Business routes of U.S. Route 23 in Michigan

US Highway 23 marker

US Highway 23
Highway system

There have been five different business routes of US Highway 23 in the state of Michigan. These business routes were designated along former sections of US Highway 23 (US 23) to provide signed access from the main highway to the downtowns of cities bypassed by new routings of US 23. Two are still extant, connecting through downtown Ann Arbor and Rogers City. Three others have been decommissioned. The former Business US 23 (Bus. US 23) in Fenton was split in half during the 1970s and later completely turned back to local control in 2006. The former business loops through Saginaw and Bay City were renumbered as business loops of Interstate 75 in the 1960s.

Ann Arbor


Business US Highway 23
Location: Ann Arbor
Length: 5.781 mi[1] (9.304 km)
Existed: 1962[2][3]–present

Business US Highway 23 (Bus. US 23) is a business loop of US 23 through downtown Ann Arbor. The southern end is at an interchange with US 23 on the city line with Pittsfield Township. This interchange also marks the western terminus of M-17, and the eastern end of a concurrency with Business Loop Interstate 94 (BL I-94). From this interchange westward, BL I-94/ Bus. US 23 follows Washtenaw Avenue along a five-lane street past commercial areas to County Farm Park and then continues as a four-lane roadway through residential neighborhoods. Washtenaw Avenue turns more northwesterly at the intersection with Stadium Boulevard southeast of Burns Park. Near the Central Campus of the University of Michigan, Washtenaw Avenue turns due north to cross part of campus before BL I-94/Bus. US 23 turn due west onto Huron Street near Palmer Field. Bus. US 23 follows BL I-94 and the four-lane Huron Street into downtown Ann Arbor to the intersection with Main Street. There, Bus. US 23 turns northward onto Main Street and exits downtown. Main Street has four lanes as it runs northward into a residential area. It parallels part of the Huron River before ending at an interchange with the M-14 freeway about a mile and a third (2.2 km) north of downtown. At that interchange, Bus. US 23 merges onto the freeway and runs concurrently with M-14, crossing the Huron River. There is one interchange for Barton Drive and Whitmore Lake Road on the northern bank of the river. The freeway runs through a wooded area and then after about one mile (1.6 km), it meets US 23 at an interchange in Ann Arbor Township that marks the northern terminus of the business loop.[4][5]

Washtenaw Avenue facing east

In 1962, the northern and eastern freeway bypass of Ann Arbor was completed. At that time, the former routing of US 23 through downtown and a section of freeway north of the Huron River was redesignated as Bus. US 23.[2][3] Two years later, M-14 was rerouted to follow the US 23 23 freeway around the north side of Ann Arbor. It overlapped the business loop from the northern end of its freeway segment to Main Street and along Main Street into downtown.[6][7] The next year, in 1965, this overlap was shortened when the rest of the M-14 freeway westward from Main Street to I-94 was completed.[7][8]

Major intersections
The entire highway is in Washtenaw County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Pittsfield Township–Ann Arbor city line0.000–
0.018		0.000–
0.029		 BL I-94 east / US 23 – Flint, Toledo
M-17 east (Washtenaw Avenue) – Ypsilanti		Eastern end of BL I-94 concurrency; exit 37 on US 23; western terminus of M-17
Ann Arbor3.4295.518 BL I-94 westWestern end of BL I-94 concurrency
4.7957.717 M-14 westWestern end of M-14 concurrency; exit 3 on M-14
4.9918.032Barton Drive, Whitmore Lake RoadExit 4 on Bus. US 23/M-14
Ann Arbor Township5.741–
5.781		9.239–
9.304		 US 23 / M-14 east – Flint, Toledo, Ohio, DetroitEastern end of M-14 concurrency; exit 45 on US 23
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Fenton


Business US Highway 23
Location: Fenton
Length: 3.009 mi[1] (4.843 km)
Existed: 1958[9][10]–2006[11][12]
History: Southern 1.723 mi (2.773 km) unsigned after 1975[13][14]

Business US Highway 23 (Bus. US 23) was a business route through downtown Fenton. At the time it was turned over to local control, it was signed as business spur from downtown to the US 23 freeway, but the state maintained a southern section that previously completed the route as a loop. At the southern end, this unsigned highway started at US 23 at the Owen Road interchange (exit 78) and continued eastward on Owen Road past Fenton High School and various businesses. At the intersection with Shiawassee Avenue, Bus. US 23 followed Shiawassee through a residential area toward the southern end of downtown. At the intersection with LeRoy Street, the unsigned business loop turned northward and across the Shiawassee River. At the intersection with River Street, state maintenance ended. On the northern end of downtown at the intersection of LeRoy Street and Silver Lake Road, it resumed. Bus. US 23 followed Silver Lake Road westward out of downtown through a residential area and northwesterly to an interchange with US 23 at exit 79.[11][15]

