M-12 (Michigan highway)

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 It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into U.S. Route 2 in Michigan. (Discuss)
This article describes a former Michigan state trunkline highway numbered M-12. For the U.S. Highway with the same number, see U.S. Route 12 in Michigan; for other uses, see M12
M-12
Former state trunkline
Length: 406.63 mi[1] (654 km)
History: Replaced by US 2 in 1926
West end: WIS 77 near Ironwood
East end: Former ferry docks in Sault Ste. Marie
Counties: Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, Menominee, Delta, Schoolcraft, Mackinac, Chippewa
Michigan highways
< US-12 M-13 >

M-12 was the designation of a former state trunkline highway in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Before the advent of the U.S. Highway System in 1926, M-12 occupied the route of what is now known as US 2 from Ironwood to Sault Ste. Marie. The only part of M-12 was not replaced by US 2 was where it occupied the present day routings of M-69, between Crystal Falls and Sagola, and M-95 from Sagola to Iron Mountain[2].

Contents

[edit] Route description

Main article: U.S. Route 2 in Michigan

M-12 started at a bridge crossing the Montreal River between Hurley, Wisconsin and Ironwood, Michigan. This bridge on Silver Street marked the state line. From Ironwood, M-12 ran eastward through Bessemer to the community of Wakefield. There it met M-28 before turning southeasterly roughly parallel to the state line to the community of Watersmeet. Here M-12 intersected M-26. M-26 from Watersmeet northward would later be used as part of what is now US 45. M-12 continued to the community of Iron River and east to Crystal Falls. Here M-12 met M-69 which used a routing later given to US 102 (now US 141). When the US Highway System was formed, the M-69 designation was moved to replace the next section of M-12 between Crystal Falls and Sagola since the new US 2 didn't use this section of M-12 and M-69 itself was displaced.[3]

From Crystal Falls, M-12 continued eastward to Sagola before turning south to Iron Mountain over what is now the southern section of M-95. At Iron Mountain, M-12 followed the present-day routing of US 2 eastward through Norway to Powers. M-15 joined M-12 at Powers eastward to Escanaba to Rapid River. M-15 was replaced by US 41. M-12 ran eastward to the St. Ignace area. The lakeshore routing in Mackinac County used by US 2 was not built at the time of M-12's redesignation. Instead M-12 used roads no longer part of the Michigan Highway System running north of St Ignace to connect with what is now M-134. From Cedarville north, M-12 ran along the present-day M-129 north into Sault Ste. Marie and ended at the state ferry docks.

[edit] History

M-12 was first designated in 1919.[4] It was replaced by US 2 in 1926 and the designation has never been reused since.[2][3]

[edit] Major intersections

County Location Mile[1][3] Roads Notes
Gogebic Ironwood 0.00 WIS 77 Western terminus was located at the state line on Silver Street
Wakefield 12.65 M-28  
Watersmeet 58.64 M-26 Present day US 45
Iron Iron River 93.26 M-73  
Crystal Falls 109.31 M-69 Former US 102, now US 141; Western terminus of overlap
110.47 M-69 Now US 2/141; Eastern terminus of overlap
Dickinson Sagola 123.24 M-45 Now M-69/M-95
Randville 129.26 M-90 Now M-69/M-95
Menominee Powers 172.93 M-15 Now US 41; Western terminus of overlap
Delta Gladstone 204.23 M-35  
Rapid River 210.16 M-15 Now US 41; Eastern terminus of overlap
Garden Corners 233.01 Delta County Route 483 Now M-183
Schoolcraft Manistique 254.56 M-94  
Mueller Township 279.09 M-77  
Mackinac Garfield Township 296.39 M-84 Now M-117
Hendricks Township 315.94 M-48 Now H-40
Pickford 380.30 M-48 Southern terminus of overlap
Chippewa 384.27 M-48 Northern terminus of overlap
Sault Ste. Marie 406.63 Former ferry docks Before 1962, these docks were the only connection between Michigan and Ontario, Canada; Eastern terminus
Legend
Crossing, no access Concurrency terminus Deleted Unconstructed Closed

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b MiGDL - Center for Geographic Information - Geographic Data Library. Michigan Department of Information Technology (May 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  2. ^ a b Bessert, Christopher J. (2005-10-14). Michigan Highways: Master List 1918-Present. Michigan Highways. Retrieved on 2006-08-21.
  3. ^ a b c Bessert, Christopher J.. Michigan Highways: Highways 1 through 9. Michigan Highways. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  4. ^ Michigan State Highway Department. State of Michigan [map]. Cartography by MSHD. (1919) Retrieved on 2008-03-02.

[edit] External links