Interstate 696, also named the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, and often referred to as "Michigan's Autobahn" by locals, is an interstate highway entirely within the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a spur route, partially circling the city of Detroit, but travels entirely through Detroit's suburbs. It starts by branching off of Interstate 96 at the west end and ends by merging into Interstate 94 on the east. It has 4-5 lanes for most of its length and is approximately 10 miles north of downtown Detroit. It is a major morning and night commute route, bringing many people living west of Detroit into the suburbs north of the city and into downtown Detroit via other Michigan highways such as M-10 ("The Lodge" freeway) and M-39 (The Southfield freeway)
While I-696 is part of the original Interstate highway system as outlined in 1956-58, with the first portion opening in 1962, it was not completed until 1989.
Cities I-696 passes through
