Portal:Michigan highways/Did you know

The following facts or hooks have been chosen to appear as in the "Did you know" section of the Michigan Highways portal.

May and June 2011

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July 2011

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US 127 through Lansing

August 2011

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Rosie's Diner in Rockford

September 2011

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Covered bridge along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
  • ... that the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (covered bridge pictured) was originally a route called the Sleeping Bear Dunes Park?
  • ...that Henry Ford helped stop construction of M-35 in the Upper Peninsula in order to gain admission to the exclusive Huron Mountain Club?
  • ... that M-97 was simultaneously named both Reid Highway and Groesbeck Highway by different levels of government from 1927 until 1949, the year it was dedicated to Alex Groesbeck?
  • ... that M-69 was truncated in 1960 to one-fifth of its length for 33 years?
  • ... that M-212 is the shortest signed highway in Michigan, connecting to Aloha State Park?

October 2011

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SS Drummond Islander IV crossing the De Tour Passage

November 2011

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Only 1,990 miles from Copper Harbor to Miami

December 2011

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View of Lake Superior from Brockway Mountain with information signage

January 2012

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The Tridge in winter
  • ... that in Midland, M-20 passes The Tridge (pictured), a three-legged bridge?
  • ... that Industrial Drive in Adrian is officially a connector route for M-34?
  • ... that county road H-63 runs along Mackinac Trail, a former Indian path in the Upper Peninsula?
  • ... that a section of M-42 in Wexford County that was transferred to local control was classified as "flexible pavements"?
  • ... that M-154 is one of three state highways on an island?

February 2012

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The "Covered Trail" along US 41 south of Copper Harbor

March 2012

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Portage Lake Lift Bridge at night

April 2012

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Abandoned Peshekee River Bridge in Michigamme Township

May 2012

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The "Tunnel of Trees" between Harbor Springs and Good Hart

June 2012

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Seney Stretch

July 2012

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Marquette–Negaunee Road in 1917 with the first highway centerline in the country

August 2012

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M-39 crossing the River Rouge

September 2012

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  • ...that M-209, serving as a connection to the former Coast Guard station in Glen Haven (general store pictured), was the shortest state highway in the state at a half-mile (0.8 km) until 1996?
  • ... that the first M-65 was replaced by US 23, and the current M-65 replaced two different sections of US 23?
  • ... that a section of M-15 has been nicknamed "Death Alley" over the number of accidents there?
  • ... that M-168 in Elberta previously connected to a car ferry dock?
  • ... that only two of the 280 miles (3.2 of the 450 km) of US 8 lie in Michigan?

October 2012

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Mackinac Bridge
  • ... that when the Mackinac Bridge (pictured) opened, US 27 was extended north across it?
  • ... that M-201 runs through Northport to connect to Leelanau State Park, but ends well before meeting the park gate?
  • ... that until it was renumbered in the 1930s, M-99 used to be M-9?
  • ... that M-155 is no longer signed, but it is a still a state highway?
  • ... that during the "Southbelt Shuffle" event on M-6 south of Grand Rapids, horses were ridden on the partially completed freeway?

November 2012

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M-22 marker

December 2012

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Steel Bridge over the Dead River in 1922
  • ... that the state highway department moved a bridge from Pennsylvania in the 1920s so that M-35 could cross the Dead River?
  • ... that the eastern and western ends of M-21 were replaced by different Interstate Highways?
  • ... that M-114 was set up as a beltline around Grand Rapids following what are now Wilson Avenue, 28th Street and East Beltline Avenue?
  • ... that US 102 was the first US Highway designation to be decommissioned?
  • ... that M-99 used to be numbered M-9?

January 2013

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River Road NSB entrance sign along M-65

February 2013

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Looking south down Woodward Avenue from the Maccabees Building with the Detroit skyline in the distance in July 1942
  • ... that Woodward Avenue (pictured in 1942) was planned to be the most important of the five major avenues planned by Judge Augustus Woodward that extend from downtown Detroit in differing directions?
  • ... that in 1966, the freeway conversion of US 131 forced the former Grand Rapids Speedrome, a race track, to close?
  • ... that US 41 is officially the Copper Country Trail National Scenic Byway north of Houghton?
  • ... that M-6 is officially named for Paul B. Henry, a Congressman from the Grand Rapids area who died in office?
  • ... that I-375 was the shortest signed Interstate Highway in the country at 1.06 miles (1.71 km) until I-110 in Texas was signed?

March 2013

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M-185 downtown Mackinac Island

April 2013

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1955 map of the proposed Michigan Turnpike

May and June 2013

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Original M-14 marker from the 1920s
  • ... that on May 13, 1913, the legislation creating the State Trunkline Highway System went into effect?
  • ... that the first rural highway centerline in the US was painted on M-15 (currently CR 492) between Negaunee and Marquette in 1917?
  • ... that some of the original highway numbers assigned by the time the system was signposted in 1919 like M-12 or M-41 were decommissioned in 1926 and never used since?
  • ... that M-131 was assigned as an extension of US 131 in 1926 before it was progressively replaced by US 131 and later M-119?
  • ... that Michigan is home to the first roadside table in the country, which was installed next to US 16?
  • ... that Michigan is also home to the first welcome center in the nation, which opened in 1935 near New Buffalo?
  • ... that I-94 was the first Interstate Highway completed border-to-border in any state in the country when it was completed between New Buffalo and Detroit in 1960?

