Controversies over middle segment Interstate 696

prior opening of central portion of i-696 in late 1980s, eastbound traffic in southfield, seen here in july 1988, routed southbound m-10 near telegraph road exit (now exit 8); once-abandoned portion of i-696 appears left.

the central section controversial. governor james blanchard 15 years old , high school sophomore in neighboring pleasant ridge when freeway proposed , purchased home in area in 1972. joked during remarks @ dedication in 1989, unvarnished truth freeway? wasn t alive when first proposed, , added, frankly, never thought go through. total cost @ completion entire freeway @ end of 30-year project $675 million (equivalent $1.69 billion in 2016).

arguments between local officials intense during 1960s, then-governor george w. romney once locked fighting bureaucrats in community center until agree on path freeway. during 1970s, local groups used then-new environmental regulations oppose interstate. freeway noted in congressional subcommittee report on major interstate system route controversy in urban areas or controversies in 1970. before 1967, local communities had approve highway locations , designs, , debates on i-696 prompted passage of arbitration statute. statute challenged pleasant ridge , lathrup village before being upheld michigan supreme court. lathrup village later withdrew planning agreement in 1971; had agreement been implemented, construction on central section scheduled commence in 1974 , finish in 1976.

pedestrian plazas in oak park

the community of orthodox jews in oak park wanted freeway pass north of suburb. when deemed futile, community asked changes design mitigate impact of freeway pedestrian-dependent community. final approval in 1981 of freeway s alignment contingent on these mitigation measures. address community s unique needs, state hired rabbi serve consultant on project. in addition, series of landscaped plazas incorporated design, forming tunnels through i-696 passes. these structures set of 3 700-foot-wide (210 m) bridges cross freeway within mile (1.6 km). allow members of jewish community walk synagogues on sabbath , other holidays when jewish law prohibits driving. these plazas had length limited; if longer considered tunnels require ventilation systems.

the detroit zoo concerned noise , air pollution interstate disturb animals. satisfied $12 million (equivalent $30.1 million in 2016) spent on new parking ramp , other improvements. city of detroit tried stop i-696 well, in end city forced redesign golf course. refusal grant additional 9 feet (2.7 m) of right-of-way detroit forced additional design , construction delays during 1980s.

one of last obstacles construction of freeway wetlands area near southfield. mdot received permit michigan department of natural resources destroy 6 ⁄2 acres (2.6 ha) of wetland , create replacement 11-acre (4.5 ha) area. in process, prairie roses , wetlands milkweed transplanted path of i-696 in 1987. final section of eight-lane freeway opened @ cost of $436 million (equivalent $1.09 billion in 2016) on december 15, 1989. @ time, 1 caller detroit radio show commented, realize have been moon , in time has taken road ferndale southfield?