I-496 in Lansing

[leifvanderwall]

I think I-496 into Downtown Lansing is a mistake and should probably should be I-69. The I-496 actually belongs on where the new I-69 is since it would be a bypass from the downtown area to Flint. You can also argue that the I-475 at Flint, Michigan should switch places with I-75.

[Brandon]

I think I-496 into Downtown Lansing is a mistake and should probably should be I-69. The I-496 actually belongs on where the new I-69 is since it would be a bypass from the downtown area to Flint. You can also argue that the I-475 at Flint, Michigan should switch places with I-75.

I'll politely disagree.  I-69 should stay where it is and should not have to travel through the ramps at US-127 and I-496.

[huskeroadgeek]

Didn't I-496 used to be I-69 or carry the "Temp I-69" designation?

[Brandon]

Didn't I-496 used to be I-69 or carry the "Temp I-69" designation?

Only the stretch concurrent with US-127.  Temp-69 went along Lansing Rd from Charlotte to I-96, then east to US-127, then north to what is now BL-69 back to I-69.

[rawmustard]

I think I-496 into Downtown Lansing is a mistake and should probably should be I-69. The I-496 actually belongs on where the new I-69 is since it would be a bypass from the downtown area to Flint. You can also argue that the I-475 at Flint, Michigan should switch places with I-75.

Even-3dis can go through cities, too, you know.

Although I keep saying I need to do some digging to find if I'm right, I've always theorized that I-69 (when they decided to extend it north of I-94) was originally proposed to go through both Lansing and East Lansing. I base this off the fact that I-69 was originally going to have its interchange with I-96 where the I-496 is (Chris Bessert has a map showing this) and that the portion from US-127 east back to the old M-78 corridor always had the look of a "Plan B" type of alignment. If I-69 had always been intended to go around north of Lansing, why couldn't it have taken a more direct route to the segment which ultimately goes to Flint? Somehow, there's a lot of road mysteries to unearth around our state's capital.

[Brandon]

^^
Exactly.  I-69 was meant to use what is now I-496 though Lansing and across the south part of the MSU campus.  Needless to say, the idea got nixed.

[Hellfighter]

I still say I-69 should've been routed onto US-27 (current US-127), and make the current I-69, Interstate 98.

[Terry Shea]

I think I-496 into Downtown Lansing is a mistake and should probably should be I-69. The I-496 actually belongs on where the new I-69 is since it would be a bypass from the downtown area to Flint. You can also argue that the I-475 at Flint, Michigan should switch places with I-75.

Even-3dis can go through cities, too, you know.

Although I keep saying I need to do some digging to find if I'm right, I've always theorized that I-69 (when they decided to extend it north of I-94) was originally proposed to go through both Lansing and East Lansing. I base this off the fact that I-69 was originally going to have its interchange with I-96 where the I-496 is (Chris Bessert has a map showing this) and that the portion from US-127 east back to the old M-78 corridor always had the look of a "Plan B" type of alignment. If I-69 had always been intended to go around north of Lansing, why couldn't it have taken a more direct route to the segment which ultimately goes to Flint? Somehow, there's a lot of road mysteries to unearth around our state's capital.

What that map doesn't show is that the proposed alignment would have gone almost straight north from Charlotte and then was to make an almost right angle turn to the I-96/I-496 junction.  That alignment would have been more costly and longer.

[tvketchum]

The original alignment was to make a sweeping curve from Charlotte to Lansing. The nimby and evironmental groups got that changed, to closer to the US 27 alignment. But once it made it to Lansing, it was always going to skirt Lansing to the north, and then connect to M 78 to use that road's alignment.

[JREwing78]

I-496 makes sense as-is. It's not meant as a through-route - it's meant to be freeway linking downtown Lansing back to I-96. It gets plenty enough traffic as a downtown connector without diverting I-69 traffic on it.

Original plans also called for US-27 and US-127 to connect west of DeWitt instead of its current arrangement.

Fortunately, smarter thinking prevailed. Lansing has a very logical, efficient freeway system that (mostly) handles the traffic flows throughout the area well.