I've been chatting about the history of roads with an Ann Arborite I met
on the usenet newsgroup misc.transport.road.  Here's what he sent me
recently.  Posted to grex with permision.  Get out your map of southern
Michigan before you continue reading!

======

Here in Michigan, the "Territorial Road" starts out as what is today
US-12, from downtown Detroit, to Ypsilanti.  In Canton, and Van Buren
Townships, there are sections known as "Old Michigan"  These right of
ways, are the original sections of the road, that were not retained, when
the "right-way-way" was modernized, and built into, to a four lane highway
in the 1930's.  This section was M-17, from 1919 until 1926. 

The "Territorial Road" then went east on what is now Washtenaw Ave. 
through downtown Ann Arbor, and west on Jackson Road.  Once you get past
Fletcher Road, it becomes "Old US-12" through Chelsea, to the Washtenaw -
Jackson County line.  Then it heads west along what is known as "Michigan
Ave" through Jackson County, and into Marshall.  From there, once it heads
west out of Marshall, and intersects with I-94, and then becomes M-96.  If
you then follow M-96 it will take you along the old "Territorial Road" to
Kalamazoo. Once out of Kalamazoo, it becomes the "Red Arrow Hwy", and
takes you to St.  Joseph, and then down to New Buffalo, where it
intersects with US-12, just north of the Indiana State Line.

In 1926-27, The Michigan State Highway Dept. Made the section of M-17 from
Detroit to Ypsilanti, part of US-112.  Then at that time, M-23 was
discontinued, and was renamed M-17 or better known as Ecorse Road.  M-17
started in downtown Detroit, and followed the route of its former M-23,
along Allen Road to Ecorse Road, into Ypsilanti.  The routing was changed
from Ypsilanti, to Belleville Road (this is where M-17 and M-56
intersected) and became a 4 lane divided highway.  The old 2 lane M-17
then became the North Service Road" that follows just to the north of
present day Ecorse Road. 

In Ypsilanti M-17 came into Washtenaw County, where it intersected with
US-23A (Rawsonville Road), and then turned sharply to the southwest and
cut across what was the Willow Run Bomber Plant (now GM Powertrain) and
came into Ypsilanti and followed its present route, to Maus Ave. then
turned right and then went up to Prospect, to Michigan Ave, and
intersected with US-112.  From there it went along Michigan Ave to Huron
Street, then along Washtenaw Ave to Stadium Blvd. to Jacskon Road, (Then
US-12) where it ended! 

In 1941 When the US-112 By-Pass was constructed.  M-17 went along the
US-112 By-Pass to Carpenter Road, and then it went north to Washtenaw Ave,
and then headed out on its way along Stadium to Jackson Ave.  The section
of M-17 from where it diverged from US-112 to come into Ypsilanti,
officially became known as "Business M-17" all the way out to the
intersection of Washtenaw Ave & Carpenter Road (M-17 & US-23). 

As time went along, more and more of M-17 has been deleted from the State
Trunkline System.  The section of M-17 west of US-23 was removed in 1959,
The section of M-17 from US-12 (Ford Blvd. area) to Detroit was deleted in
1971.  Its interesting to point out that M-17 route markers remained in
place up until 1985 on the section of Ecorse Road from the Wayne County
line to Belleville Road. 

In 1926 the Section of Plymouth Road, from Ann Arbor, to Plymouth to
Detroit, was named US-12.  in 1947 The State Highway Department officially
named US-12 the "Red Arrow Highway", from Detroit to the Indiana State
Line.  Also, at this time, US-31 was named the "Blue Star Memorial
Highway" in Michigan. Personally, I would like to see the Red Arrow Hwy.
renamed and brought back across lower Michigan from Kalamazoo east, to
Detroit? 

in 1957-58 US-12 was changed to follow what later became I-94 from Detroit
to Ann Arbor.  This section was built out of what was M-112 from Detroit
to the US-112 By-Pass, and then along the US-112 By-Pass past US-112
(Michigan Ave)  along the south side of Ann Arbor, to Jackson Road, where
US-12 followed its route towards the west. 

The section of US-12 was built with partial on and off ramps along its
right of way, around the south side of Ann Arbor.  This included the main
Ypsilanti exit 184 Grove Road, and also the partial westbound on and off
exit at Emerick Street.  There was also an exit ramp from westbound US-12
at Carpenter Road.  Also an westbound exit, and a eastbound entrance ramps
at Platt Road.  A main interchange at State Street, and then a partial
interchange at Ann Arbor Saline Road.  Also and exit ramp onto nortbound
Maple Road was built.  Most of these were removed in the 1960's. 

