Editing Interstate 96 (section)

===Grand Rapids to Howell===
The freeway exits the edges of the Grand Rapids urban area past the interchange with M-6, turning due east and paralleling the northern edge of Cascade Road. I-96 curves to the south of Pratt Lake near the county line, crossing into [[Ionia County, Michigan|Ionia County]]. Grand River Avenue is the [[frontage road]] as the freeway heads east through farm fields. South of [[Ionia, Michigan|Ionia]], I-96 intersects [[M-66 (Michigan highway)|M-66]]. Near [[Portland, Michigan|Portland]], the trunkline turns to the southeast to cross the Grand River again. On the east side of town, the freeway crosses Grand River Avenue, its former [[Business route|business spur]] into town. I-96 continues southeasterly, crossing into [[Clinton County, Michigan|Clinton County]] and passes the community of [[Eagle, Michigan|Eagle]]. Entering the western reaches of the [[Lansing–East Lansing metropolitan area|Lansing metropolitan area]], I-96 merges with [[Interstate 69 in Michigan|I-69]] and turns southward at an interchange in the southwestern corner of the county; this interchange also provides access to [[Interstate 96 Business (Lansing, Michigan)|Business Loop I-96]] (BL I-96, Grand River Avenue).<ref name=MDOT12/><ref name=google/>

[[File:I-96 and I-496, Lansing.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Aerial view looking north from the I-496 interchange along I-96/I-69 west of Lansing|alt=Photograph of]]
These two Interstates run southward together for about {{convert|6.5|mi|km}} on the west side of the metropolitan area, picking up a third lane in each direction. The exit numbers and mileposts along the concurrency reflect those of I-96, which is considered the dominant designation of the pair. South of that interchange, the freeway crosses into [[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton County]] and over the Grand River. The trunkline passes near residential subdivisions, and next to the interchange for [[Interstate 69 Business (Lansing, Michigan)|BL I-69]]/[[M-43 (Michigan highway)|M-43]] (Saginaw Highway), there is a large retail development. Farther south, [[Interstate 496|I-496]] (Olds Freeway) branches off to run into downtown Lansing before the split between I-96 and I-69. I-69 turns southward while I-96 turns southeasterly, dropping back to four lanes in total. After the Lansing Road interchange, the freeway crosses the Grand River one last time and runs due east to bypass Lansing.<ref name=MDOT12/><ref name=google/>

[[File:I-96 and I-69 south split Lansing.jpg|thumb|Southern split between I-96 and I-69 southwest of Lansing|alt=Photograph looking south showing]]
I-96 crosses into [[Ingham County, Michigan|Ingham County]] and continues along the southern edges of the Lansing metro area. It passes through areas with residential subdivisions and commercial developments, coming to a pair of interchanges including one for the eastern end of BL I-96 (Cedar Street). Near the crossing of the [[Red Cedar River (Michigan)|Red Cedar River]], I-96 goes through the interchange for I-496/[[U.S. Route 127 in Michigan|US&nbsp;127]]. East of that interchange, the freeway begins to exit the metro area as the landscape transitions back to farm fields. I-96 continues eastward, bypassing [[Williamston, Michigan|Williamston]] and [[Webberville, Michigan|Webberville]] to the south. Near the latter, the freeway turns more southeasterly and crosses into [[Livingston County, Michigan|Livingston County]]. In Livingston County, I-96 passes to the south of [[Fowlerville, Michigan|Fowlerville]] and then enters the far northwestern edge of [[Metro Detroit]], passing south of [[Howell, Michigan|Howell]]. From this point, the freeway expands to six lanes and runs parallel to Grand River Avenue on the southern side of town.<ref name=MDOT12/><ref name=google/>