The US 23 bypass of Fenton opened as a freeway west of downtown in 1958. The former route of US 23 along Shiawassee Avenue and LeRoy Street in Fenton was redesignated as a business loop at this time, and the state assumed control of Silver Lake Road to connect it back to the freeway northwest of town.[9][10] Three years later, the US 23 freeway was extended southward from the Livingston–Genesee county line; at that time, the freeway connections were reconfigured and Bus. US 23 was shifted to use Owen Road between a new freeway interchange and the rest of the business loop at Shiawassee Avenue.[16][17] In the middle of the 1970s, city officials redeveloped downtown and closed two blocks of LeRoy Street in 1975.[18] After this closure, the business loop was split into two sections, and only the northern one was retained as a signed state highway.[13][14] The southern segment was retained as an unsigned state highway[11] until both segments were turned over to local control in 2006.[11][12]

Major intersections
The entire highway was in Fenton, Livingston County.

mi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
0.0000.000 US 23 – Flint, Ann ArborSouthern terminus of southern unsigned segment; exit 78 on US 23
1.7232.773Leroy Street
River Street		Northern terminus of southern unsigned segment
Gap in route
0.0000.000Leroy Street
Silver Lake Road		Southern terminus of northern signed segment
1.2862.070 US 23 – Flint, Ann ArborNorthern terminus of northern signed segment; exit 79 on US 23
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Saginaw


Business US Highway 23
Location: Saginaw
Length: 8.006 mi[1] (12.884 km)
Existed: 1953[19][20]–1961[21][22]

Business US Highway 23 (Bus. US 23) was a business loop that ran through downtown Saginaw. It started at an intersection between US 10 and US 23 in Bridgeport southeast of Saginaw. From there, it ran concurrently along US 10 (Dixie Highway) northwesterly into Saginaw. Once in downtown, the business loop turned northward on Washington Street, running parallel to the eastern banks of the Saginaw River through downtown. At the intersection between Washington Avenue, Washington Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway, Bus. US 23 terminated.[21][23]

In 1953, the initial eastern bypass of Saginaw was built as a two-lane highway, and the former routing through downtown was redesignated Bus. US 23.[19][20] This bypass was upgraded in 1961 to a full freeway as part of I-75/US 23, and the business loop through downtown was redesignated Business Loop I-75.[21][22]

Major intersections
The entire highway was in Saginaw County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Bridgeport Township0.0000.000 US 10 east / US 23 – Bay City, FlintSouthern end of US 10 concurrency
Saginaw4.4077.092 M-46 west (Holland Avenue) – Muskegon, Port Sanilac
6.0059.664 US 10 west – Midland
M-13 south (Washington Avenue)		Northern end of US 10 concurrency; northern terminus of M-13
8.00612.884 US 23 (Veterans Memorial Parkway/Washington Road) / M-81 east (Washington Road) – Bay City, Flint, Caro
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Bay City


Business US Highway 23
Location: Bay City
Length: 2.714 mi[1] (4.368 km)
Existed: 1941[24][25]–1961[26][27]

Business US Highway 23 (Bus. US 23) was a business loop through downtown Bay City. It started at the intersection of where US 23 turned off Broadway Street westward onto Lafayette Avenue. From this point, Bus. US 23 ran east on Lafayette Avenue for two blocks and then turned northward onto Garfield Avenue, running parallel to, but inland from, the Saginaw River into downtown Bay City. As it approached downtown, the business loop jogged off Garfield onto Washington Avenue. At the intersection with 7th Street, Bus. US 23 turned westward to cross the Saginaw River. On the opposite side, the business loop followed Jenny Street westbound and Thomas Street eastbound along a one-way pairing of streets. At the intersection with US 23 (Euclid Avenue), the business loop terminated.[26][28]

With the construction of a new bridge across the Saginaw River in 1941 to connect Lafayette and Salzburg avenues, US 23 was rerouted to use that new bridge. The former routing of the mainline highway through downtown was redesignated Bus. US 23 at that time.[24][25] Twenty years later, with the opening of the new freeway for Interstate 75 (I-75) near Bay City, US 23 was rerouted to follow I-75. The route of Bus. US 23 was redesignated as a part of Business Loop I-75 at this time.[26][27]

Major intersections
The entire highway was in Bay City, Bay County.

mi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
0.0000.000 US 23 – Standish, Saginaw
1.234–
1.302		1.986–
2.095		 M-15 south / M-25 eastEastern end of M-15/M-25 concurrency
1.9573.149 M-47 northNorthern terminus of M-47
2.7144.368 US 23 / M-47 – Standish, Saginaw
M-20 west – Midland
M-15 south / M-25 east		Western end of M-15/M-25 concurrency; eastern terminus of M-20
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Rogers City


Business US Highway 23
Location: Rogers City
Length: 4.074 mi[1] (6.556 km)
Existed: 1942[29][30]–present

