Michigan Highways: Route Listings: M-75 (original) (raw)

Michigan Highways: Since 1997.

Southern Terminus:	US-131 in downtown Boyne Falls
Northern Terminus:	US-131 at Walloon Lake
Length:	12.365 miles
Maps:	Route Map of M-75
Notes:	This highway is basically a loop route from US-131 through Boyne City. Although it is geographically close to I-75, M-75 is more than three decades older than I-75. (MDOT does not have any sort of internal "policy" prohibiting the use of a route number on multiple "types" of highways, thus M-75 and I-75 harmlessly co-exist in the state.)
	M-75 in Charlevoix Co was originally designated M-57 in the early 1920s, but was renumbered by 1927. The odd thing about this change in designation was it consisted of a "flip" of the numbers on the sign: 5 – 7 to 7 – 5!
	Until c.2010, M-75 was signed in the field only with M-75 route markers and no directional signage (e.g. NORTH M-75). No directional signage of any kind existed either along the route of M-75 or along US-131 at either of M-75's termini. During a sign replacement project, cardinal direction signs were included with all M-75 signage, signing the route as a north–south highway.
	In "State Trunkline Needs, 1960–1980," a set of maps prepared by the State Highway Dept's Office of Planning, Programming Division in 1960 showing possible additions, upgrades and improvements to the state trunkline system over the ensuing twenty years, MSHD staff recommended a pair of changes to the route of M-75 during that timeframe, including: The planning maps included a full freeway for US-131 on new alignment mostly to the east of the existing route through Charlevoix Co. The two changes suggested for M-75 were to extend the route on either end to meet up with the proposed US-131 freeway. At Boyne Falls, M-75 would be extended southerly along the exisitng route of US-131 for approximately two miles to a proposed interchange with US-131. On the Walloon Lake end, M-75 was proposed to continue east along Springvale Rd to River Rd (its pre-1936 terminus), then southerly and easterly via Springvale Rd to another interchange with the proposed US-131 freeway. Obviously, these suggestions were not implemented as the US-131 freeway never made it farther north than the Manton area.
History:	1917 (Oct 28) – A 1.5-mile long state trunkline route is officially established in Dickinson Co beginning at the southern city limit of Iron Mountain and continuing southerly on present-day Carpenter Ave to a terminus on the Menominee River bridge at the Wisconsin state line. This trunkline is given the designation of M-75.
	1921 (Mar 8) – An additional 1.0 mile of state trunkline route is established for M-75 beginning at the southern city limit of Iron Mountain at the northern end of the officially assumed segment of M-75 and continuing northerly for 12 blocks via Carpenter Ave, then turning easterly along Ludington Ave for one long city block to a terminus at M-12 (now US-2/US-141) along Stephenson Ave in downtown Iron Mountain.
	1927 – With the coming of the US Highway System, much of M-12 across the Upper Peninsula is designated as US-2, with the primary exception of the segment between Iron Mountain and Crystal Falls. US-2 now follows the slightly shorter path via Florence, Wisconsin. The segment of M-12 from Crystal Falls easterly to Sagola is redesignated as M-69, while the north-south portion from Sagola southerly through Randville to Iron Mountain becomes an extension of M-45 (present-day M-95). The M-45 designation runs concurrently with US-2 into downtown Iron River and then supplants the M-75 designation through Kingsford to the Wisconsin state line. The M-75 designation, however, is almost immediately transplanted to an existing route in the Lower Peninsula. All of the route of M-57 from Boyne Falls through Boyne City to Walloon Lake is redesignated as M-75. (At the time of its designation as M-75, the route was completely hard-surfaced.)
	1933 (Mar 20) – M-131 (present-day US-131) is realigned onto its present-day routing in Charlevoix Co from south of Walloon Lake northerly into Emmet Co. M-75, however, continues to occupy its routing between the new alignment of M-131 and that of the former M-131 (present-day River Rd) south of Clarion.
	1936 (Feb 20) – Almost three years after M-131 (present-day US-131) was relocated closer to the community of Walloon Lake, the 0.6 mile segment of M-75 from the new M-131 alignment easterly to its terminus at the former route of M-131 is turned back to county control. The northern terminus of M-75 is now at its present-day location.
	1966 (Sept 30) – The 6.0 miles of M-75 from the intersection of M-75 & Old State Rd east of Boyne City northerly to the easternmost intersection of M-75 & South Shore Dr near the community of Walloon Lake is cancelled as a state trunkline route. Simultaneously, a new 4.02-mile routing for M-75 is established, utilizing a portion of the former alignment, but diverging on either end. Closer to Boyne City, M-75 now cuts off a corner—it formerly traveled along Old State Rd and Old 75, which are now turned back to county control. On the Walloon Lake end, the new alignment runs more directly and bypasses the old alignment along South Shore Rd, which is also turned back to county control.
Controlled Access:	No portion of M-75 is freeway or expressway.
NHS:	No portion of M-75 is on the National Highway System (NHS).
Memorial Highway:	At present, no portion of M-75 has been designated as part of a Memorial Highway.
Photographs:
Weblinks:	M-75 @ Michigan Highway Ends – photos of the termini of M-75 at Dan Garnell's archived Michigan Highway Ends website. Boyne City–Boyne Falls Route – from the Eye on Michigan website. The Breezeway: Take a Rural Ride – the easternmost portion of "The Breezeway" runs along M-75 between C-48/Deer Lake Rd and US-131 in downtown Boyne Falls.