High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Interstate 196 (I-196) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the US state of Michigan. It is a state trunkline highway that links Benton Harbor, South Haven, Holland, and Grand Rapids together. I-196 is known as the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, or simply the Ford Freeway, in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan counties, after the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford whose political career began in Grand Rapids. This name generally refers only to the section between Holland and Grand Rapids. I-196 changes direction; it is a north–south highway from its southern terminus to the junction with US Highway 31 (US 31) just south of Holland, and an east–west trunkline from this point to its eastern terminus at an interchange with I-96, its parent highway. The total length is 80.594 miles (129.703 km). There are currently two business loops and one business spur designated along the length of I-196 serving South Haven, Holland and the Grand Rapids areas. Another business spur for Muskegon had been designated relative to the I-196 number.