U.S. Route 23 in Michigan

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This article is about the section of highway in Michigan. For the entire length of highway, see US Highway 23.

US Highway 23 marker

US Highway 23
US 23 runs through the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from the Ohio state line north to the Saginaw Bay area, and then follows the Lake Huron shoreline to the northern tip of the peninsula.
US 23 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDOT
Length: 362.33 mi[2] (583.11 km)
Existed: November 11, 1926 (1926-11-11)[1] – present
Tourist
routes:		 Lake Huron Circle Tour
Sunrise Side Coastal Highway
Major junctions
South end: US 23 / US 223 near Lambertville
 

I-94 near Ann Arbor
I-96 in Brighton
I-75 near Flint
I-69 in Flint
US 10 in Bay City

I-75 near Standish
North end: I-75 near Mackinaw City
Location
Counties: Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston, Genesee, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Iosco, Alcona, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Emmet
Highway system
← M-22 M-23 →

US Highway 23 (US 23) is a United States Numbered Highway that runs from Jacksonville, Florida, to Mackinaw City, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan, it is a major, 362.33-mile-long (583.11 km), north–south state trunkline highway that runs through the Lower Peninsula (LP). The trunkline is a freeway from the Michigan–Ohio state line near Lambertville to the city of Standish, and it follows the Lake Huron shoreline from there to its northern terminus. Serving the cities of Ann Arbor and Flint, US 23 acts as a freeway bypass of the Metro Detroit area. Overall, the highway runs through rural areas of the state dominated by farm fields or woodlands; some segments are urban in character in the Ann Arbor, Flint and Tri-Cities areas. The section from Flint north to Standish also carries Interstate 75 (I-75) along a concurrency that includes a segment that carries almost 70,000 vehicles on a daily basis.

The first transportation routes along US 23 in the state were sections of two Indian trails. The route of what is now US 23 follows portions of two separate trails. In the early 20th century, four different auto trail names were applied to roads now a part of the highway. These roads were included as part of two state highways in the initial state highway system in 1919. When the United States Numbered Highway System was first designated on November 11, 1926, the new US 23 replaced the other designations along its route. Since creation, the road has been moved and realigned several times. Through the 1930s and 1940s, the lakeshore routing was created to replace a path that run further inland through the northern portion of the state. Starting in the early 1950s, various sections in the southeastern and central areas of the LP were upgraded to freeways, bypassing several major cities in the area. These improvements were completed by the end of the 1960s. Since then a new crossing of the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee was built to replace a drawbridge that carried the I-75/US 23 freeway over a shipping channel.

Various memorial or tourist route designations have been applied to US 23 in the state since the 1980s. The highway has been a part of the Lake Huron Circle Tour since that program's creation in 1986. The non-freeway section was designated the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in 2004 as a part of the Michigan Heritage Route program. The highway has also carried two memorial designations related to war veterans and a third related to local civic leaders since a 2001 consolidation of related legislation in the state. MDOT has listed two of the highway's bridges one its historic bridge list, one of which is also on the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP). Future improvements to the route of US 23 include a proposed northerly extension of the freeway from Standish to one of several locations along the Lake Huron shoreline. Another freeway has been proposed in the Flint area that could connect US 23 directly to the south end of I-475.

Contents

[edit] Route description

US 23 runs for 362.33 miles (583.11 km) through the LP of Michigan, serving as a freeway bypass to the west of Metro Detroit and a scenic highway through the northern portion of the state along Lake Huron. Between Flint and Standish, US 23 runs concurrently with I-75.[3] Like other state trunkline highways, it is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). All of US 23 in the state south of the M-32 junction in Alpena has been listed on the National Highway System,[4] a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.[5] From the Standish area north, the highway is also a part of the Lake Huron Circle Tour and the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway, a Michigan Heritage Route.[3]

[edit] Southeastern Michigan

Photograph of the water tower in Dundee emblazoned with the Cabela's logo.
The water tower next to the freeway in Dundee is a local landmark for the area.

US 23 enters Michigan on a freeway northwest of Toledo, Ohio, concurrent with US 223. This freeway runs north through farm fields in rural western Monroe County near Lambertville. About 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the state line, US 223 leaves the freeway and turns west onto St. Anthony Road; US 23 continues northward on the freeway. South of Dundee, US 23 crosses the River Raisin before coming to an interchange with M-50 next to the Cabela's store west of town. North of town, the freeway passes near an industrial area.[3][6] Farther north, it crosses a line of the Ann Arbor Railroad[7] near Azalia as the trunkline runs to the east of Milan at the Monroe-Washtenaw county line.[3][6] North of Milan, the freeway crosses a line of the Norfolk Southern Railway.[7]

The landscape takes on a more suburban residential character as the freeway approaches the Ann Arbor area. There are separate interchanges for US 12 (Michigan Avenue) and I-94 on the southeast side of the city. Between I-94 and Washtenaw Avenue, US 23 carries the Business Loop I-94 (BL I-94) moniker as well. That secondary designation leaves the freeway and runs west on Washtenaw Avenue into downtown Ann Arbor and the campus of the University of Michigan. At the same interchange, a Business US 23 (BUS US 23) designation also follows Washtenaw Avenue to the west; east of US 23, M-17 follows Washtenaw Avenue and connects the freeway with Ypsilanti. North of this interchange, US 23 crosses the Huron River near the campus of the local community college and continues north to a junction with the M-14 freeway. The two merge and run westward along the north side of the city before US 23 turns north and M-14 curves south.[3][6]

