[1] Jefferson Avenue was planned to extend due east of downtown, parallel to the Detroit River.

Later additions to the road have extended it west of downtown as well, where it continues to travel near the waterfront through the Downriver area.

It also serves as the backbone of the rich neighborhoods of the Grosse Pointe communities, skirting the eastern portion of Detroit.

The first, one block long between Clark and Scotten streets, is occupied by the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority's Detroit Terminal.

From the corner of Randolph to the southern end of I-375 between Beaubien and St. Antoine streets, Jefferson is the extremely short, 0.015-mile-long (0.024 km), unsigned Business Spur I-375.