Interstate 696 Michigan

Overview

Interstate 696 (Walter P. Reuther Freeway) forms a northerly bypass of Detroit between I-96 at Novi and I-94 at St. Clair Shores. The freeway is mostly urban, traveling below grade from Southfield to Roseville and along a trenched freeway parallel to Eleven Mile Road between Evergreen Road (Exit 11) and Southfield Road (Exit 12). A cut and cover tunnel takes the route below parkland south of Lincoln Drive, where another trenched section leads I-696 to two additional cut and cover tunnels east of Greenfield Road (Exit 13).

A symmetrical stack interchange joins Interstate 696 with I-75 at the city of Ferndale. The freeway parallels 10 Mile Road both leading to and away from that exchange, before it shifts northward back to 11 Mile Road ahead of the four level interchange with Mound Road. I-696 carries eight lanes from M-5 to M-10, six lanes from M-10 (Lodge Freeway) to Greenfield Road (Exit 13), eight lanes again from Exit 13 to M-3 (Gratiot Road) and six lanes to I-94 at St. Clair Shores.

History

The Michigan State Highway Department recommended Interstate Route Numbering in 1958 outlined that through routes in urban areas should follow the circumferential route. The consensus was that utilizing the circumferential route would relieve unnecessary traffic through the urban area, and that the circumferential routes would be ready for operation for a considerable length of time prior to the completion of the urban connecting routes. Within the Detroit area, what would become I-696 was assigned Interstate Route 98.

The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) addressed the Michigan recommendations on August 29, 1958:

For the Detroit area we note that you have used 2-digit numbers that have not been assigned by the Route Numbering Committee and which are not available for metropolitan areas.

AASHO instead recommended that Route 98 be changed to 696. The state concurred with the recommendation on September 12, 1958 and AASHO gave final approval on December 18, 1958.

Interstate 696 opened initially between I-96 and U.S. 24 in late 1963. Business Spur I-696 was designated the year before and decommissioned by 1970. The next portion of freeway opened was the stretch between I-75 and I-94 in 1979 (Bessert, 2025). Completion of the 28.2 mile long route took another ten years with an opening on December 14, 1989. Opening ceremonies were held by Michigan Governor Blanchard for the 9.1 mile section from U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) east to Interstate 75 (Toledo Blade, 1989).

East End  ‐ St. Clair Shores, MI

East at

Interstate 696 east, two miles out from the unnumbered directional T interchange with I-94 at the Belanger Street overpass. Photo by Eric Stuve (07/09/17).

East at

The initial guide sign for Exit 229 to I-696 west appeared along I-94 east within the diamond interchange at Nine Mile Road (Exit 228). All I-696 signs along I-94 remaining with Highway Gothic font were replaced with Clearview by 2013. 11/05/11

East End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

East at

All signs for I-94 on I-696 east were replaced with Clearview font based panels by 2011. 11/07/09

West at

Westbound I-94, one mile north of I-696 (W.P. Reuther Freeway) at Exit 230 with 12 Mile Road. I-696 serves as a bypass of Detroit by passing through Warren, Oak Park and Farmington Hills. At no point does the freeway enter Wayne County or the City of Detroit. These guides sign were replaced by 2013. Photo by John Harmon (01/01/01).

West End  ‐ Novi, MI

West at

The I-696 mainline reduces to two lanes beyond the Halsted Road overpass at Exit 1. Beyond Exit 1, the mainline merges onto I-96 west in 1.75 miles. 07/19/26

East at

Interstate 696 opened initially from M-5 (old I-96) east to the Lodge Freeway (M-10) in 1963. The Lodge Freeway historically carried Business Spur I-696 southeast from Southfield into Detroit until 1970. 07/19/26

West North at

Interstate 275 north ends where I-96 west separates with a long collector distributor roadway joining the freeway with I-696 east and M-5. 07/19/26

South at

M-5 south transitions to M-5 east at the exit for I-96 west to Lansing and Grand Rapids. A slip ramp joins the freeway with I-96 east / I-275 south. 07/19/26

West End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

West at

2023/24 reconstruction of I-696 west at Exit 1 added a third lane for I-96 East, I-275 South and M-5. Photo by Scott Steeves (11/05/06).

East at

Diagrammatic overheads for Exit 163 / I-696 and the exchange with I-275/M-5 on Interstate 96 eastbound were replaced with APL signs in 2017. 11/06/11

West North at

The c/d roadway for I-696 east and M-5 on I-96/275 north was formerly Exit 165 and is now unnumbered. 11/07/09

South at

M-5 south combines with an entrance ramp from I-696 east to pass under Haggerty Highway and a ramp from I-696 west to I-275 south. 11/07/09