North of Ann Arbor, the freeway runs through woodlands and near several lakes. In Whitmore Lake, US 23 crosses into Livingston County near the city's namesake body of water. East of Brighton, the freeway intersects I-96 and continues north to an intersection with M-59 south of Hartland. The highway turns northeasterly by Runyon Lake and runs toward the city of Fenton. The trunkline passes through town and bends back toward the northwest, running between lakes Ponemah and Fenton. Continuing north, the environment around US 23 transitions to rural farm fields as the freeway approaches the south side of the Flint area.[3][6]

[edit] Flint and the Tri-Cities area

Photograph showing
I-75/US 23 northbound approaching the Zilwaukee Bridge near Saginaw

Southwest of Grand Blanc, US 23 meets I-75, and the two freeways merge near the Bishop International Airport and continue along the west side of the Flint metro area.[3][6] I-75/US 23 has an interchange with I-69 near the crossing with the Canadian National Railway line.[7] Continuing northwards through suburban residential areas, the highway crosses the Flint River while running along the west side of the city. In Mount Morris Township, the freeway intersects the northern end of I-475 before meeting M-57 near Clio.[3][6] The highest traffic totals along US 23 in the state of Michigan were recorded by MDOT near the M-57 interchange; in 2009 an average 68,800 vehicles used that section of freeway daily.[8] These traffic counts are expressed in terms of annual average daily traffic (AADT), which is a statistical calculation of the average daily number of vehicles on a segment of roadway.

Near Birch Run, the highway turns northwesterly next to a large outlet mall. Between here and the Saginaw area, the freeway runs through more wooded lands, crossing the Cass River near Bridgeport. I-75/US 23 enters the Tri-Cities (named for Saginaw, Bay City and Midland) when it bypasses Saginaw to the east. The freeway intersects M-46 in the suburb of Buena Vista south of the junction with I-675. North of downtown Saginaw, the freeway crosses the Saginaw River on the Zilwaukee Bridge,[3][6] a "post-tensioned, segmental, [concrete] box girder bridge"[9] that is "infamous" for a series of "construction mishaps, cost overruns, and government foibles."[10]

Past the bridge, I-75/US 23 meets the northern end of I-675 and continues through fields and woods to the Bay City area. At exit 162, the freeway meets the eastern terminus of US 10 and the western terminus of M-25 west of downtown. The next interchange north is with the Connector M-13 (CONN M-13) freeway, which was the previous northern end of US 23's freeway in Michigan. The connector runs due northward, and I-75/US 23 turns northwesterly to bypass around Kawkawlin. The highway veers north, crosses the Kawkawlin River and the Pinconning Creek before coming an interchange southwest of Standish. There, US 23 curves east, separating from I-75. US 23 continues for about three miles (4.8 km) as a freeway which ends at the intersection with M-13 south of Standish.[3][6] The lowest AADT along any freeway section of US 23 in Michigan is the section immediately east of I-75; here the traffic levels drop from 20,763 to 4,466 vehicles per day after US 23 separates from I-75.[8]

[edit] Northern Michigan

US 23 runs north from the end of its freeway along Huron Road through the community of Standish. The trunkline turns northeasterly through lakeshore woodlands after the intersection with Old M-76.[3][6] Northeast of this intersection, the highest, non-freeway AADT level on US 23 was recorded by MDOT at 16,757 vehicles daily.[8] Running through Omer, the highway crosses the Rifle River[3][6] and a line of the Lake State Railway.[7] In between the two crossings, it curves due east on its way out of town. At Hale Road, US 23 meets the southern end of M-65 before it continues east to Au Gres, where it runs along the Saginaw Bay and crosses the Au Gres River. Huron Road meanders northward along the lakeshore, staying inland near Point Lookout. US 23 runs through woods as it follows the Saginaw Bays shoreline northeasterly through Alabaster to Tawas City. The highway intersects the eastern terminus of M-55, runs north and east around Tawas Bay to East Tawas and follows the Lake Huron shoreline to Oscoda.[3][6] Through this area, US 23 runs parallel to the Lake State Railway and crosses into the Huron National Forest.[7][11]

Oscoda is the location of the eastern termini of both the River Road National Scenic Byway and County Road F-41. In between those two junctions, the highway crosses the Au Sable River near its mouth, and the trunkline passes by the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Huron Road continues north, running next to Van Etten Lake as it leaves the national forest. Further north, it runs along Cedar Lake when it crosses into Alcona County.[6][11] The highway meets the eastern termini of F-30 and M-72 in Greenbush and Harrisville respectively. It also passes Harrisville State Park in the latter community. The highway shifts a bit further inland north of Harrisville, continuing to parallel the railroad through the Mackinaw State Forest. Near Ossineke, the trunkline turns back toward the lake, running along the shoreline of Thunder Bay.[3][6]

When US 23 enters Alpena, it follows State Street through town and turns northwesterly on Chisholm Street. The intersection of Chisholm and Washington streets marks the eastern terminus of M-32. Chisholm Street runs along the Thunder Bay River and crosses the river near Lake Besser. The highway leaves town and runs through rural woodlands to the south shore of Long Lake, curving around the eastern side of the lake. Near the northern end of the lake, US 23 crosses into Presque Isle County and runs along the west shore of Grand Lake. At the north end of that lake, the highway turns west along the Lake Huron shoreline near Thompson's Harbor State Park. The trunkline continues to Rogers City where it bypasses town to the south and west, intersecting F-21 and M-68 in the process; BUS US 23 runs through downtown. On the other side of Rogers City, US 23 runs along the lake past Hoeft State Park and along Hammond Bay before crossing into Cheboygan County.[3][6] This area had the lowest AADT levels in 2009 at 1,097 vehicles per day.[8]

