Interstate 496 Michigan

Interstate 496 Michigan
History
East End
West End

Overview

Interstate 496 comprises an urban loop through the city of Lansing between I-69/96 in Delta Township and the U.S. 127 freeway in East Lansing. I-496 provides a high speed route to Downtown Lansing, crossing the Grand River southeast of the Michigan State Capitol. The eastern leg overlaps with U.S. 127 by Michigan State University (MSU) to I-96 just southeast of the Lansing city limits.

History

The last section of Interstate 496 opened to traffic in 1970.1

Route Information

  • East End – Delhi Township, MI

  • West End – Delta Center, MI

  • Mileage – 12.10

  • Cities – Lansing, East Lansing

  • Junctions – I-69 I-96

Source: December 31, 2018 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-496 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2017 AADT – Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Traffic Volumes Map

East End I-96 – Delhi Township, Michigan

I-496 East US 127 South at I-96

I-496 east at I-96/US 127 - Lansing, MI

I-496/U.S. 127 combine for three miles south from East Lansing to Interstate 96 in Delhi Township. The final exchange for I-496 joins the freeway with Dunckel Road in southeast Lansing. 11/05/11

I-496 east at I-96/US 127 - Lansing, MI

Crossing over Jolly Road, a third southbound lane opens for the return of Interstate 496 east to I-96 at Exit 73A. 11/05/11

I-496 east at I-96/US 127 - Delhi Charter Twp, MI

Two lanes depart for I-96 east to Howell and Detroit ahead of the cloverleaf interchange with the Interstate 96 mainline. U.S. 127 continues along a freeway 29.6 miles south to I-94 at Jackson. 11/05/11

I-496 east at I-96/US 127 - 2002

Sign replacements made at the east end of Interstate 496 added exit tabs for the ramps with I-96. Photo by Don Hargraves (11/02).

I-96 West at I-496 US 127

I-96 west at I-496/US 27 - Alaiedon Twp, MI

The first Lansing area exit along Interstate 96 westbound connects with I-496 west / U.S. 127 north at Exit 106B. Photo by John Harmon (2001).

I-96 west at I-496/US 27 - Alaiedon Twp, MI

I-496 overlaps with U.S. 127 north to East Lansing. I-96 stays south of the capital city by the community of Holt. Prior to 2001-02, U.S. 127 ended at I-69 to the north of Lansing at DeWitt Township. This changed with legislation signed extending U.S. 127 northward over what was U.S. 27 between Lansing and I-75 near Grayling. Photo by John Harmon (2001).

I-96 East at I-496 US 127

I-96 east at I-496/US 27 - Delhi Charter Twp, MI

Interstate 96 east at the Aureluis Road overpass, 1.50 miles west of the quarter cloverleaf interchange (Exit 106) with I-496 west and U.S. 127. Photo by Don Hargraves (03/03).

I-96 east at I-496/US 27 - Delhi Charter Twp, MI

U.S. 127 travels 6.5 miles north from the Ingham County seat of Mason to I-96/496 at Exit 106. A loop ramp joins I-96 east with I-496 west / U.S. 127 north to East Lansing. Photo by Don Hargraves (03/03).

West End I-69 I-96 – Delta Township, Michigan

I-496 West at I-69 I-96

I-496 west at I-69/96 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

Interstate 496 proceeds west from a six-ramp parclo interchange (Exit 1) with Creyts Road to I-69/96 by Delta Center. U.S. 27 overlapped with I-69/96 until 2001/02, when it was truncated north of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Photo by Don Hargraves (11/02).

I-496 west at I-69/96 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

Two lanes join I-69 south and I-96 east ahead of their split for Fort Wayne, Indiana and Detroit. A single lane ramp joins I-69/96 north 3.8 miles to their separation at Watertown Township. Photo by Don Hargraves (11/02).

I-69 South I-96 East at I-496

I-69/96 south at I-496 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

Business Loop I-69 (Saginaw Highway) combines with M-43 west from Lansing to I-69/96 (Exit 93) in Delta Township. I-496 parallels the commercial arterial to the south, with both leading to Downtown Lansing. Photo by Don Hargraves (11/02).

I-69/96 south at I-496 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

An auxiliary lane opens south from M-43 and Business Loop I-69 to the directional T interchange (Exit 95) with Interstate 496 east. Photo by Don Hargraves (11/02).

I-69/96 south at I-496 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

Interstate 496 stems east from I-69/96 six miles to Walnut Street south of the Michigan State Capitol. Photo by Don Hargraves (11/02).

I-69 North I-96 West at I-496

I-69/96 north at I-496 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

Interstate 96 bypasses Lansing to the south and combines with I-69 to the west at a trumpet interchange (Exit 97) 1.25 miles from I-496. 11/05/11

I-69/96 north at I-496 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

Interstate 69 arrives in the Lansing area northeast from Potterville. The northbound mainline combines with I-96 west just beyond the Millett Highway overpass. 11/05/11

I-69/96 north at I-496 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

I-69 north/96 west expand to four lanes to Interstate 496 east at Exit 95. The directional T interchange between the two freeways was originally a trumpet. 11/05/11

I-69/96 north at I-496 - Delta Charter Twp, MI

Exit 95 leaves I-69 north/96 east for Interstate 496 to Downtown Lansing and East Lansing. 11/05/11

  1. “Interstate roads have shaped the future for many mid-Michigan communities.” Lansing State Journal (MI), July 23, 2006.

Page updated February 26, 2019.