Clinching I-696, or not

[Highway63]

This is sort of an overlap with the Travel Mapping board, but there's a wider audience here.

In 2013, I drove I-696 and I-275 around Detroit. When I plugged the highways into CHM/TM, though, the line for I-696 runs westward, to split/unify with the I-96 lanes. There's a segment between the 96/696/5 split and the 275/5 split. I followed the exit from 696 to 275 - but that segment isn't part of either.

Does this mean I haven't technically clinched I-696? Is not following the mainline from the 275 exit to where 696 and 96 merge statistically/roadgeek-ally significant?

The super bummer on this is, if following the mainline is required, traveling I-96 won't solve it either because I still wouldn't have mainline 696 from the middle of that M-5 interchange to west of Halsted Road.

[Flint1979]

I-696's western terminus is at that exit but the short segment that you didn't travel on is actually still considered part of I-696. The segment from I-275/I-96 to M-5 shifts to the west at that interchange and I-696 is in the middle of it. It's really a complex interchange but I would say you clinched I-696. I've clinched that highway quite often myself and it's probably the best highway in Metro Detroit to ride on.

[GaryV]

The section from the I-275 sb exit to the merge with I-96 is signed as "TO I-96"  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4892811,-83.4236137,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPP-ZsWYLZ3knFiVKoc6rwQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

The lollipops continue to count down the mileage  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.484122,-83.4406043,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDOr61CZENb-1UopslVJeVg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

And the 696 ENDS sign is at the merge:  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4844123,-83.4440516,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swtoRpUK6PBF9VBVCtI_FyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

[Flint1979]

The section from the I-275 sb exit to the merge with I-96 is signed as "TO I-96"  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4892811,-83.4236137,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPP-ZsWYLZ3knFiVKoc6rwQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

The lollipops continue to count down the mileage  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.484122,-83.4406043,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDOr61CZENb-1UopslVJeVg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

And the 696 ENDS sign is at the merge:  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4844123,-83.4440516,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swtoRpUK6PBF9VBVCtI_FyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

The end sign is where mainline I-96 WB merges into that ramp and with the mileage still counting down to that point I'd say that is exactly where I-696 ends.

[AsphaltPlanet]

I would consider that a clinch as well.  I-696 ends at the I-275 interchange, even if the mainline follows another set of ramps.  In practical terms, what did you really miss by driving the interchange in that direction and not the other?  Not much.

I am sure that some people who have more masochistic views of highway clinching could certainly offer a contrasting argument.

So, to summarize, if you feel as though you clinched the highway, you've clinched it, and if you feel as though you haven't clinched the highway, you haven't clinched it.