M-59 (Michigan)

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M-59

M-59 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDOT
Length60.514 mi[1] (97.388 km)
Existedc. July 1, 1919[2]–present
Major junctions
West end I-96 in Howell
Major intersections
East end I-94 near Mount Clemens
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesLivingston, Oakland, Macomb
Highway system
← M-58→ M-60

M-59 is an east–west state trunkline highway that crosses the northern part of Metropolitan Detroit in the US state of Michigan. It runs between Howell at Interstate 96 (I-96) and I-94 on the Chesterfield–Harrison township line near the Selfridge Air National Guard Base. While primarily a multi-lane surface highway, it is a full freeway from just east of downtown Pontiac near Opdyke Road to just east of the Mound Road/Merrill Road exit in Utica. The various surface highway segments are named either Highland Road, Huron Street or Hall Road, with the latter known as an area for shopping and dining. The rural sections west of Pontiac pass through Oakland County lake country, passing through two state recreational areas.

M-59 was first designated with the rest of the original state trunkline highway system by July 1, 1919 between Pontiac and Mt. Clemens. Extensions on both ends brought the termini as far as Howell and New Baltimore before the current termini were established in the 1960s. M-59 was expanded into a freeway in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with additional expansions in the 1980s and 1990s to create the divided highway sections.

Route description

M-59 starts at I-96 in Howell Township as Highland Road near a large outlet mall. Highland Road carries M-59 concurrently with the westernmost section of Business Loop I-96 (BL I-96). Highland Road widens out into a boulevard south of the county airport before the roadway reaches Grand River Avenue. At this intersection, BL I-96 departs to the southwest. This section of Howell is mostly residential with tree-lined streets. The boulevard section ends near Thompson Lake and M-59 continues east through rural Livingston County as a two-lane highway crossing forested and residential areas. Halfway across Hartland Township, M-59 meets the US Highway 23 (US 23) freeway near the Hartland Plaza Shopping Center, and Highland Road widens out to a boulevard divided highway again. The route passes several small lakes and continues east into Oakland County. Running through the Highland State Recreational Area, M-59 swings to the north through rural Oakland County's lake country which comprises several lakes in dense forest lands and residential subdivisions that form the northern edge of the Metropolitan Detroit area. There is a brief gap in the Highland SRA where M-59 narrows back to two-lane road. Near Brendel Lake and the Alpine Valley Ski Area, Highland Road narrows back to two lanes for the final time. The narrowed roadway continues east, crossing the southern edge of Pontiac Lake in the state recreational area of the same name.[3][4]

M-59 (Highland Road) east of Duck Lake Road in Highland

The next major landmark along M-59 is the Oakland County International Airport in Waterford Township. Highland Road begins to curve back to the south through denser suburbs as it approaches the outskirts of Pontiac. The Highland Road name gives way to Huron Street near Sylvan Lake, and M-59 crosses Telegraph Road, which carries US 24 and marks the boundary with Pontiac. Eastbound M-59 continues along Huron Street into downtown Pontiac where it crosses the northern end of Woodward Avenue, which is part of the two business loops that encircle the central business district while westbound M-59 bypasses downtown Pontiac as it follows the northern loop of Woodward. East of downtown Pontiac, M-59 widens out into a full freeway. This freeway provides access to the south side of the former Pontiac Silverdome, once the home of the Detroit Lions. To the east of the former stadium in Auburn Hills is the cloverleaf interchange with I-75 and the North American corporate headquarters of car maker Chrysler. Continuing east through the northern Detroit suburbs, the M-59 freeway curves back to the south and crosses into Macomb County at the Dequindre Road interchange.[3][4] Trucks carrying explosive or flammable cargo are required to exit the M-59 freeway and use the parallel service drive through the Mound Road-Merrill Road interchange just west of Utica.[5]

