be honest, sometimes it can take a hours to find the right one. And I do purposely try to mix it up and not get locked in to one genre. You probably won't like the next two song choices :)
Freewayjim 5 months ago
@Freewayjim doesn't matter, i'll still enjoy them :)
lyricsfromsweden 5 months ago
@lyricsfromsweden Thanks!
Freewayjim 5 months ago
OMG JIM YOU CAME TO MY STATE,if you come in my area of SE MICHIGAN AVOID (M-39 Construction) I-75,96,696 AND I-275 ARE OKAY And hope you are treated with kindness in our State
fgjr96way 5 months ago
Definitely some interesting freeways in this one. The S-Curve has gotta be one of the neatest features along Michigan's freeway network. The I-196 rebuild thru the downtown area also looks great; I'd love to drive thru there one day. Great tune on this one, too. "Thumbs up!"
FreewayBrent 5 months ago
Very nice video, I am from Grand Rapids! Glad to see it on this channel. I've never heard of a such I-296, though. that must have been before my time!
irw08 5 months ago
@irw08 Thanks, notice the first map scan in the opening from 1962, it showed I-296, not exactly sure when MDOT decommissioned it but it's still on the Federal books.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
Wow mid west freeways sure are changing. cant wait to see what Detroit is like
NYGiantsFan845 5 months ago
Nicely done ! I like seeing Michigan state videos.
fiero2 5 months ago
@fiero2 Thanks!
Freewayjim 5 months ago
Nice video, Jim. Nice freeways up there. Gerald Ford Freeway, nice.
Bryant5493 5 months ago
@Bryant5493 Thanks, the City was nicer and more interesting than I thought it would be.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
You got the I-196/US-131 interchange from the best approach IMO (east on I-196). It's amazing to me just how much the Medical Mile (which is Michigan Ave immediately to the south of where The Fix occurred) has grown in just the last few years.
As for the speed limit, Michigan has been very proactive in raising freeway limits (and some non-freeway limits) where speed studies have warranted. Even I-94 through the Jackson area (a very substandard freeway dating to the early 50s) was raised to 70
rawmustard 5 months ago
@rawmustard And US-31 through Muskegon (which has its substandard parts) has been 70 since MI raised rural limits to 70 back in the late 1990s.
cparkes92 5 months ago
Ive been waiting for this one. Thumbs Up!
eluko79 5 months ago
@eluko79 Thanks!
Freewayjim 5 months ago
Great video Jim! That S curve looks interesting, thanks for sharing!!
InterstateKyle 5 months ago
Why is I-296 a secret Interstate?
thomasrosiefan1 5 months ago
@thomasrosiefan1 Read the I-296 Wikipedia Entry for more details, I explained the basics at 3:28.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
For Detroit, will you use the song "Detroit Rock City" by KISS?
thomasrosiefan1 5 months ago
@thomasrosiefan1 No, but I do have 6 Detroit videos coming with music by Detroit area artists in all 6.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
@Freewayjim Will you have KISS for music when you reach New York City where KISS was formed in 1973?
thomasrosiefan1 5 months ago
@thomasrosiefan1 I did not go to NY City.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
@Freewayjim Will you go there eventually?
thomasrosiefan1 5 months ago
@thomasrosiefan1 I've already been, I have six NYC area videos uploaded, check them out!
Freewayjim 5 months ago
@Freewayjim Ok. Which freeways are they?
thomasrosiefan1 5 months ago
@thomasrosiefan1 I'm not naming them all here, you can go back to 2009 in my videos, they are all there together, I even have a NY City playlist, look for that.
Freewayjim 5 months ago
@Freewayjim Ok.
thomasrosiefan1 5 months ago
I'm familiar with all of those roads as I go to college approximately fifteen miles west of the US-131/I-196 interchange.
If you had kept the video going approximately two miles farther east on I-196, you would have run into one of Michigan's worst interchanges (I-96/I-196/M-37/M-44).
M-6 is a very nice and quick drive.
The section of I-196 immediately west of downtown is very interesting as it is cut into the side of a hill.
cparkes92 5 months ago
Check out our Grand Rapids drive video of Downtown
User ahlabansa
ahlabansa 5 months ago
Nice freeway video of Grand Rapis, and nice downtown view!
Lol "Nest Stop" at 3:15
YoshiLuigi45 5 months ago
@YoshiLuigi45 Thanks....typos happen :)
Freewayjim 5 months ago
@Freewayjim Hate to be picky, but as long as someone else brought it up, there's an "e" missing in "been" at 1:33
RianAlive 5 months ago
@RianAlive It happens.
Freewayjim 5 months ago