Starting in 1968.  A new primary interchanged was built at Huron Street
exit 183.  This was necessitated by a high number of traffic accidents, at
the Grove Road exit, due to the older geometrics off the ramps which
caused traffic that was exiting at this interchange to almost come to a
complete stop before making their final turn off the roadway.  The new
interchange at Huron Street, was built to post 1965 AASHO reccomended
standards! 

In 1962 US-112 was officially replaced as US-12 across Michigan.  Prior to
this the section of US-12 from Ann Arbor to Detroit was renamed as M-14 in
1958.  The freeway edition of M-14 around the northside of Ann Arbor was
completed around 1966-67. 

Yours truly,

Ron Wilbanks
USHwy12@aol.com

15 responses total.

This item has been linked from History 42 to Intro 135.
Type "join history" at the Ok: prompt for discussion of
old things, and what's left of them now.

Wow!  I've been half heartedly wondering if the Bentley Library folks could
help me with maps to figure this out.  Now its all right here on Grex!  Thanks
Ron Wilbanks, and Jeff Kaplan.  

There used to be an I-94 exit to Grove Road.  I should have guessed that. 
I bet the owners of the shopping plaza where that exit used to be sure were
not happy to see it go.  I have laughed at how dumb they must have been to
build a shopping center in sight of the freeway which is so hard to drive to
from the nearest ramp.

When was the Ypsilanti Meijer store put there?  Before of after the ramps
connecting Carpenter Raod to 94?

Oh, and I have other stuff about Michigan roads from Ron that I saved from
Usenet.  Anyone want to read more?

The Carpenter Road store opened in the early 70's, I believe.

And sure, I'd love to see more!

I'd love to read more. Is there any way I can get a hard copy of this. My
dad collects anything from Ypsilanti and he would LOVE to read this.

RE #5 The Carpenter Road Meijer opened in early 1972.  I remember passing it
by when going home from Bill Knapp's for my 21st birthday dinner.  I also
remember it well because it would be one of the last times that I would see
my father alive (he died in April 1972).

  You can find the exact date from the book "Thrifty Years" available at any
Meijer location ;(

Mike, re 6, no, grex does not have a printer you can use.  If you also don't
have a printer you can use, let me know.  I can print stuff for you.  

From: ushwy12@aol.com (USHwy12)
Newsgroups: misc.transport.road
Subject: Re: Duplicate route numbers
Date: 14 Dec 1996 03:51:21 GMT
References: <32A4EC37.6EFA@frontiernet.net>

In Michigan I-73 will start where US-27, and I-75 split, south of
Grayling, Mich.  It wil then follow (and replace) US-27 to Lansing, then
to Jackson via what is now US-127. 

I-73 will then follow US-127 to US-223, and then through Adrian, Mich. 
onto US-23. Then it will follow US-23/I-475 to the south side of Toledo,
Ohio.  There it will either follow the present course of US-23 to
Columbus, and then to the Ohio River.  Or it will have a new route that
will closely follow US-23 but will be an extention of the "Ohio Turnpike". 
Right now the idea of an extention of the Ohio Turnpike seems to be the
most favored idea.

Yours truly,

Ron Wilbanks

From: ushwy12@aol.com (USHwy12)
Newsgroups: misc.transport.road
Subject: Re: Duplicate route numbers
Date: 14 Dec 1996 04:48:57 GMT
References: <32AE18FC.4A6@genesyslab.com>

Here in Michigan, when the State Highway Commission was established in
1913, they recognized a need for an elaborate network of "Trunkline" roads
that would comprize the system in our State.  The actual marking of our
routes in didn't start until @1919.  The original numbering setup looks
nothing like it does today! 

Back in 1827, our Territorial Gov. decided to build its first road, along
the "Old Sauk Indian Trail" to Indiana.  This route became M-17 from
Detroit to Ypsilanti, in 1919, and then M-23, to Elkhart, Indiana.  In
1926 this route became known as US-112.  This route was changed in 1962,
to its present day US-12 designation.  You can still find a part of
US-112, that is now "Indiana State Route 112" in Elkhart. 

In 1829 another Territorial road was built from Ypsilanti to Lake
Michigan.  This road became M-17 across the second tier of counties in
Michigan, where it ended at M-11 (now US-31).  In 1926, the section of
M-17 to Hartford, Mich. became US-12.  The original US-12 (two-lane) was
changed in the late 1930's and became a 3-lane "suicide" highway, across
the State west of Ann Arbor.  The section of US-12 from Detroit to Ann
Arbor, was paved and opened at the same time, and follows what is now
"Plymouth Road".  The section from Ann Arbor, to Detroit was renamed M-14,
in 1957-58.  US-12 was then relocated along what is now I-94.  The section
of US-12 from the Willow Run "B-24" Bomber plant was built as M-112 in
1941, and ran into downtown Detroit, via what is now I-94.  In 1962 US-12
was changed to its present location. 