Photograph in Cheboygan of
The drawbridge that carries US 23 across the Cheboygan River

US 23 follows the Lake Huron shoreline through Cheboygan County through woodlands past Cheboygan State Park and Duncan Bay. On the eastern edge of Cheboygan the highway intersects F-05 before following State Street through a commercial district. State Street crosses the Cheboygan River on the Cheboygan Bascule Bridge near the mouth of the river and the dock for the USCGC Mackinaw. On the west side of the river, US 23 meets the northern terminus of M-27 at the intersection with Main Street. State Street continues westerly as C-66 as US 23 turns north on Main Street for a block before resuming west on Mackinaw Avenue. The highway continues along the lake toward Mackinaw City. As it approaches the village, it passes Historic Mill Creek State Park and several motels. At Nicolet Street in town, the highway crosses into Emmet County for the short distance to the highway's national northern terminus at I-75's exit 338.[3][6]

[edit] History

[edit] Early history

Before Michigan became a state, the first land transportation corridors were the Indian trails.[12] The original Shore Trail ran roughly parallel to the route of the modern US 23 from the Bay City area to Cheboygan. Another section of the current highway followed the Saginaw Trail between Flint and Saginaw.[13]

Later, during the auto trail era, the modern US 23 also coincided with the east branch of the Dixie Highway and part of the Lower Peninsula section of the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway. The Dixie Highway was created by William S. Gilbreath after he developed the Lincoln Highway. The highway was designed to link the Great Lakes with the Gulf of Mexico, and to commemorate a half century of peace between the North and the South after the American Civil War. At the urging of Governor Woodbridge Ferris, the northern terminus was located at the Straits of Mackinac. The highway had two branches in the Lower Peninsula; the eastern branch followed what later became US 23 north of Standish.[14] The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway named for former US president Theodore Roosevelt after his death in 1919. Overall, this highway ran from Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine, by way of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. In Michigan, it also followed US 23 north of Standish.[15]

The highway was also part of the East Michigan Pike, designed to be a counterpart of the West Michigan Pike on the other side of the LP. The original route of the East Michigan Pike included a section along the coast of The Thumb between Bay City and Port Huron and used the same route as the Dixie Highway north of Bay City. Backers of this auto trail lost out in terms of name recognition to the Dixie Highway, relegating the East Michigan Pike to the list of failed auto trails.[16] The southern part of what is now US 23 in the state was also part of the auto trail craze. The Top of Michigan Trail was designated in 1917 from the state line north to the Bay City area, before turning inland along other roadways. The name faded from shortly after the time the Michigan State Highway Department assigned the first highway numbers in the state.[17]

The first state highways along the US 23 corridor were numbered M-65 from the Ohio line north to the Flint area and M-10 from Flint north to Mackinaw City by July 1, 1919.[18][a] When originally designated, M-65 was in two sections: the southern segment ran from the Ohio state line north to the Dundee area; the northern section ran between Ann Arbor and Flint by way of Brighton and Fenton.[18] The gap between the two segments was eliminated by the middle of 1926.[20]

[edit] United States Numbered Highways

US 23 was commissioned on November 11, 1926,[1] with the debut of the United States Numbered Highway System.[21] The Michigan State Highway Department (MSHD)[b] removed the M-10 and M-65 designations from the highway at the time. As it was originally designated, US 23 crossed into Michigan from Ohio south of Temperance and ran north to Ypsilanti via Maybee. Once the highway entered Ann Arbor, it followed the roads that preceded the modern freeway up to Flint. From Flint to Saginaw, US 23 ran concurrently with US 10. On the way north to Bay City, the highway ran on the west side of the Saginaw River before turning north to the Standish area. From Standish to Mackinaw City, US 23 initially took a more inland route through the northeastern LP.[24]

Starting in 1929, MSHD started updating the route that US 23 followed through the Lower Peninsula. Late that year, the routing was moved to the east side of the Saginaw River, and M-47 was extended along the former course on the west side of the river.[25][26] During 1930, a set of changes realigned the highway's route through the southeast corner of the state. Near Ida, US 23 was rerouted along M-50 to Dundee and north through Milan to Ann Arbor, bypassing Maybee and Whittaker.[27] US 23 was moved from its inland routing between Omer and Tawas City via Whittemore to follow a shoreline alignment by way of Au Gres along Saginaw Bay around 1932; the former route through Twining and Whittemore became an extension of M-65 and the section from Whittemore east to Tawas City was added to M-55 as a part of these changes.[28][29]

In 1932, US 23 was moved closer to the lakeshore between Spruce and Alpena; the former routing was redesignated M-171.[29] The highway was also moved to a route closer to the lakeshore between Tawas City and Oscoda, with part of the old inland route taking the designation Old US 23.[30][31] A few years later in 1936, US 23 replaced M-72 between Oscoda and Harrisville and followed a new roadway north to the Spruce area. The M-171 designation was removed from its original routing and applied to the 1932 routing of US 23 by way of Mikado and Lincoln.[32][33] In the middle of 1937, US 27 was extended concurrently along US 23 between Cheboygan and Mackinaw City.[34][35] Around the end of the decade, US 23's routing was moved in another location to follow the lakeshore; this time the highway was rerouted between Alpena and Rogers City. M-65 was extended northwards from Lachine through Posen to terminate over the former US 23 routing.[36][37]

