Editing Interstate 496 (section)

==Related trunkline==
{{main|Capitol Loop}}
{{Infobox road small
|state= MI
|type= Capitol Loop
|length_mi= 2.381
|length_ref= <ref name="PRFA"/>
|location=[[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]
|formed= October 13, 1989<ref name=ROW180>{{cite map |author = Michigan Department of Transportation |location = Lansing |publisher = Michigan Department of Transportation |author2 = City of Lansing |name-list-style = amp |map-url = http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/ROWFiles/files/Ingham/sheet180.pdf |title = Right-of-Way File Application |map = Ingham County |sheet = 180 |access-date = October 15, 2008 |date = August 29, 2007 |scale = Scale not given |map-format = PDF |archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/5va0llY6P?url=http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/ROWFiles/files/Ingham/sheet180.pdf |archive-date = January 8, 2011 |url-status = live |oclc = 12843916 }}</ref>
|decommissioned=March 26, 2024<ref name=MOU>{{cite report |author1 = Michigan Department of Transportation |author2 = City of Lansing |date = March 26, 2024 |title = "Memorandum of Understanding Between Michigan Department of Transportation and City of Lansing" |publisher = Michigan Department of Transportation |id = MDOT 2023-0611 |type = Memorandum }}</ref>
}}
The Capitol Loop was a state trunkline highway running through Lansing that was commissioned on October 13, 1989.<ref name=ROW180/> It formed a [[loop route]] off I-496 through downtown near the [[Michigan State Capitol]] complex, home of the [[Michigan State Legislature|state legislature]] and several state departments. However, unlike other business loops in Michigan, it had unique [[reassurance marker]]s—the signs that serve as regular reminders of the name and number of the highway. It was known internally at MDOT as Connector&nbsp;496 for inventory purposes.<ref name=MGF8C>{{cite web |author = Michigan Department of Information Technology |url = http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Appendix_C_Connector_19295_7.pdf |title = Appendix C: State Trunkline Connector Routes |date = May 1, 2008 |access-date = October 15, 2008 |work = Michigan Geographic Framework |publisher = Michigan Department of Information Technology |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522054153/http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Appendix_C_Connector_19295_7.pdf |archive-date = May 22, 2011 |url-status = live |df = mdy-all |author-link = Michigan Department of Information Technology }}</ref> The highway followed a series of one-way and two-way streets through downtown Lansing, directing traffic downtown to the State Capitol and other government buildings.<ref name=googleCL>{{google maps |url= https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=S+Martin+Luther+King+Jr+Blvd&daddr=42.7326018,-84.55619+to:42.7335723,-84.5492377+to:S+Cedar+St&hl=en&ll=42.733554,-84.557347&spn=0.030387,0.029998&sll=42.726713,-84.555545&sspn=0.030391,0.029998&geocode=FSHziwId4Jr1-g%3BFTkMjAIdYsb1-ikdsaSs18EiiDH0HJhJRWoyyA%3BFQQQjAIdi-H1-inBYoC72MEiiDEtrL8yqDBdGg%3BFT_yiwIdS_L1-g&mra=dpe&mrsp=2&sz=15&via=1,2&t=m&z=15 |title= Overview Map of the Capitol Loop |access-date= October 14, 2008 |link=no}}</ref><ref name=UMMCA>{{cite map |first = David M. |last = Brown |author2 = Universal Map |author2-link = Universal Map |name-list-style = amp |scale = [c. 1:24,000] |location = Blue Bell, Pennsylvania |publisher = Universal Map |title = Michigan County Atlas: Back Roads & Forgotten Places |edition = 2nd |year = 2010 |page = 66 |map = Lansing |isbn = 978-0-7625-6505-4 |oclc = 624374092 }}</ref> Unlike the other streets downtown, the seven streets composing the Capitol Loop were under state maintenance and jurisdiction.<ref name=TOP08>{{cite MDOT map |year= 2008T |inset= Lansing}}</ref>

The loop was originally proposed in 1986 as part of a downtown revitalization effort.<ref name=Andrews2003-05-22>{{cite news |first = Chris |last = Andrews |title = Work Set for Capitol Loop |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21789721/work_set_for_capitol_loop/ |work = Lansing State Journal |date = May 22, 2003 |pages = 1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21789743/work_set_for_capitol_loop_part_2/ 6A] |issn = 0274-9742 |oclc = 6678181 |access-date = July 12, 2018 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> Almost from the beginning before the highway was commissioned in 1989, it was affected by controversial proposals. The first was related to suggestions by community leaders to rename city streets in honor of [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]<ref name=barnett/> Another controversy dealt with rebuilding the streets as part of a downtown beautification project; the downtown business community protested the original scope of construction,<ref name=Sturm2003-10-29>{{cite news |first = Daniel |last = Sturm |title = The 'Big Dig' Causing a Big Flap in Downtown Lansing |work = [[City Pulse]] |location = Lansing, Michigan |date = October 29, 2003 |oclc = 48427464 }}</ref> and the Lansing City Council threatened to cancel the project in response to the controversy.<ref name=Murphy2003-11-04>{{cite news |first = Shannon |last = Murphy |title = City to Seek Options for Capitol-Area Road Work |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21789769/city_to_seek_options_for_capitolarea/ |work = Lansing State Journal |date = November 4, 2003 |pages = 1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21789792/city_to_seek_options_for_capitolarea/ 2B] |issn = 0274-9742 |oclc = 6678181 |access-date = July 12, 2018 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> In 2010, additional controversies surfaced regarding the posting and enforcement of speed limits on city streets in Michigan, including the streets that make up the Capitol Loop.<ref name=Kolp2010-06-02>{{cite news |first = Stephanie |last = Kolp |title = Some Speeding Tickets Being Waived |url = http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=12583883 |publisher = [[WLNS-TV]] |location = Lansing, Michigan |date = June 2, 2010 |access-date = July 21, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717174823/http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=12583883 |archive-date = July 17, 2011 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

The length of the Capitol Loop that ran independent of BL I-96 was transferred to the City of Lansing on March 26, 2024.<ref name=MOU/> The city has been converting streets from [[one-way traffic]] to two-way since 2022,<ref>{{cite news |last = Ellis |first = Mike |date = April 23, 2024 |title = Lansing Halts MLK Jr. Blvd. Remake Near Downtown Due to Protests, Criticism |url = https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2024/04/23/mlk-boulevard-lansing-median-removal-westside-neighborhood/73424021007/ |work = Lansing State Journal |access-date = April 24, 2024 }}</ref> including plans to convert Ottawa and Allegan streets during 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last = Thakkar |first = Arjun |date=February 29, 2024 |title = Michigan Avenue, MLK Redesigns on Lansing's 2024 Construction Agenda |url = https://www.wkar.org/wkar-news/2024-02-29/michigan-avenue-mlk-redesigns-on-lansings-2024-construction-agenda |work = WKAR Public Media |location = Lansing, Michigan |publisher = [[w:WKAR-FM|WKAR-FM]] |access-date=April 24, 2024 }}</ref> With the transfer, the Capitol Loop designation was removed from the state highway system.