Last but not least! US-16 followed the 3rd Territorial Road that was built
in 1832.  In 1920, this road was desingnated as "M-16" and traversed the
State from Detroit to Muskegon.  Apparently, someone at AASHTO, must have
liked it. because in 1926 it became US-16, all the way from Detroit to
Yellowstone National Park.  This route was upgraded in the late 1930's and
became a 3-lane "suicide" highway.  US-16 was deleted from our State
Trunkline Sysytem in 1963, as it was replaced by I-96. US-16 still remains
as State Route 16 in Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 


In Addition US-25 that started in Port Austin, was renamed M-25 in 1973,
when this route was removed all the way to Covington, Ky. 


Yours truly,

Ron Wilbanks

From: ushwy12@aol.com (USHwy12)
Newsgroups: misc.transport.road
Subject: Interstate "at grade crossings"
Date: 14 Dec 1996 03:41:32 GMT

Here in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on I-94, just west of US-23, the New York
Central, had a branch line that ran from Ypsilanti, to Hillsdale.  In
1957when the new "Freeway" edition of US-12 was completed, the Michigan
State Highway Dept. decided to let this rail line pass over the routes of
US-12 & US-23 at grade.  This was complete with traffic lights, crossing
signals and gates! 

When I-94 was completed in 1960, the NYCRR, refused to install or pay for
a bridge to eleviate the traffic problems and accidents that were being
caused at this grade crossing on the freeway.  The NYCRR claimed that this
had not been a concern when they had built the freeway in the firtplace! 
So after months of arguments, the rail line stayed as it was, causing
numerous traffic flow problems when a train would pass by! 

In the late 1961 the tracks were removed from Bridgewater, Mich. to
Brooklyn, Mich.  reducing the amount of traffic over this rail line!  Even
faced with drecreasing traffic on this line, the NYCRR still refused to
remove the tracks! 

It wasn't until 1972 under Penn Central, that the tracks & the crossings
were removed! and MDOT, breathed a sigh of relief!  Also the tracks were
removed across US-23 at the same time. 

Can anyone else think of any Interstate Routes that had railroad crossing
at grade on them?  I know that there were several US Routes here in
Michigan that did. 


Yours truly

Ron Wilbanks

From: ushwy12@aol.com (USHwy12)
Newsgroups: misc.transport.road
Subject: Re: Old US Highways (Was:Re: Duplicate route numbers)
Date: 16 Dec 1996 22:44:31 GMT
References: <scouten-1612961124020001@mingus.scouten.com>

Here in Michigan, M-10 the "John C. Lodge" / "Northwestern" Fwys, was
US-10.  In fact you can still find US-10 route markers in many locations
in Detroit.  Some of the green guide signs even have the old "State name" 
style US Hwy. shield layout on them. 

Former US-25, in Monroe County where it split off of US-24, is M-125.  The
section from downtown Detroit to New Baltimore is now M-3.  And of course
the section from Port Huron to Port Austin is now M-25


Further up north part of US-16 in Ingham County, from M-52 west, to 
downtown Lansing, Mich. is now M-43. 

Up by the Straights of Mackinac. M-68 west from Alpena to Onaway, and then
M-33 to just south of Cheboygan, was US-23 from 1926-1941. 

The small section of M-27 from Indian River, to Cheboygan was US-27 from
1926-1963.

M-103 from Mottville (US-12) to the Indiana State Line was US-131 from
1926-1960

Yours truly,

Ron Wilbanks
USHwy12@aol.com

Wow! and Thanks! and I'm going to have to chew on this one in little bitty
pieces.  Too much info! (I love it).

  In a letter written to me by MDOT, The Davison Freeway, which has had the
distinction of being the first freeway of it's kind, will now carry a route
number. The Freeway which had been in county hands was recently abandoned,
and given to the State. The state began a rebuilding/widening project that
should end in the fall of 1997. The freeway will also carry a route number
for the first time in history, which will be either M-7, or M-8. 
  Michigan's single digit route numbers all begin and end in the Tri County
area.

 The following is a list of single digit assignments:
M-1 Woodward Ave
M-2 Schoolcraft Ave (now I-96)
M-3 Gratiot Ave
M-4 Northwestern Hwy
M-5 Grand River Ave
M-6 11 mile Rd (now I 696
M-7 Unassigned
M-8 Unassigned
M-9 Haggarty Extension (not officially assigned)
M-10 The John C. Lodge/Northwestern Hwy. (Nw HWY used to have M-4, but
was changed when M-10 was built.

  M's 2 and 6 were decommissioned when the freeways opened.

When you say that the Davison Freeway was the first of its kind, what kind
is it?

  Multi lane, divided limited access. Opened in 1941 I believe.

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