Albion Interactive History / Transportation
Interstate 94
Running in an east west orientation, when completed Interstate 94 connected Detroit and Chicago. With the opening of Interstate 94, a ten hour commute was reduced to just a few hours. Before that time US-12 and M-99 connected these large urban areas. By making transportation easier, the Interstate also made it difficult for local merchants to compete with larger nearby cities like Jackson and Battle Creek. In time, automobile oriented commercial development surpassed Albion’s now historic downtown as commercial centers. This is limitedly seen on the north end of Eaton Street, a main exit of the interstate leading into Albion, but more so in areas like Jackson where automobile oriented development continues to sprawl outwards from the core city. The great convenience of the Interstate is often at the great cost of towns like Albion, almost entirely looked over and left behind.
Source: Isaac Kremer