July 2013

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SS Drummond Islander IV crossing the De Tour Passage
  • ... that M-134 is one of three state highways in Michigan on an island, and one of two to use a ferry (pictured)?
  • ... that US 127 was tripled in length by extending the highway to replace its parent route, US 27, in 2002?
  • ... that M-67, a state highway in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, has remained essentially unchanged but the highways connecting to it have changed three times since 1919?
  • ... that M-97 was simultaneously named both Reid Highway and Groesbeck Highway by different levels of government from 1927 until 1949, the year it was dedicated to Alex Groesbeck?
  • ... that the local nickname for I-194 is "the Penetrator"?

August 2013

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The "Tunnel of Trees" between Harbor Springs and Good Hart

September 2013

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Steel Bridge over the Dead River in 1922

October 2013

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Only 1,990 miles from Copper Harbor to Miami

November 2013

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Rosie's Diner in Rockford

December 2013

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View of Lake Superior from Brockway Mountain with information signage

January and February 2014

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Covered bridge along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
  • ... that the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (covered bridge pictured) was originally a route called the Sleeping Bear Dunes Park?
  • ... that M-67, a state highway in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, has remained essentially unchanged but the highways connecting to it have changed three times since 1919?
  • ... that Westnedge Avenue and Park Street south of downtown Kalamazoo are part of M-331, an unsigned highway?
  • ... that M-38 was previously a part of M-35 that was 65 miles (105 km) away from the rest of the highway?
  • ... that M-78 used to extend south to the Indiana state line and northeast to Flint, but now only runs for about 11 miles (18 km) near Battle Creek?

March 2014

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Seney Stretch

April 2014

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M-39 crossing the River Rouge

May 2014

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Marquette–Negaunee Road in 1917 with the first highway centerline in the country

June 2014

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Looking south down Woodward Avenue from the Maccabees Building with the Detroit skyline in the distance in July 1942

July 2014

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Mackinac Bridge
  • ... that when the Mackinac Bridge (pictured) opened, US 27 was extended north across it?
  • ... that M-114 was set up as a beltline around Grand Rapids following what are now Wilson Avenue, 28th Street and East Beltline Avenue?
  • ... that US 2 and US 141 each have separate segments in Michigan because the highways cross back into Wisconsin for about 15 miles (24 km)?
  • ... that M-168 in Elberta previously connected to a car ferry dock?
  • ... that US 41 is officially the Copper Country Trail National Scenic Byway north of Houghton?

August 2014

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M-22 marker

September 2014

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M-185 downtown Mackinac Island

October 2014

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US 127 through Lansing

November and December 2014

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I-194, the "Sojourner Truth Downtown Memorial Parkway" in Battle Creek

January 2015

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February 2015

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The Tridge in winter

March 2015

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SS Drummond Islander IV crossing the De Tour Passage

April 2015

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Rosie's Diner in Rockford

May 2015

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The "Covered Trail" along US 41 south of Copper Harbor
  • ... that US 41 (pictured) was the state's first Michigan Heritage Route in 1995?
  • ... that county road F-41 was previously M-171?
  • ... that the former M-122 connected US 2 in St. Ignace to the state car ferry docks?
  • ... that the route of M-47 was previously part of US 10?
  • ... that the M-64 highway designation was moved twice in two years by exchanging the number with different roads?

June 2015

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1955 map of the proposed Michigan Turnpike

July 2015

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Portage Lake Lift Bridge at night

August and September 2015

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Covered bridge along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

October 2015

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Only 1,990 miles from Copper Harbor to Miami

November 2015

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Seney Stretch along M-28

December 2015

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Looking south down Woodward Avenue from the Maccabees Building with the Detroit skyline in the distance in July 1942
  • ... that Woodward Avenue (pictured in 1942) was planned to be the most important of the five major avenues planned by Judge Augustus Woodward that extend from downtown Detroit in differing directions?
  • ... that M-38 was previously a part of M-35 that was 65 miles (105 km) away from the rest of the highway?
  • ... that the centerline was invented in Wayne County in 1911?
  • ... that M-95 has been named for Leif Ericson, the Norse explorer?
  • ...that prior to the opening of M-231, a "M23.1k Run" was held with participation limited to 231 runners?

January 2016

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M-22 marker
  • ... that Broneah Kiteboarding of Traverse City uses the M-22 marker (pictured) as their corporate logo?
  • ... that US 2 and US 141 each have separate segments in Michigan because the highways cross back into Wisconsin for about 15 miles (24 km)?
  • ... that in 1966, the freeway conversion of US 131 forced the former Grand Rapids Speedrome, a race track, to close?
  • ... that the longest state highway outside of the Interstate or US Highway systems in Michigan is M-28?
  • ... that M-6 is officially named for Paul B. Henry, a Congressman from the Grand Rapids area who died in office?