US 23 was moved to its current lakeshore routing between Rogers City and Cheboygan in 1940, and M-33 was extended westerly from Onaway to Afton and north to Cheboygan over the former US 23 roadway while M-68 was extended eastward through Onaway to Rogers City.[38][39] In early 1941, a bridge across the Saginaw River connecting Salzburg and Lafayette avenues in Bay City was added to the route of US 23 in the city; at the same time the former routing was redesignated BUS US 23.[40][41] The highway was also realigned between Hartland and Fenton in 1941.[42][43] By 1945, the northernmost segment of M-65 downtown Rogers City was redesignated BUS US 23, and M-65 was truncated to its junction with US 23 southeast of town, removing the concurrency that existed since 1940.[44] North of Dundee, a more direct alignment to Azalia was added to US 23, turning the former routing back to local control in late 1947 or early 1948; at the same time, the last gravel section of the highway was paved near Hammond Bay in northwestern Presque Isle County.[45][46]

[edit] Freeway conversion

Photograph of the building that houses the
Rest area and welcome center near Samaria in Monroe County

One of the first pieces of what would later become part of US 23's freeway route was completed in late 1951 or early 1952, when a two-lane bypass was built around the eastern side of Milan.[47][48] Two years later, a similar bypass was built from Bridgeport to M-81 on the east side of Saginaw, with the old route becoming a BUS US 23 designation.[49][50] Both bypasses would later be upgraded to four-lane freeways by 1961, with the Saginaw one later incorporated into the route of I-75.[51] When the Mackinac Bridge opened on November 1, 1957, US 23, US 27 and US 31 were extended along the access roadways to the foot of the bridge.[52]

The first future freeway portion of US 23 was built in 1957 from north of Ann Arbor to Whitmore Lake as a divided highway.[53][54] On June 30, 1958, the first stretch of the "Fenton–Clio Expressway" opened, stretching from Fenton to Birch Run.[55] The freeway connection from Dundee south to Ohio was opened on October 1, 1959.[56] In late 1959, the portion from Flint to Birch Run also gained the I-75 designation.[57]

In late 1960 or early 1961, a new I-75/US 23/US 10 freeway was built from the north end of the Saginaw bypass to Kawkawlin, utilizing the Zilwaukee drawbridge (later replaced by the Zilwaukee Bridge) over the Saginaw River; when it opened, MSHD extended M-13 along the former route of US 23 from the northside of Saginaw into Bay City to the end of the freeway at Kawkawlin. Another section connected the Whittemore Lake area with Brighton in the same timeframe.[51][58] By the end of the year, freeway sections opened to bypass Saginaw south and ran south to Birch Run, another connected south from Fenton to Hartland, and a third connected Milan with Dundee.[59] The remaining gaps were eliminated with additional freeway openings in 1962: Brighton to Hartland opened in September,[60] and Milan to Ann Arbor opened in November.[61]

The I-75/US 23 freeway north of the Kawkawlin area to Standish opened in 1967, and M-13 was shown on maps following US 23's former route through Linwood and Pinconning after the change.[62][63] MSHD requested that US 23 north of Standish be included in the Interstate Highway System in 1968; if the addition had been approved, federal funding would have been available for additional freeway conversions.[64] Once the last piece of I-75 was completed along the M-76 corridor, the I-75 designation was extended north of Bay City on US 23 in 1973.[65][66]

The MSHD first proposed a realignment of US 223 in 1965; this change would reroute that highway to replace M-151 in southern Monroe County, and use the US 23 freeway to connect to Sylvania, Ohio.[67] The rerouting change was made in 1977 when Michigan shifted its segment of US 223 as proposed twelve years prior. Instead of running south through Ottawa Lake, US 223 continued east to the US 23 freeway and south into Ohio.[68][69]

The original bridge across the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee was built in 1960 as a bascule bridge to allow shipping traffic to use the river. Opening the drawbridge would back traffic up on I-75/US 10/US 23 for upwards of four hours on holiday weekends.[70] Approved in 1974, construction on the replacement bridge started in October 1979. A major construction accident in August 1982 delayed completion of the new Zilwaukee Bridge; a bridge pier partially collapsed when contractors overloaded a section under construction. The affected 300-foot (91 m) deck segment tilted to rest three feet (0.91 m) higher on one end and five feet (1.5 m) lower on the other.[9] The structure was originally supposed to cost $76.8 million with a 1983 completion date; in the end it cost $131.3 million when the southbound span finally opened on September 19, 1988.[71]

While that construction was being done, MDOT truncated US 10 at Bay City in 1986; this removed the concurrency between US 10 and US 23 that existed since 1926.[72][73]

[edit] Future

As early as 1992, plans were studied to build a new US 23 freeway from Standish northerly to Tawas City, Oscoda or Alpena. This proposal was brought up due to a high level of tourist traffic along the current routing since the mid 1960s.[74] As of 2012, no plans have been moved toward implementation. Officials in the Flint area have proposed extending a freeway to directly connect I-475 to US 23. Such an extension, if built, would "include a new freeway coming out of I-475, which would snake across Fenton and Cook roads before connecting into US 23 at Baldwin Road."[75]

[edit] Memorial highway designations and tourist routes

Most of US 23, along with US 2 in the Upper Peninsula, has been designated the United Spanish War Veterans Memorial Highway. The designation was conferred in Public Act 207 of 1945, with companion legislation for US 2 in 1949. Signs marking the highway were not erected until 1968 when Governor George W. Romney had them installed.[76]

