Interstate 696

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Interstate 696
Auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System

Length:

29.24 mi (47.06 km)

Formed:

First signed: 1962
Completed: 1989

west end:

I-96/I-275/M-5 in Novi, MI

Major
junctions:

US-24/M-10 in Southfield, MI

M-1 in Royal Oak, MI
I-75 in Royal Oak, MI
M-53 in Center Line, MI
M-97 in Warren, MI
M-3 in Roseville, MI

east end:

I-94 in St. Clair Shores, MI

I-675

M-1

Interstate 696 (abbreviated I-696) is an interstate highway entirely within the U.S. state of Michigan. I-696 is also known as the Walter P. Reuther Freeway. I-696 is a spur route, partially circling the city of Detroit, but travels entirely through Detroit's suburbs. It starts by branching off of Interstate 96 at the west end and ends by merging into Interstate 94 on the east. It has 6 - 8 lanes for most of its length and is approximately 10 miles north of downtown Detroit. It is a major morning and night commute route, bringing many people living west of Detroit into the suburbs north of the city and into downtown Detroit via other Michigan highways such as M-10 ("The Lodge" freeway) and M-39 (The Southfield freeway). Some local residents affectionately call this freeway "The Autobahn of Detroit."

While I-696 is part of the original Interstate highway system as outlined in 1956-58, with the first portion opening in 1962, it was not completed until 1989.

The portion of I-696 located between the Mixing Bowl and I-75 is known for its extensive use of retaining walls, and three large landscaped caps over the road.

As part of the overall rehabilitation to the Mixing Bowl interchange, a new partial interchange at Franklin Road has been constructed. An exit ramp from I-696 eastbound to American Drive opened in April 2006. An entrance ramp from Franklin Road to I-696 westbound opened in July 2006. The Franklin Road overpass re-opened in October 2006.^[1]