Interstate 496 (I-496) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that passes through downtown Lansing in the US state of Michigan. Also a component of the State Trunkline Highway System, the loop route runs east from I-96 to the downtown area, turning south concurrently with US Highway 127. It passes a former assembly plant used by Oldsmobile and runs along or crosses parts of the Grand and Red Cedar rivers. Construction started in 1963, and the freeway opened on December 18, 1970. Segments south of downtown were built near a historically black neighborhood that dates from the early 20th century. Community leaders opted not to fight the construction of the freeway, instead seeking affordable housing and relocation assistance for displaced residents. The city named the freeway in honor of a former mayor when it opened in 1970, but the local historical society proposed that the state rename it after Ransom E. Olds, the founder of Oldsmobile and the REO Motor Car Company, after his mansion was demolished to make way for the freeway. The Michigan Legislature approved the name "Olds Freeway" two years later.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_496

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1867:

In Angola, New York, US, the last coach of a Lake Shore Railway train derailed, plunged 40 ft (12 m) down a gully, and caught fire, resulting in 49 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola_Horror

1892:

The first performance of the fairy-tale ballet The Nutcracker was held at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker

1916:

The French defeated German forces around the city of Verdun- sur-Meuse in northeast France, ending the longest battle and one of the bloodiest in World War I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun

1987:

Programmer Larry Wall released the first version of the programming language Perl via the comp.sources.misc newsgroup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perl

2005:

The most recent Chadian Civil War began when rebel groups, allegedly backed by neighbouring Sudan, launched an attack in Adré. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadian_Civil_War_(2005%E2%80%9310)

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

tiptoe: 1. Standing elevated, on or as if on the tips of one's toes. 2. Moving carefully, quietly, warily or stealthily, on or as if on the tips of one's toes. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tiptoe

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.   --Star Wars https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Episode_IV:_A_New_Hope