North of Standish, US 23 is a part of the Lake Huron Circle Tour (LHCT).[3] This tour was created in May 1986 as part of the overall Great Lakes Circle Tour through a joint effort between MDOT and its counterparts in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario.[77]

When the Michigan State Legislature consolidated the statutes defining the various memorial highways in 2001, they included the Veterans of World War I Memorial Highway in the law. Defined along I-75/US 23 between Saginaw and Bay City, the designation was included in Public Act 142.[78] That act also affected another previously designated moniker between the two cities. The Roberts-Linton Highway was named in 1931 for local leaders who championed the construction of a highway along the Saginaw River. This name was applied to the original highway routing between Saginaw and Bay City (now a part of M-13). After the 2001 change, the name was moved to the US 23 freeway.[79]

In May 2004, the highway north of Standish was named the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway, a Michigan Heritage Route.[80] At the end of 2011, the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) was working on funding a tourist promotion called "Telling Stories of the Sunrise Coast" through the US 23 Heritage Route Interpretive Program. Past efforts by NEMCOG included print media, logos, and other marketing efforts.[81]

[edit] Historic bridges

MDOT maintains a listing of the historic bridges in the state; along US 23, the department has listed two structures. The bridge over the Ocqueoc River in Ocqueoc Township in Presque Isle County was built in 1937. The 106-foot-long (32 m) structure is one of the last three deck truss bridges in the state.[82] The roadway on the bridge is 38 feet (11.6 m) wide and carries two lanes of traffic. The bridge was reconstructed in 1994.[83]

The second bridge is the Cheboygan Bascule Bridge in Cheboygan. This bascule bridge was built in 1940 over the Cheboygan River as the last of its kind before World War II. It was built as a "two-leaf bridge in a place where a single-leaf bridge probably would have sufficed."[84] The initial construction of the structure was delayed when the contractor died, but it was completed in December 1940. It was the second moveable bridge on the site, replacing an iron swing bridge built in 1877.[84] The structure is 155 feet (47 m) long, composed of two 42-foot (13 m) spans on either side of the central 70-foot (21 m) span; the roadway is 40 feet (12 m) wide with four lanes for vehicle traffic. There are also pedestrian sidewalks on either side of the roadway. When the bridge is opened to allow river traffic to pass, boats have a 60-foot-wide (18 m) channel for navigation.[85] The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 9, 1999,[86] and reconstructed in 2003.[84]

