The long-considered "Main Street" of the Metro, Woodward Avenue was one of the first and most important roads to connect Detroit with points north. Originally based in part off of a Native American trail, Woodward Avenue connected Detroit with other settlements such as Pontiac, Flint, and Saginaw. Though, not known as Woodward along its entire length. The trail and road quickly became heavily travelled and recognized throughout the state as an important transportation venue. Even in the planning of Detroit, Woodward was slated to be the most important artery as early as 1805.

With the onset of the US Highway System, the designation US 10 was strung along Woodward from Pontiac into Downtown Detroit, where it remained until the freeway era. In 1970, the US 10 designation was moved to the Lodge Freeway (via Telegraph Road) and M-1 was commissioned to take its place. The only portion not designated M-1 was from Square Lake Road northward into Pontiac, which was made a Busineess Loop of US 10 and later US 24. Since then, little change has been done to this route, aside give jursidiction of the blocks of Woodward between Hart Plaza and Adams Street to the City of Detroit. These blocks are still part of the National Scenic Byway, which was created by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in June of 2002. MDOT, also, has declared Woodward Avenue a state Recreation Heritage Route.

Counties: Oakland, Wayne

Communities: Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield, Detroit, Ferndale, Highland Park, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak

Distance (within metro area): 21.5 miles

Interesctions: I-94, I-696, Bus I-75, Bus US-24, M-8, M-102
         *I-75 can be reached via Fisher Freeway Service Drive even through there is no direct interchange.

Points of Interest: Detroit Zoo, Downtown Birmingham, Downtown Detroit, Downtown Royal Oak, Michigan State Fairgrounds, Midtown Detroit, Museum District, New Center Area, Stadium District/Foxtown, Theatre District, Wayne State University, The Whitney

Termini: M-1 has its Northern Terminus at Square Lake Road in Bloomfield Charter Township and its Southern Terminus at Adams Street in Downtown Detroit. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page.

More Information: The M-1 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

Travel/Tourism Information: The Woodward Avenue/M-1 Listing on the FHWA's American Byways Page. The Michigan Department of Transportation's Recreation Heritage Routes Page.

Originally part of US-25, Gratiot Avenue connects Downtown Detroit with its "Eastern" Suburbs. Originally, the main road between Port Huron and Detroit, US-25 was eliminated with the completion of I-75 in Michigan and was truncated all the way back to Cincinnati. The issue of US-25 will be discussed in another article. With the removal of US-25, however, many sections of roadway were left without a designation. M-3 was slated to take the place of US-25 from Clark Street in Detroit to 23 Mile Road in Chesterfield Charter Township. The route remained untouched for years until small portions of downtown streets were given over to the City of Detroit. With this, a small portion of M-3 was severed. This small section, Fort Street from Griswold to Clark, would eventually be absorbed into M-85. The short two-block section of Clark which connected to I-75 still remains under state control, but is unsigned. Instead of leaving M-3 as a stub (as other routes were), M-3 was rerouted to continue down Randolph Avenue connecting to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. This makes M-3 one of only two state routes to have a terminus in Downtown Detroit at another highway.

The majority of the remaining M-3 is 6-8 lanes from Downtown Detroit northeastward. At Eight Mile Road (M-102), M-3 becomes a divided boulevard and continues into Downtown Mount Clemens. Here, numerous city streets were strung together into a set of one-way pairs which separate the NB and SB lanes by as much as 4 blocks. North of Downtown Mount Clemens, the road resumes its normal construct to 23 Mile Road. M-3 is then placed on 23 Mile Road until it connects to I-94 and M-29.

Counties: Macomb, Wayne

Communities: Chesterfield Charter Township, Clinton Charter Township, Detroit, Eastpointe, Mount Clemens, Roseville

Distance (within metro area): 27.2 miles

Interesctions: I-75, I-94 (2), I-375 (via I-75 connector), I-696, Bus I-375, Conn I-94, M-10, M-29, M-59, M-102, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel

Points of Interest: Downtown Detroit, Downtown Mount Clemens, Eastern Market, Stadium District

Termini: M-3 has its Northern Terminus at I-94 and M-29 in Chesterfield Charter Township and its Southern Terminus at M-10 and Bus I-375 (Jefferson Avenue) in Downtown Detroit. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page.

More Information: The M-3 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

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Counties: Oakland, Wayne

Communities: Commerce Charter Township, Detroit, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Livonia, Redford Charter Township

Distance (within metro area): ---.- miles

Exit Guide (where applicable)(coming soon)

Interesctions: I-96, I-275, I-696, US-24, M-39, M-102

Points of Interest: Downtown Farmington, Novi Expo. Center (1 mile), Walled Lake (1 mile)

Termini: M-5 has its Northern Terminus at Pontiac Trail in Commerce Charter Township and its Eastern Terminus at I-96 and Old Bus I-96 in Detroit. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page.

More Information: The M-5 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

Once part of a larger plan for urban freeways in Detroit, the Davison Freeway was the first depressed urban freeway in America. The originally under the jurisdiction of Wayne County, it was only transfered to State Control in the mid-1990s, about 50 years after it was built. In 1996 and 1997, the Davison Freeway underwent a complete makeover as the freeway was redesigned with higher overpasses, more and wider lanes and the inclusion of a shoulder. Original plans can be seen in that I-96 is Express/Local west of M-8, and a freeway-to-freeway interchange still connects Davison Avenue to I-96. These indicators are confirmation that the Jefferies Freeway and the Davison Freeway were to be part of a larger East-West freeway. Also, the Davison freeway was supposed to link into the North Freeway (along the Mound Road alignment) and then toward City Airport, ultimately connecting to I-94. Currently, the M-8 designation is only signed on the freeway portion from M-10 to Conant Avenue. West of M-10, M-8 remains unsigned, though it appears on maps (including the offical state map and in travel guides.

Counties: Wayne

Communities: Detroit, Highland Park

Distance (within metro area): ---.- miles

Exit Guide (coming soon)

Interesctions: I-75, I-96, M-1, M-10

Termini: M-8 has its Western Terminus at I-96 and its Eastern Terminus at Conant Avenue.

More Information: The M-8 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

One of the oldest freeways in the state, "the Lodge" as it is known, carries traffic from Downtown Detroit to Southfield. Constructed in segments over many years, the original freeway portion, from Downtown northwestward to Linwood Avenue was constructed by Wayne County. From Linwood northwestwardly, the Lodge Freeway linked up with Northwestern Highway, part of which retains this name to the present. When Northwestern Highway was upgraded to freeway from Linwood into Southfield, it was called the James Couzens Expressway, and the Northwestern Highway name was retained beyond Telegraph Road (US-24). The US-112 designation was placed along the Lodge from I-94 to Downtown, as the first designation. US-112 was removed, and BS I-696 was eventually routed along the Lodge, around 1968. This designation would remain until US-10 was routed off of Woodward and onto the Lodge (using Telegraph as a connection to Dixie Highway in Pontiac). With the removal of US-10 from Michigan south of Bay County, M-10 took the freeway portion of US-10 and was extended along Northwestern Highway to Orchard Lake Road.

Counties: Oakland, Wayne

Communities: Detroit, Farmington Hills, Highland Park, Southfield, West Bloomfield

Distance (within metro area): 22.88 miles

Exit Guide (coming soon)

Interesctions: I-75, I-94, I-696, US-12*, US-24, M-3, M-8, M-39, M-85, M-102, BS I-375, Old BS I-96
*US-12 accessbile via 3rd Street, a distance of about 250 feet south of interchange terminus.

Points of Interest: Cobo Hall-Convention Center, Downtown Detroit, Joe Louis Arena, MGM and Motor City Casinos, Museum District, New Center Area, Northland Mall, Orchestra Place, University of Detroit-Mercy, Wayne State University.

Termini: M-10 has its Northern Terminus at Orchard Lake Road and its Southern Terminus at Randolph Avenue (Junction of M-3, and BS I-375). Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page.

More Information: The M-10 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

Fully completed in 1965, the M-14 freeway connects Ann Arbor to Livonia and Plymouth. The freeway was constructed due to increased traffic along Plymouth Road, the original M-14 (and US-12). M-14 also continued along Plymouth Road to Grand River, but was Truncated to I-275 upon the completion of the Jefferies Freeway (I-96). Currently, M-14 is two lanes along the majority of its length, with a three lane segemnt along its easternmost few miles in Plymouth Charter Township. The freeway has been tossed around by critics as a potential addition to the Interstate Highway System, possibly as I-394. MDOT has never officially considered this, to the author's knowledge. The freeway, however, does carry such significance for travelers to and from the Detroit Area. A large number of traffic from the Detroit Area uses M-14 (along with either I-96 or I-275 and I-696) as a means of bypassing Downtown Detroit. Much traffic from I-94 eastbound is siphoned and there is a noticeable increase in traffic westbound after the M-14/I-94 merge. The freeway is also a valuable commuter link for businesses in Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan along with business in Southfield, Dearborn and Livonia who have commuters from Western Wayne and Eastern Washtenaw counties.

Counties: Washtenaw, Wayne

Communities: Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Charter Township, Livonia*, Plymouth Charter Township, Salem Township, Scio Township, Superior Charter Township
*It is unclear the exact distance in Livonia, but appears to be less than 1000 feet.

Distance (within metro area): 22.54 miles

Exit Guide (coming soon)

Interesctions: I-94, I-96, I-275, US-23, BusUS-23, M-153

Points of Interest: Compuware Sports Arena, Domino Farms, Downtown Ann Arbor, University of Michigan (1 mile)

Termini: M-14 has its Western Terminus at I-94 and its Eastern Terminus at I-96 and I-275. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page.

More Information: The M-14 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

One of the few unsigned trunklines in the area, Old M-14 is a shadow of its former glory. Originally carrying US-12, then M-14 following US-12's realignment, this route was slated to be turned back to local control with the completion of the Jefferies Freeway and a realigned M-14 onto the Plymouth-Ann Arbor Freeway. When M-14 was scaled back and moved to the new freeway, its original alignment along Plymouth Road in Washtenaw County was jurisdictionally transfered to the county, and the alignment along Plymouth Road in Detroit was given to said city. The remaining portion, however, remains in the state trunkline system to this day. Occasionally, signs for M-14 are still constructed along the corridor, and M-14 signs,as of 2005, can still be seen along the Southfield Freeway leading up to Plymouth Road, even though this segment is 2.5 miles east of old M-14's terminus..

Counties: Wayne

Communities: Livonia, Plymouth, Plymouth Charter Township, Redford

Distance: 14.75 miles

Interesctions: I-275, US-24

Points of Interest: Downtown Plymouth (1 mile), National Memorial Gardens, Rouge River Parks and Golf Courses.

Termini: M-14 has its Western Terminus at Napier Road (Washtenaw/Wayne County Line) and its Eastern Terminus at Hazelton Street (Detroit/Redford Municpal Line).

More Information: The M-14 Listing and Old M-14 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

M-15 is a route with many "miles of smiles". This route, traversing the Lower Peninsula from Clarkston to Bay City is a Recreation Heritage Route. This road, serves as an alternate for many travelers to northern Michigan, and features many unique stops along the way. In the Metro, however, the route is becoming more-and-more a commuter route as Clarkston and Independence continue to flourish and develop. M-15 was originally proposed to continue southward to possibly the Ohio border as early as 1930. The proposed route would eventually become Haggerty Highway and later I-275. The existing M-15 has changed little in the Metro since its inception around 1926. Beginning in Clarkston, it continues north through the lakelands of Oakland County to Ortonville then northward to the villages and towns east of Flint and Saginaw.

Counties: Oakland

Communities: Brandon Charter Township, Clarkson, Groveland Township, Independence, Ortonville

Distance (within metro area): ---.- miles

Interesctions: I-75, US-24

Points of Interest: Bald Mountain State Recreation Area, Canterbury Village (3 miles), Downtown Clarkston, Downtown Ortonville, Oakland County Ski Areas

Termini: M-15 has its Southern Terminus at US-24 in Clarkston. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page.

More Information: The M-15 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

Travel/Tourism Information: The Michigan Department of Transportation's Recreation Heritage Routes Page.

A short highway, M-17 serves downtown Ypsilanti and Eastern Michigan University. It also connects US-12 with downtown Ann Arbor. At one time, until the late 1960s, M-17 extended east of its current alignment along Ecorse Road into Allen Park. In two phases the route was scaled back. M-17 has seen numerous realignments through and around Ypsilatni over the years.

Counties: Washtenaw

Communities: Ann Arbor Charter Township, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Charter Township

Distance: 6.23 miles

Interesctions: BL I-94, US-12, US-23, BusUS-12, BusUS-23

Points of Interest: Downtown Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University

Termini: M-17 has its Western Terminus at US-23, BL I-94 and Bus US-23 in Ann Arbor Charter Township and its Eastern Terminus at US-12 near Willow Run in Ypsilanti Charter Township. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page.

More Information: The M-14 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page.

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