Interstate 496
From Free net encyclopedia
Interstate 496 (abbreviated I-496) is an Interstate highway that passes through downtown Lansing, Michigan, USA and is a "child" of Interstate 96. I-496 is also known as the R.E. Olds Freeway. I-496 has both of its termini on Interstate 96, the western one feeding only to and from Interstate 96 and Interstate 69 (which there coincide) and the southern one feeding to and from U.S. Highway 127, a freeway that coincides with the north-south segment of Interstate 496. Note that U.S. 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, it is heavily traveled by commuters who work in nearby automobile factories, as well as Michigan state government, and should be avoided at shift changes due to congestion. Interstate 96 is generally a better long-distance route (by Michigan standards). Interstate 496's maximum speed limits range from 70 m.p.h. in the western and southern suburbs to 55 m.p.h. through the downtown area between exits 4 and 9.
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 a once-proposed alignment of Interstate 69 that was never built, Interstate 69 having been built along a route more to the south and east than that alignment. Any discussion of any highway leading westward from the western terminus of Interstate 496 is pure speculation as of 2006.
Lane Configurations
- Western Terminus On/Off-Ramps (2x2 lanes)
- On/Off-Ramp through Exit 1 (3x3 Lanes)
- Exit 1 through Exit 7 (2x2 Lanes)
- Exit 7 through Exit 9 (3x3 Lanes)
- Exit 9 through Exit 11 (2x2 Lanes)
- Exit 11 through Southern Terminus (3x3)
- Southern Terminus On/Off-Ramps (1 Lane)Template:Interstate-stub