[edit] Exit list

County Location Mile[2] km Exit Destinations Notes
Monroe
 Whiteford Township 0.00 0.00 US 23 south / US 223 south – Toledo Ohio state line
1.48 2.38 1 Sterns Road
2.99 4.81 3 Consear Road – Ottawa Lake
5.11 8.22 5 US 223 north – Blissfield, Adrian Northern end of US 223 concurrency
Summerfield Township 8.73 14.05 9 Summerfield Road
13.19 21.23 13 Ida West Road – Petersburg
Dundee Township 15.33 24.67 15 Lloyd Road Northbound exit and southbound entrance via Dixon Road
Dundee 16.69 26.86 17 M-50 – Jackson, Monroe
Milan Township 21.89 35.23 22 Cone Road – Azalia
Milan 25.15 40.48 25 Plank Road — Downtown Milan
Washtenaw
 26.65 42.89 27 Carpenter Road
York Township 30.64 49.31 31 Willis Road – Willis, Saline
Pittsfield Township 34.02 54.75 34 US 12 (Michigan Avenue) – Saline, Ypsilanti
Ann Arbor 35.37 56.92 35 I-94 – Detroit, Chicago
BL I-94 west		 Southern end of BL I-94 concurrency
37.39 60.17 37
BL I-94 west / BUS US 23 north – Downtown Ann Arbor
M-17 east – Ypsilanti		 Northern end of BL I-94 concurrency; signed as exits 37A (M-17) and 37B (BL I-94 and BUS US 23)
38.89 62.59 39 Geddes Road
41.27 66.42 41 Plymouth Road
42.49 68.38 42 M-14 east – Plymouth, Livonia Eastern end of M-14 concurrency
Ann Arbor Township 45.01 72.44 45
BUS US 23 south / M-14 west – Downtown Ann Arbor		 Western end of M-14 concurrency
Northfield Township 49.07 78.97 49 North Territorial Road
50.18 80.76 50 6 Mile Road – Whitmore Lake
52.15 83.93 52 Barker Road Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Washtenaw–
Livingston
 Northfield Township –
Green Oak Township		 52.59 84.64 53 8 Mile Road – Downtown Whitmore Lake
Livingston
 Green Oak Township 53.76 86.52 54 M-36 – South Lyon, Pinckney, Hamburg Signed as exits 54A (east) and 54B (west) northbound
55.48 89.29 55 Silver Lake Road
58.14 93.57 58 Lee Road
Brighton 59.45 95.68 60 I-96 – Detroit, Brighton, Lansing Signed as exits 60A (east) and 60B (west)
Hartland Township 67.28 108.28 67 M-59 – Howell, Pontiac
70.35 113.22 70 Clyde Road – Clyde
Tyrone Township 74.51 119.91 75 Center Road
76.83 123.65 77 White Lake Road
Genesee
 Fenton 78.43 126.22 78 Owen Road – Downtown Fenton
79.55 128.02 79 Silver Lake Road – Downtown Fenton, Linden
79.87 128.54 80 Torrey Road, North Road
Fenton Township 83.76 134.80 84 Thompson Road
Mundy Township 87.55 140.90 88 Grand Blanc Road – Grand Blanc
89.58 144.17 90 Hill Road Connector to I-475
90.27 145.28 115 I-75 south – Detroit, Toledo Southern end of I-75 overlap; US 23 follows I-75 exit numbers
Flint 91.61 147.43 116 Bristol Road Signed as exits 116A (east) and 116B (west) southbound; former M-121, exit to Bishop International Airport
Flint Township 92.51 148.88 117 I-69 / Miller Road – Port Huron, Lansing Signed as exits 117A (I-69) and 117B (Miller Road)
94.03 151.33 118 M-21 (Corunna Road) – Owosso
Mount Morris Township 98.24 158.10 122 Pierson Road – Flushing
100.70 162.06 125 I-475 south – Downtown Flint
102.25 164.56 126 Mt. Morris
Vienna Township 106.34 171.14 131 M-57 – Clio, Montrose
Saginaw
 Birch Run 111.41 179.30 136 M-54 south / M-83 north – Birch Run, Frankenmuth Northern terminus of M-54, southern terminus of M-83
Bridgeport Township 119.81 192.82 144 Frankenmuth, Bridgeport Signed as exits 144A (Frankenmuth) and 144B (Bridgeport) northbound
Buena Vista Township 124.53 200.41 149 M-46 (Holland Avenue) – Sandusky, Buena Vista Signed as exits 149A (Sandusky) and 149B (Buena Vista)
125.83 202.50 150 I-675 north – Downtown Saginaw
127.01 204.40 151 M-81 – Caro, Reese
129.26 208.02 153 M-13 (East Bay City Road) – Saginaw
Saginaw River Zilwaukee Bridge
Zilwaukee 130.19 209.52 154 Zilwaukee
Zilwaukee Township 131.09 210.97 155 I-675 south – Downtown Saginaw
Bay
 Frankenlust Township 135.43 217.95 160 M-84 (Saginaw Road)
Monitor Township 137.94 221.99 162 US 10 west – Clare
M-25 / BL I-75 east – Downtown Bay City		 Signed as 162A (US 10) and 162B (M-25); BS I-75 is not signed
139.46 224.44 164
CONN M-13 / Wilder Road – Kawkawlin
Kawkawlin Township 144.18 232.04 168 Beaver Road
Fraser Township 149.14 240.02 173 Linwood Road – Linwood
Pinconning Township 157.15 252.91 181 Pinconning Road – Pinconning
Arenac
 Lincoln Township 163.73 263.50 188 I-75 north – Mackinac Bridge Northern end of I-75 concurrency
Standish 166.12 267.34 M-13 south – Bay City Freeway ends; northern terminus of M-13
168.40 271.01 M-61 west – Gladwin Eastern terminus of M-61
Omer 177.86 286.24 M-65 north – Twining Southern terminus of M-65
Iosco
 Tawas City 204.25 328.71 M-55 west – West Branch, Houghton Lake Eastern terminus of M-55
Oscoda 220.71 355.20 F-41 north – Mikado Southern terminus of F-41
Alcona
 Greenbush 231.84 373.11 F-30 west Eastern terminus of F-30
Harrisville 236.63 380.82 M-72 west – Grayling, Traverse City Eastern terminus of M-72
Alcona Township 251.78 405.20 F-41 south – Lincoln Northern terminus of F-41
Alpena
 Alpena 268.43 432.00 M-32 west – Atlanta, Gaylord Eastern terminus of M-32
Presque Isle
 Pulawski Township 297.52 478.81 M-65 south – Posen Northern terminus of M-65
Rogers Township 303.36 488.21
BUS US 23 north – Downtown Rogers City		 Southern terminus of BUS US 23
Rogers City 305.67 491.93 F-21 south – Hillman Northern terminus of F-21
305.94 492.36 M-68 – Onaway, Downtown Rogers City
306.86 493.84
BUS US 23 south (3rd Street) – Downtown Rogers City		 Northern terminus of BUS US 23
Cheboygan
 Benton Township 344.69 554.72 F-05 south Northern terminus of F-05
Cheboygan 346.83 558.17 M-27 south (Main Street) – Indian River
C-66 west (State Street)		 Northern terminus of M-27; eastern terminus of C-66
Cheboygan–
Emmet
 Mackinaw City 362.17 582.86 Nicolet Street Former M-108 on the county line
Emmet
 362.33 583.11 I-75 north – Mackinac Bridge Exit 338 on I-75; northbound exit and southbound entrance
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •      Concurrency terminus
  •      Closed/Former
  •      HOV
  •      Incomplete access
  •      ETC only
  •      Unopened

