• Transportation Infrastructure

     International Bridge, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
    Photographed by Adam Kahtava

  • Transportation Infrastructure

    Michigan is strategically located in the central United States and has numerous connections to anywhere in the world with 19 airports, thousands of miles of toll-free highways, an extensive rail network and navigational connections to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Michigan is truly a gateway to the world, providing businesses access to national and international markets.

  • Michigan’s abundant, toll-free highways and Interstates are at the crossroads of East-West and North-South, providing easy, efficient access within the state, and to all North American markets.


    Whether its retail, warehousing, logistics, or manufacturing, Michigan companies move goods smoothly through an extensive highway network and connections to major transportation corridors. A vast infrastructure of long- and short-haul trucking firms are available to serve Michigan companies.
    • Michigan’s 1,241 miles (1,997 km) of Interstate Highway and 8,480 miles (15,644.11 km) of U.S. and state highway trunklines are built for industrial use and serve all 83 Michigan counties in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The system also facilitates easy commuting, business travel, and access to Michigan’s abundant recreational opportunities.
    • Four of Michigan’s nine international border crossings with Canada are on Interstate Highways, and connect companies with important Canadian markets through the Trans-Canada Highway and National Highway System.
    • Tolls can add up in other states, but Michigan gives companies and their workers an advantage as one of only three Great Lakes states with toll-free Interstate Highways. The other toll-free states are Wisconsin and Minnesota.  
  • Whether by highway, air, rail, or water, Michigan is a vital partner in international commerce, and a key link in the North American market, connecting companies to customers, suppliers, and their value chains throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
    • Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in 2009 with $42.5 billion
    • Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in February 2010 with $5.2 billion in and ranked #3 with surface trade with Mexico for the same time period
    • Adjacent to U.S. Customs Ports of Entry, Michigan is host to 7 Foreign Trade Zones, where goods of every description may be held without being subject to customs duties and other ad valorem taxes: Sault Ste. Marie, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Detroit, Saginaw/Bay City/Flint, Port Huron 
    Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in February 2010.
    Michigan is #3 with surface trade with Mexico (February 2010)
  • Michigan easily connects you to your global suppliers and customers through major airline hubs like the award winning, business traveler-friendly Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and Grand Rapids.
    • Commercial air passenger and freight service is available from 18 airports throughout the state, with a total of 15 Michigan airports offering U.S. Customs services. 
    • The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport serves over 160 destinations in Canada, the USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Through August 2008, the airport remained one of the top ten U.S. international gateway airports including Delta Air Lines’ primary gateway to Asia. Detroit Metro was also was named The best large U.S. airport in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates in 2009.
  • In addition to intercity passenger service, Michigan railways provide an affordable means for transporting freight shipments across North America. 

    • Four Class 1 and 22 regional/short rail lines serve transcontinental and intermodal shipping needs, including important connections with Michigan’s 38 deep water ports and international airports. 
    • Michigan passenger railways provide a convenient option for commuting to cities like nearby Chicago through Amtrak.
    • Michigan rail lines connect with Canada at three locations, through bridges, as well as double stack and high cube rail tunnels. The intercontinental rail system links Ontario, Detroit, Chicago, and the rest of North America's commercial centers.
     

    View a detailed version of Michigan's rail system

  • With more coastline than any state other than Alaska, it’s no wonder that Michigan has a well-developed commercial port system, with extensive links to rail and highways as well as the ability to handle numerous types of cargo, from bulk to container. Michigan businesses get an advantage in their ability to ship large or bulk items long distances over water – without having to worry about highway or rail height and weight restrictions. It’s a key reason that many wind turbine manufacturers have located tower and blade manufacturing operations here.
    • Michigan’s 40 commercial ports serve a range of shipping needs and locations throughout the Upper and Lower peninsulas, including major ports in Detroit, Saginaw and the Upper Peninsula that provide full service, including U.S. Customs services, for all types of cargo. Thirty-eight ports are deep-water ports, eight more than the other seven Great Lakes states combined.
    • Michigan’s 16 biggest ports in Michigan moved 68,250,767 tons of cargo in 2008. At 12,836,319 tons of total trade in 2008, Detroit ranked 46th in the nation. 
    • Our strategic location at the heart of Great Lakes system provides navigational connections to the Atlantic Ocean and European markets, through the Soo Locks and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Ports on Michigan's west coast have easy access to the Mississippi River barge system, connecting to the river valley, the Gulf of Mexico, and ports worldwide through the Panama Canal.