February 2016

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Marquette–Negaunee Road in 1917 with the first highway centerline in the country

March 2016

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US 127 through Lansing

April 2016

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M-185 downtown Mackinac Island

May 2016

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M-39 crossing the River Rouge

June 2016

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Mackinac Bridge

July 2016

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I-194, the "Sojourner Truth Downtown Memorial Parkway" in Battle Creek
  • ... that the local nickname for I-194 (pictured) is "the Penetrator"?
  • ... that the loop of M-123 north of M-28 has been the Tahquamenon Scenic Heritage Route since 2007?
  • ... that M-212 is the shortest signed highway in Michigan, connecting to Aloha State Park?
  • ... that M-94 in Manistique crosses the Siphon Bridge, a structure once described in the pages of the Ripley's Believe It or Not! column?
  • ... that until it was renumbered in the 1930s, M-99 used to be M-9?

August 2016

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Seney Stretch

September 2016

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The Tridge in winter

October 2016

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SS Drummond Islander IV crossing the De Tour Passage

November 2016

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Rosie's Diner in Rockford
  • ... that M-57 passes Rosie's Diner (pictured) near Rockford, a restaurant that served as the filming location in Little Ferry, New Jersey for a series of Bounty paper towel commercials starring Rosie the Waitress?
  • ... that M-69 was truncated in 1960 to one-fifth of its length for 33 years?
  • ... that county road F-41 was previously M-171?
  • ... that only two of the 280 miles (3.2 of the 450 km) of US 8 lie in Michigan?
  • ... that Telegraph Road is named for the telegraph lines that used to run along it?

December 2016

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Portage Lake Lift Bridge at night

January 2017

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1955 map of the proposed Michigan Turnpike

February 2017

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The "Covered Trail" along US 41 south of Copper Harbor

March and April 2017

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Looking south down Woodward Avenue from the Maccabees Building with the Detroit skyline in the distance in July 1942

May and June 2017

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M-10 (Lodge Freeway) passing under Cobo Hall
  • ... that M-10 (Lodge Freeway, pictured) in the Detroit area is named for John C. Lodge, a former Detroit mayor?
  • ... that the Seney Stretch (pictured) along M-28 is 25 miles (40 km) of "straight as an arrow highway" commonly called the most boring highway in the state?
  • ... that US 127 and US 223 were going to be upgraded to become part of I-73?
  • ... that the last eight miles (13 km) of US 45 in the country to be paved were in the Military Hills area of eastern Ontonagon County, connecting the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Superior with a hard-surfaced road in 1959?
  • ... that the first M-65 was replaced by US 23, and the current M-65 replaced two different sections of US 23?

July 2017

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Side view of the Cut River Bridge

August 2017

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Covered bridge along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

September 2017

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Seney Stretch along M-28

October and November 2017

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US 127 through Lansing

also

December 2017

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Mackinac Bridge

January 2018

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M-39 crossing the River Rouge
  • ... that M-39 (River Rouge crossing pictured) is better known as the Southfield Freeway?
  • ... that there has never been a highway numbered M-2, but all other numbers less than M-126 have been used?
  • ... that until it was renumbered in the 1930s, M-99 used to be M-9?
  • ... that both M-30 and M-129, on the Lower and Upper peninsulas respectively, follow the Michigan Meridian, an important landmark for how Michigan was surveyed?
  • ...that I-75 carries sections of each of the four Great Lakes Circle Tours in the state?

February 2018

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SS Drummond Islander IV crossing the De Tour Passage

March 2018

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I-194, the "Sojourner Truth Downtown Memorial Parkway" in Battle Creek

April and May 2018

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Portage Lake Lift Bridge at night

June and July 2018

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The Tridge in winter

August 2018

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Seney Stretch

February 2020

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M-10 (Lodge Freeway) passing under Cobo Hall

March 2020

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Portage Lake Lift Bridge at night

April 2020

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M-39 crossing the River Rouge

May 2020

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Marquette–Negaunee Road in 1917 with the first highway centerline in the country

June 2020

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Covered bridge along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

July 2020

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View of Lake Superior from Brockway Mountain with information signage

August 2020

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M-22 marker

September 2020

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Only 1,990 miles from Copper Harbor to Miami

October 2020

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Rosie's Diner in Rockford

November 2020

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Steel Bridge over the Dead River in 1922
  • ... that the state highway department moved a bridge from Pennsylvania in the 1920s so that M-35 could cross the Dead River?
  • ... that M-131 was assigned as an extension of US 131 in 1926 before it was progressively replaced by US 131 and later M-119?
  • ... that M-95 has been named for Leif Ericson, the Norse explorer?
  • ... that M-78 used to extend south to the Indiana state line and northeast to Flint, but now only runs for about 11 miles (18 km) near Battle Creek?
  • ... that both M-30 and M-129, on the Lower and Upper peninsulas respectively, follow the Michigan Meridian, an important landmark for how Michigan was surveyed?

December 2020

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Looking south down Woodward Avenue from the Maccabees Building with the Detroit skyline in the distance in July 1942