From the southern terminus to exit 14, I-475 is cosigned with US Route 23 (US 23) and is signed the north–south section of I-475.

It has almost a half-square shape on the map consisting of the top and left sides of the square.

On its northern segment it parallels State Route 120 (SR 120) and has Toledo as a control city to the east.

This included the redevelopment of several overpasses, as well as the removal of an outdated interchange with Central Avenue in favor of an interchange with a newly constructed extension of ProMedica Parkway for easier access.

[7] Since July 2015, work has been ongoing along the western stretch of I-475 in Lucas County along its concurrency with US 23 to widen the freeway from two to three lanes in both directions to meet the needs of development in the western suburbs of Toledo.