▁at ▁a ▁connection ▁with ▁the ▁Indiana ▁T oll ▁Road ▁at ▁the ▁request ▁of ▁the ▁state ▁of ▁Michigan . ▁The ▁M SH D ▁asked ▁the ▁Indiana ▁State ▁Highway ▁Department ▁( IS HD ) ▁to ▁extend ▁US   1 3 1 ▁farther ▁to ▁re connect ▁with ▁US   3 1 ▁in ▁Indiana ▁near ▁Indian apolis . ▁Michigan ▁State ▁Highway ▁Commission er ▁John ▁C . ▁Mack ie ▁said ▁that ▁officials ▁with ▁the ▁I H SD ▁were ▁" re cept ive ▁to ▁the ▁idea " ▁of ▁a ▁further ▁addition ▁to ▁Indian apolis ▁which ▁would ▁provide ▁a ▁" gre at ▁benefit ▁to ▁Michigan ' s ▁tour ist ▁industry ". ▁ ▁On ▁December ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁the ▁fre ew ay ▁through ▁dow nt own ▁Grand ▁Rap ids ▁was ▁completed , ▁including ▁the ▁section ▁marked ▁as ▁I - 2 9 6 . ▁The ▁business ▁loop ▁was ▁removed ▁from ▁the ▁fre ew ay ▁when ▁US   1 3 1 ▁took ▁its ▁place . ▁East ▁B elt line ▁Avenue ▁was ▁ren umber ed ▁as ▁an ▁extension ▁of ▁M - 4 4 , ▁while ▁ 2 8 th ▁Street ▁retain s ▁the ▁M - 1 1 / M - 2 1 ▁design ations ▁it ▁had ▁in ▁addition ▁to ▁US   1 3 1 . ▁I - 2 9 6 / US   1 3 1 ▁runs ▁alongside ▁the ▁Grand ▁River ▁between ▁I - 9 6 ▁dow nt own ▁and ▁I - 1 9 6 ▁north ▁of ▁town . ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁I - 2 9