 Michigan Avenue |
Before the onset of Interstate Highways US-12 was the connection between Chicago and Detroit. With its "child" route, US-112, Chicago could be reached directly (aside from Lake Michigan) or more indirectly via US-12 into Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Jackson, Kalamazoo and Marshall. With the arrival of Interstate 94 came the removal of US-112 and the relocation of US 12 onto the prior route's alignment. US-12 originally took the path from Ann Arbor to Plymouth (via Plymouth Road/Ann Arbor Trail) and met US-16 in Detroit before being duplexed into Downtown. Michigan Avenue, the road that currently holds the US-12 designation was US-112. After the move of US-12 to Michigan Avenue, M-14 took the place of the original US-12 designation from Ann Arbor to Grand River Avenue. The original US 12 from Ann Arbor westward was turned back to local control almost entirely. A few business roues of I-94 and M-96 replaced portions of the highway which were still needed to be in the state highway system. The current alignment of US-12, however, is a famous road in Michigan, and MDOT has designated a large portion through Washtenaw County as Historic Heritage Route. Counties: Washtenaw, Wayne Communities: Canton, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Inkster, Pittsfield Township, Saline, Van Buren Township, Wayne, Westland, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township Distance (within metro area): 41.5 miles Exit Guide (where applicable)(coming soon) Interesctions: I-94 (2), I-96, I-275, US-23, US-24, Bus US-12, M-5 (unsigned), M-17, M-39, M-153 Points of Interest: Ann Arbor Attractions (4 miles), Eastern Michgan University (2 miles), Downtown Detroit Attractions (within 1 mile), Fairlane Town Center, Fort Wayne (1.5 miles), The Henry Ford Termini: US-12 has its Eastern Terminus in Downtown Detroit. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page. More Information / Beyond Detroit: The US-12 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page. Travel/Tourism Information: The Michigan Department of Transportation's Historic Heritage Routes Page. |
 US 23 |
A north-south freeway that connects Flint to Toledo and functions more-or-less as Detroit's western bypass. Some people have likened this highway to Detroit's "Outerbelt" with I-275 being the "Middlebelt" and The Southfield Freeway being the "Inner Belt". Regardless, this freeway is important because it has developed into more than a bypass of Detroit. With the extensive growth in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties, the freeway is gradually becoming more congested. While nothing has officially been proposed, US-23 will probably be widened by 2015. With its current growth and substandard (in places) design, the highway will probably see some significant reconstruction around Brighton, Ann Arbor, and Fenton. Some reports in the Detroit Area have stated that Interstate Commerce/Traffic is gradually losing percentage of traffic on the road to commuters. Currently the ADT on parts of US-23 range between 45000 and 69000, with the majority of the highway between 54000 and 69000. Counties: Livingston, Washtenaw Communities: Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Township, Brighton Township, Green Oak Township, Hartland Township, Milan, Northfield Township, Pittsfield Township, Whitmore Lake, York Township Distance (within metro area): 46.7 miles Exit Guide (coming soon) Interesctions: I-94, I-96, Bus I-94, US-12, Bus US-23, M-14, M-17, M-36, M-59 Points of Interest: Ann Arbor Attractions (2 miles), Eastern Michigan University (1 mile), Kensington Metropark (2 miles), Whitmore Lake More Information / Beyond Detroit: The US-23 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page. |
 Telegraph Road, |
Known simply as "Telegraph", US-24 was one of the original connections between Metropolitan Detroit and Toledo. Primarily a commuter route, today, this highway linked Pontiac and Dearborn to the US Highway system through a North-South Artery. It is still heavily relyed upon during peak and nonpeak hours of the day. The majority of Telegraph Road is 6-8 lanes and houses the oldest Michigan Lefts known. Counties: Monroe, Oakland, Wayne Communities: Berlin Township, Bingham Farms, Bloomfield, Brownstown Township, Clarkston, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Flat Rock, Franklin, Independence Township, Pontiac, Redford, Southfield, Sylvan Lake, Taylor, Waterford Distance (within metro area): ---.- miles Interesctions: I-75, I-94, I-96, I-696, US-12, Bus US-24, Conn US-24 (North), Conn US-24 (South), M-5, M-10, Old M-14, M-15, M-59, M-102, M-153 Points of Interest:Henry Ford (2 miles), University of Michigan-Dearborn (2 miles) Termini: US-24 has its Northern Terminus at I-75 in Independence Township. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page. More Information / Beyond Detroit: The US-24 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page. |
BUSINESS Ypsilanti |
Following much of the original alignment of US-112 into Ypsilanti, Bus US-12 provides state highway access into central Ypsilanti. The original incarnation of this highway, however, was Bus US-112, which came about as a bypass was created for its parent route. When US-112 was decommissioned, the business route switched parents to US-12. The only change other than number designation has been a relocation of the southern/western entrance into Ypsilanti. Originally following Grove Road to I-94/US-12, it was realigned in late 1985 to Hamilton and Huron Streets. This realignment is the only alteration from the original path of US-112. Counties: Washtenaw, Wayne Communities: Van Buren Township, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township. Distance: 5.3 miles Interesctions: I-94, US-12, M-17 Termini: Business US-12 has its Eastern Terminus at US-12 its western Terminus at I-94 and US-12. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page. More Information: The Business US-12 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page. |
BUSINESS Ann Arbor |
Business US-23 follows the original alignment of US-23 through Downtown Ann Arbor traversing next to the University of Michigan. Following an array of streets, this route is surprisingly well marked in many locations, though full signage is lacking in some neighborhoods. This route is duplexed with Bus I-94 for much of its length into downtown and with M-14 for a little over a mile. The remaining section is a spur exiting M-14 at Exit 4, and following Main Street southbound. Counties: Washtenaw Communities: Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Township Distance: 7.42 miles Interesctions: Bus I-94, US-23, M-14, M-17 Points of Interest: University of Michigan Termini: Business Bus US-23 has its Northern Terminus at US-23 and M-14 and its Eastern Terminus at US-23, M-17 and Bus I-94. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page. More Information: The Business US-23 Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page. |
BUSINESS Pontiac |
This highway has seen numerous changes over the years regarding route numbers, alignments, etc. A detailed and concise history can be found (by clicking here) on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page. Counties: Oakland Communities: Bloomfield, Pontiac, Waterford Distance: ca. 7 miles Interesctions: Bus I-75, US-24, M-1 Termini: Business US-24 has its Northern and Southern Termini at US-24. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page. |
CONNECTOR Dix-Toledo Highway Brownstown |
Formally part of US-25, this portion of roadway now links I-75 to US-24, specifically of SB I-75 to SB US-24 and NB US-24 to NB I-75. This highway essentially acts as the inverse of the Taylor Connection. The Connection enters Woodhaven just south of King Road, but only the corner of the community. In fact, the road is in Woodhaven for about 1/3 mile. Both termini are in Brownstown Township. County: Wayne Communities: Brownstown, Woodhaven Distance: 2.025 miles Interesctions: I-75, US-24 Termini: Connector US-24 has its Northern Terminus at I-75 its Southern Terminus at US-24. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page. More Information / Beyond Detroit: The US-24 Brownstown/Woodhaven Connector Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page. |
CONNECTOR Taylor |
Constructed with the original freeway, this portion of roadway now links I-75 to US-24, specifically of NB I-75 to NB US-24 and SB US-24 to SB I-75. This highway essentially acts as the inverse of the Brownstown Connection. County: Wayne Communities: Taylor Distance: 1.6 miles Interesctions: I-75, US-24 Termini: Connector US-24 has its "Eastern" Terminus at I-75 its "Western" Terminus at US-24. Explore this more at Dan Garnell's wonderful "Michigan Highway Ends" Page. More Information / Beyond Detroit: The US-24 Taylor Connector Listing on Chris Bessert's excellent Michigan Highways Page. |
(c)2005 by Andrew Farina
All Shields provided courtesy of Barry L. Camp
All distance data provided from the Michigan Department of Transportation unless otherwise noted.
This website is not affiliated with the Michigan Department of Transportation. All pictures are owned by the webmaster, unless otherwise otherwise posted.