Interstate 496
Encyclopedia
Interstate 496 is an Interstate Highway that passes through downtown Lansing
, Michigan
and is a "child" of Interstate 96
. It is ceremonially designated the R.E. Olds Freeway along the portion that cuts through the city of Lansing. I-496 has both of its termini on I-96, the western one feeding only to and from Interstate 96 and Interstate 69
(which run concurrently) and the southern one feeding to and from US 127
, a freeway that coincides with the north–south segment of I-496. US 127 continues as freeway through Lansing to the north and to Jackson
, Michigan
in the south.
Named after one of the pioneers of the automobile industry, Ransom E. Olds
the founder of Oldsmobile
and the REO Motor Car Company
, it is heavily traveled by commuters who work in nearby automobile factories, as well as Michigan state government. I-496's maximum speed limit is 70 mph (110 km/h) for its entire length.
Ironically, while the highway bears R.E. Olds' name, the construction of the highway forced the demolition of the house that he built in 1903. Attempts to move the Olds Mansion, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
, failed, and the house was demolished in order to continue the construction of the Interstate. The construction of the freeway also required the demolition or removal or nearly 600 homes, 60 businesses, and 15 farms.
The western terminus looks as if it could accommodate a westward extension, having been built with unusually long and widely-separated ramps. These ramps were built to accommodate the intersection with the originally proposed alignment of Interstate 69
.
/M-78
between Lansing and East Lansing. The freeway section, comprising the southern two-thirds, was designated I-96/M-78/BL I-96 while the northern portion was on city streets as M-78/BL I-96. A new US 127
freeway was opened on 18 November 1966. US 127 would be routed along I-496/M-78. BL I-96 was removed from I-496/US 127/M-78 and routed along the former US 127. The next section opened was the western section from I-96 to M-99
on 22 October 1968. The remaining section between M-99 and I-496/US 127 opened on 18 December 1970 completing construction.
The freeway underwent a $42.4 million reconstruction between April and September 2001 which includes the rehabilitation or reconstruction of 35 bridges, 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of freeway, and the addition of a weave–merge lane between Pennsylvania Avenue and US 127.
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and is a "child" of Interstate 96
Interstate 96
Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
. It is ceremonially designated the R.E. Olds Freeway along the portion that cuts through the city of Lansing. I-496 has both of its termini on I-96, the western one feeding only to and from Interstate 96 and Interstate 69
Interstate 69
Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
(which run concurrently) and the southern one feeding to and from US 127
U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
, a freeway that coincides with the north–south segment of I-496. US 127 continues as freeway through Lansing to the north and to Jackson
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in the south.
Named after one of the pioneers of the automobile industry, Ransom E. Olds
Ransom E. Olds
Ransom Eli Olds was a pioneer of the American automotive industry, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named. He claimed to have built his first steam car as early as 1894, and his first gasoline powered car in 1896...
the founder of Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
and the REO Motor Car Company
REO Motor Car Company
The REO Motor Car Company was a Lansing, Michigan based company that produced automobiles and trucks from 1905 to 1975. At one point the company also manufactured buses on its truck platforms.REO was initiated by Ransom E. Olds during August 1904...
, it is heavily traveled by commuters who work in nearby automobile factories, as well as Michigan state government. I-496's maximum speed limit is 70 mph (110 km/h) for its entire length.
Ironically, while the highway bears R.E. Olds' name, the construction of the highway forced the demolition of the house that he built in 1903. Attempts to move the Olds Mansion, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, failed, and the house was demolished in order to continue the construction of the Interstate. The construction of the freeway also required the demolition or removal or nearly 600 homes, 60 businesses, and 15 farms.
Route description
The route is a divided-highway with two lane-numbering configurations. The sections between the western terminus and exit 1, exits 7 through 9, and exit 11 to the eastern terminus have three lanes in each direction. The rest is configured with two lanes in either direction. From exit 8 to the eastern terminus, I-496 runs north–south concurrent with US 127.The western terminus looks as if it could accommodate a westward extension, having been built with unusually long and widely-separated ramps. These ramps were built to accommodate the intersection with the originally proposed alignment of Interstate 69
Interstate 69
Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
.
History
The first section of I-496 was opened on 23 December 1963 running from I-96 northerly to M-43M-43 (Michigan highway)
M-43 is a state trunkline highway in southwestern and central parts of the US state of Michigan. The highway runs from South Haven to Webberville along an indirect path through both rural areas and larger cities...
/M-78
M-78 (Michigan highway)
M-78 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The western terminus is the intersection with M-66 north of Battle Creek in Pennfield Township. The roadway runs through rural farmland and the community of Bellevue as it approaches its eastern terminus at an interchange with...
between Lansing and East Lansing. The freeway section, comprising the southern two-thirds, was designated I-96/M-78/BL I-96 while the northern portion was on city streets as M-78/BL I-96. A new US 127
U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
freeway was opened on 18 November 1966. US 127 would be routed along I-496/M-78. BL I-96 was removed from I-496/US 127/M-78 and routed along the former US 127. The next section opened was the western section from I-96 to M-99
M-99 (Michigan highway)
M-99 is a state highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Ohio state border, where it connects to SR 15, north to Lansing where it terminates at a junction with I-496...
on 22 October 1968. The remaining section between M-99 and I-496/US 127 opened on 18 December 1970 completing construction.
The freeway underwent a $42.4 million reconstruction between April and September 2001 which includes the rehabilitation or reconstruction of 35 bridges, 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of freeway, and the addition of a weave–merge lane between Pennsylvania Avenue and US 127.
Exit list
See also
- Capitol Loop, a related loop associated with I-496
External links
- I-496 at Michigan Highways
- Interstate 496 at Michigan Highway Ends
- I-496 at kurumi.com
- I-496 at AA Roads Includes photo gallery: "Making way for 496".