[edit] See also

Portal icon Michigan Highways portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The first state highways in Michigan were signed in 1919.[19]
  2. ^ The Michigan State Highway Department was reorganized into the Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation on August 23, 1973,[22] and the name was later shortened to its current form in 1978.[23]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Weingroff, Richard F. (January 9, 2009). "From Names to Numbers: The Origins of the U.S. Numbered Highway System". Highway History. Federal Highway Administration. http://wwwcf.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/numbers.cfm. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Michigan Department of Transportation (2009). MDOT Physical Reference Finder Application (Map). Cartography by Michigan Center for Geographic Information. http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/prfinder/. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Michigan Department of Transportation (2010). Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). 1 in:15 mi/1 cm:9 km. Section D10–N12.
  4. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (April 23, 2006) (PDF). National Highway System, Michigan (Map). http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MDOT_NHS_Statewide_150626_7.pdf. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  5. ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Google Inc. Google Maps – Overview Map of US 23 in Michigan (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-223+N%2FUS-23+N&daddr=44.51804,-83.31942+to:45.71395,-84.58677+to:Unknown+road&hl=en&geocode=FZayfAIdBAMD-w%3BFZhKpwIdhKUI-ynpYdB6vEAniDEhlNaRYPQebw%3BFR6KuQId7k71-ildB0LSM5I1TTHLdMnxHGdOYQ%3BFfZyugIdww_z-g&mra=ls&via=1,2&sll=45.755308,-84.725275&sspn=0.055994,0.058193&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=7. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e Michigan Department of Transportation (April 2009) (PDF). Michigan's Railroad System (Map). http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MDOT_Official_Rail_130897_7.pdf. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d Bureau of Transportation Planning (2008). "Traffic Monitoring Information System". Michigan Department of Transportation. http://mdotnetpublic.state.mi.us/tmispublic/. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Hyde, p. 168.
  10. ^ Banas, Teri (September 15, 1987). "Bridge Makes City Famous: Residents Say Life is Good in Zilwaukee". Argus-Press. Associated Press (Owosso, MI): p. 29. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8V0iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=76kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1261,1191950&dq=zilwaukee+bridge+infamous&hl=en.
  11. ^ a b Rand McNally (2008). The Road Atlas (Map) (2008 ed.). pp. 50–1, section F8–T11. ISBN 0-528-93981-5.
  12. ^ Morrison, p. 1.
  13. ^ Mason, p. 18.
  14. ^ Barnett, pp. 74–5.
  15. ^ Barnett, pp. 211–2.
  16. ^ Barnett, p. 80.
  17. ^ Barnett, p. 213
  18. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department (July 1, 1919). State of Michigan: Lower Peninsula (Map). Cartography by MSHD.
  19. ^ "Michigan May Do Well Following Wisconsin's Road Marking System". The Grand Rapids Press: p. 10. September 20, 1919.
  20. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (September 1, 1926). Official Highway Service Map (Map). Cartography by MSHD.
  21. ^ Bureau of Public Roads (1926) (PDF). United States System of Highways (Map). http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/misc-maps/1926us.pdf. Retrieved May 10, 2008.
  22. ^ Kulsea, p. 27.
  23. ^ Kulsea, pp. 30–1.
  24. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (December 1, 1926). Official Highway Service Map (Map). Cartography by MSHD.
  25. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (May 1, 1929). Official Highway Service Map (Map). Cartography by MSHD.
  26. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (January 1, 1930). Official Highway Service Map (Map). Cartography by H.M. Gousha.
  27. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (November 1, 1930). Official Highway Service Map (Map). Cartography by H.M. Gousha.
  28. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1931). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally.
  29. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1932). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally.
  30. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (May 1, 1933). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally.
  31. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (September 1, 1934). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally.
  32. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (June 1, 1936). 1936 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally. Section G13–H13.
  33. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (December 15, 1936). 1936/7 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Winter ed.). Section G13–H13.
  34. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (May 15, 1937). 1937 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Summer ed.). Section E10.
  35. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (December 1, 1937). 1937/8 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Winter ed.). Section E10.
  36. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (December 1, 1939). 1939 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Winter ed.). Section E12–F12.
  37. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1940). 1940 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Summer ed.). Section E12–F12.
  38. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (July 15, 1940). 1940 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Summer ed.). Section F11–F12.
  39. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (December 1, 1940). 1940 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Winter ed.). Section F11–F12.
  40. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (December 1, 1940). 1940 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Winter ed.). Bay City inset.
  41. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (March 21, 1941). 1941 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Spring ed.). Bay City inset.
  42. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (March 21, 1941). 1941 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Spring ed.). Section L12.
  43. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (July 1, 1941). 1941 Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally (Summer ed.). Section L12.
  44. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1945). Official Highway Map of Michigan (Map). Section E12.
  45. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (May 1, 1947). 1947 Official Highway Map (Map). Section E11, N12.
  46. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1948). Michigan Official Highway Map (Map). Section E11, N12.
  47. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (July 1, 1951). 1951 Official Highway Map (Map). Section N12.
  48. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1952). 1952 Official Highway Map (Map). Section N12.
  49. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1953). 1953 Official Highway Map (Map). Saginaw inset.
  50. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1953). 1953 Official Highway Map (Map). Saginaw inset.
  51. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department (1961). Official Highway Map (Map). (Includes all changes through July 1, 1961)
  52. ^ "Williams Leads First Caravan Across Bridge". Ludington Daily News. Associated Press: p. 1. November 1, 1957. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X6wwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UzwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6051,2798148&dq=mackinac+bridge&hl=en.