Business US Highway 23 (Bus. US 23) is a business loop that runs through downtown Rogers City on two-lane streets. The highway starts at an intersection with US 23 in Belknap Township south of downtown and passes the location of Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company's quarry Petersville Road,[31][32] the largest such quarry in the world.[33] Farther north, the business loop passes the eastern end of the Rogers City Airport and turns northwesterly, parallel to, but inland from, the Lake Huron shoreline. Now following 3rd Street, Bus. US 23 runs through a residential area on the southern side of town before entering downtown. At the intersection with Erie Street, Bus. US 23 meets the eastern terminus of M-68. Four blocks later, the business loop comes the closest to Lake Huron in another residential area before turning to the west. Anorther five blocks to the west of this curve, Bus. US 23 terminates at an intersection with US 23 on the western edge of the city.[31][32]

In 1940, a new highway routing for US 23 opened between Rogers City and Cheboygan. At the time, the former routing of US 23 through downtown Rogers City was renumbered as a part of M-65, which was also extended northward along the segment of M-91 that was not subsumed into the new US 23 routing.[34][35] Just two years later, M-65 was pared back to end at US 23 southeast of Rogers City, and the section of M-65 through downtown was renumbered as Bus. US 23.[29][30]

Major intersections
The entire highway is in Presque Isle County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Belknap Township0.0000.000 US 23 – Cheboygan, Alpena
Rogers City2.9414.733 M-68 west – OnawayEastern terminus of M-68
4.0746.556 US 23 – Cheboygan, Alpena
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Michigan Department of Transportation & Michigan Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships (2009). MDOT Physical Reference Finder Application (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1962). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § M12. OCLC 12701120 and 173191490.
  3. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1963). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § M12. OCLC 12701120.
  4. ↑ Michigan Department of Transportation (2015). Pure Michigan: State Transportation Map (Map). 1 in≈2.5 mi / 1 cm≈1.75 km. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit Area inset. §§ E3–F4.
  5. ↑ Google (January 6, 2016). "Overview Map of Bus. US 23 in Ann Arbor" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  6. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department (1964). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § M12. OCLC 12701120 and 81213707.
  7. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1965). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § M12. OCLC 12701120.
  8. ↑ Michigan Department of State Highways (1966). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § M12. OCLC 12701120.
  9. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1958). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701120 and 51856742. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1958)
  10. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1960). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701120 and 81552576. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1960)
  11. 1 2 3 4 Michigan Department of Transportation (2006). Truck Operator's Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. § L12.
  12. 1 2 Michigan Department of Transportation (2007). Truck Operator's Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. § L12.
  13. 1 2 Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation (1975). Official Transportation Map (Map). 1 in≈14.5 mi / 1 in≈23 km. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation. § L12. OCLC 12701177 and 320798754.
  14. 1 2 Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation (1976). Official Transportation Map (Map) (1976–77 ed.). 1 in≈14.5 mi / 1 in≈23 km. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation. § L12. OCLC 12701177.
  15. ↑ Google (January 6, 2016). "Overview Map of Former Bus. US 23 in Fenton" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  16. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department (1961). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701120 and 51857665. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1961)
  17. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department (1962). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701120 and 173191490.
  18. ↑ "Leroy Street Opening, an Historical Milestone". Tri-County Times (Fenton, MI). November 11, 2000. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  19. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1953). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Saginaw inset. OCLC 12701120.
  20. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1953). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Saginaw inset. OCLC 12701120.
  21. 1 2 3 Michigan State Highway Department (1961). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Saginaw inset. OCLC 12701120 and 51857665. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1961)
  22. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1962). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Saginaw inset. OCLC 12701120 and 173191490.
  23. ↑ Google (January 6, 2016). "Overview Map of Former Bus. US 23 in Saginaw" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  24. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1940). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Bay City inset. OCLC 12701143.
  25. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (March 21, 1941). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Spring ed.). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Bay City inset. OCLC 12701143.
  26. 1 2 3 Michigan State Highway Department (1960). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Bay City inset. OCLC 12701120 and 81552576. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1960)
  27. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1961). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Bay City inset. OCLC 12701120 and 51857665. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1961)
  28. ↑ Google (January 6, 2016). "Overview Map of Former Bus. US 23 in Bay City" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  29. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1941). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. OCLC 12701143.
  30. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (June 1, 1942). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Summer ed.). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § E12. OCLC 12701143.
  31. 1 2 Michigan Department of Transportation (2015). Pure Michigan: State Transportation Map (Map). 1 in≈15 mi / 1 cm≈9 km. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. § E12.
  32. 1 2 Google (January 6, 2016). "Overview Map of Bus. US 23 in Rogers City" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  33. ↑ Schaetzl, Randall (n.d.). "Calcite Quarry". GEO 333: Geography of Michigan and the Great Lakes Region. East Lansing: Michigan State University Department of Geography. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  34. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (July 15, 1940). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Summer ed.). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ F11–F12. OCLC 12701143.
  35. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1940). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ F11–F12. OCLC 12701143.

External links

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