  53. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (April 1, 1957). 1957 Official Highway Map (Map). Section M12.
  54. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1957). 1957 Official Highway Map (Map). Section M12.
  55. ^ "Fenton–Clio X-Way Big Time Saver". Argus-Press. Associated Press (Owosso, MI): p. 9. June 28, 1958. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_lIvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JasFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5987,7380675&dq=fenton-clio+expressway&hl=en. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  56. ^ "Formal opening of US 23 strip set for October 1". Toledo Blade: p. 37. September 23, 1959. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_uEpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8QAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6402,3559955&dq=us-23+michigan&hl=en. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  57. ^ "Michigan Delays Road Number System". Toledo Blade: p. 11. June 4, 1959. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mb1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7401,5582043&dq=interstate+opening+michigan&hl=en. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  58. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1960). Official Highway Map (Map). Section K12–L12, M12. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1960)
  59. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1962). Official Highway Map (Map). Section J12–K12, L12, N12.
  60. ^ "US 23 Link Opens North of Ann Arbor". Toledo Blade: p. 13. September 29, 1962. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZQswAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NQEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3916,1874568&dq=us+23+freeway&hl=en. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  61. ^ "Freeway Section from Milan Opens". Toledo Blade. Associated Press: p. 1. November 2, 1962. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bb5OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NgEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1808,609931&dq=us+23+freeway&hl=en. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  62. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways (1967). Official Highway Map (Map). Section I12–J12.
  63. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways (1968). Official Highway Map (Map). Section I12–J12.
  64. ^ "Highway Additions Requested By State". Argus-Press. Associated Press (Owosso, MI): p. 7. November 14, 1968. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tTciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X6sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3348,1518663&dq=us+131+freeway&hl=en. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
  65. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways (1973). Official Highway Map (Map). 1 in:14.5 mi. Section H10–J12.
  66. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation (1974). Official Highway Map (Map). 1 in:14.5 mi. Section H10–J12.
  67. ^ "Michigan Asks To Reroute US 223". Toledo Blade: p. 29. September 9, 1965. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dT0xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZgEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1715,4741443&dq=us+223+michigan&hl=en. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  68. ^ Ohio Department of Transportation (1977) (MrSID). Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOT. Section E2–F3. http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/TransSysDev/Innovation/prod_services/Documents/StateMaps/otm1977a.sid. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  69. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation (1978). Official Transportation Map (Map). 1 in:14.5 mi/1 in:23 km (1978–1979 ed.). Section N12.
  70. ^ Hyde, p. 166.
  71. ^ Staff writer (September 19, 1988). "Zilwaukee Bridge Now Open North, South—Partly". Toledo Blade: p. 1. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C3BRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zw0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3349,13274&dq=zilwaukee+bridge&hl=en.
  72. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (1986). Official Transportation Map (Map). 1 in:14.5 mi/1 in:23 km. Section J12–K12.
  73. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (1987). Official Transportation Map (Map). 1 in:14.5 mi/1 in:23 km. Section J12–K12.
  74. ^ Staff (February 1999). "Final Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Evaluation for the Proposed US 23 Freeway Extension Project Phase I: Arenac and Iosco Counties, Michigan (Executive Summary)" (PDF). Michigan Department of Transportation. http://www.michiganhighways.org/indepth/US-23_Executive_Summary.pdf. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  75. ^ Bush, Allison (December 8, 2010). "Officials Reveal Plans for Possible Extension of I-475 to US 23; Residents Share Concerns". Flint Journal. http://www.mlive.com/grandblanc/index.ssf/2010/12/i-475_extension.html. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  76. ^ Barnett, pp. 216–7.
  77. ^ Davis, R. Matt (May 1, 1986). "Signs to Mark Lake Circle Tour". The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI): p. 16.
  78. ^ Barnett, p. 229.
  79. ^ Barnett, pp. 189–90.
  80. ^ "US 23 Heritage Route Gets Official Designation". Iosco County News-Herald (East Tawas, MI). May 12, 2004. http://www.iosconews.com/articles/2004/05/12/news/news03.txt. Retrieved April 2011.
  81. ^ Jankoviak, Shawna (November 25, 2011). "Board Votes To Support US 23 Tourism Promotion". Cheboygan Daily Tribune: p. A3.
  82. ^ Staff (May 14, 2002). "US 23 – Ocqueoc River". Michigan's Historic Bridges. Michigan Department of Transportation. http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620_11154_11188-29187--,00.html. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  83. ^ Staff (2010). "71171073000B020". National Bridge Inventory. Federal Highway Administration. http://nationalbridges.com/index.php?option=com_lqm&25dd3370639c4c9111cbd51535ec81c2=1&task=showResults&query=8&lqm_id=287812&&format=raw&&Itemid=2. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  84. ^ a b c Friday, Matthew (December 7, 2011). "Bridging Our Local History". Mackinac Journal. Archived from the original on April 29, 2012. http://www.mackinacjournal.com/history/x731452626/Bridging-our-local-history. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  85. ^ Staff (July 5, 2005). "US 23 – Cheboygan River". Michigan's Historic Bridges. Michigan Department of Transportation. http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620_11154_11188-26658--,00.html. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  86. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. Retrieved December 20, 2011.

[edit] Works cited

  • Barnett, LeRoy (2004). A Drive Down Memory Lane: The Named State and Federal Highways of Michigan. Allegan Forest, MI: The Priscilla Press. ISBN 1-886167-24-9.
  • Hyde, Charles K. (1993). Historic Highway Bridges of Michigan. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-2448-7.
  • Kulsea, Bill; Shawver, Tom; Kach, Carol (1980). Making Michigan Move: A History of Michigan Highways and the Michigan Department of Transportation. Lansing, Michigan: Michigan Department of Transportation. OCLC 8169232.
  • Mason, Philip P. (1959). Michigan Highways From Indian Trails to Expressways. Ann Arbor, MI: Braun-Brumfield. OCLC 23314983.
  • Morrison, Roger L. (Autumn 1937). "The History and Development of Michigan Highways". Michigan Alumnus Quarterly Review (Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Bureau of Alumni Relations) 39 (54): 59–73. OCLC 698029175.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: US 23 in Michigan

Route map: Google / Bing

KML file (edit)


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