The M-59 freeway crosses the border between Sterling Heights and Shelby Township and ends at Van Dyke Avenue in Utica, where M-59 becomes a boulevard called Hall Road. The highway crosses the Clinton River and the southern end of the M-53 freeway.[3] This section of the highway is somewhat of a "main street" in Macomb County, as it is home to a wide variety of shopping and dining including Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights and The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township.[6] Although it is neither officially designated nor commonly referred to as such, the Hall Road portion of M-59 is coextensive with "20 Mile Road" in the Detroit Mile Road system. Near its eastern terminus, M-59 crosses both M-97 (Groesbeck Highway) and M-3 (Gratiot Avenue). East of Gratiot, Hall Road is called the William P. Rosso Highway. M-59 ends at the freeway interchange with I-94 while Rosso Highway continues along the northern edge of Selfridge Air National Guard Base to Lake St. Clair.[4]

History

M-59 was first designated by July 1, 1919 between M-10 (now Bus. US 24) in Pontiac and M-19 (later US 25 and now M-3) in Mt. Clemens.[2] It would be moved to follow Hall Road exclusively on the east end in 1932.[7][8] The west end was extended in 1936 to end at the Livingston–Oakland county line.[9][10] The extension to US 23 in Hartland was finished by 1938.[11] The east end was extended again in 1939 along US 25 and over to M-29 in New Baltimore.[12] The east end was rerouted again between Mt. Clemens and New Baltimore over another former alignment of M-29 in late 1947 or early 1948.[13][14] The eastern terminus was truncated to M-29 east of US 25/Gratiot Avenue in 1961.[15][16]

Another extension on the west end moved M-59 to end at US 16 in Howell by 1960.[17][18] The west end was extended with the new BL I-96 in Howell to end at the newly opened I-96 freeway in 1962.[16][19] The east end was rerouted to end at I-94 in 1963.[19][20]

M-59 was converted into a freeway starting in 1966 with the first segment between Pontiac and Auburn Road near Rochester.[21][22] A second segment opened in 1972 east to Mound Road in Utica.[23][24] Segments were converted to divided highway in Oakland County in 1984 through 1986.[25][26] The east end was reconstructed in 1995–97 and converted to a six- to eight-lane divided highway.[27][28] The freeway was extended east in 1998 to Van Dyke Avenue in Utica; the same year, the eastern end was rerouted off Gratiot Avenue and 23 Mile Road to end at a different interchange with I-94, eliminating the concurrency with M-3.[29][30] The old routing of M-59 along Auburn Road in Rochester Hills is still maintained by MDOT.[31]

In 2010, MDOT started the process of expanding M-59 from two lanes to three in each direction between Crooks Road and Ryan Road, using funding from the Federal stimulus bill of 2009.[32] With this improvement, M-59 is now at least three lanes each way from I-75 to I-94.[33]

In 2017, MDOT started the reconstruction of M-59 (Hall Road) from M-53 to Romeo Plank Rd. This construction is expected to last through 2018.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
LivingstonHowell Township0.0000.000 I-96 – Lansing, Detroit

 BL I-96 east		Western end of BL I-96 concurrency; exit 133 on I-96
1.0041.616
 BL I-96 east (Grand River Avenue) – Downtown Howell		Eastern end of BL I-96 concurrency
Hartland Township12.71920.469 US 23 – Ann Arbor, FlintExit 67 on US 23
OaklandWaterford Township–Pontiac city line35.57757.256 US 24 (Telegraph Road) – Clarkston, Southfield
Pontiac37.31160.046

 BL I-75 / Bus. US 24 (Woodward Avenue) to M-1 – Birmingham		Eastbound M-59 routes through downtown Pontiac; westbound M-59 follows the northern loop around the downtown where it overlaps BL I-75 and Bus. US 24
37.87460.952—University DriveEastbound entrance and westbound exit; western end of freeway
38.55762.05138Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Pontiac–Auburn Hills city line39.58263.70139Opdyke Road
Auburn Hills40.153–
40.229		64.620–
64.742		40 I-75 – Detroit, FlintSigned as exit 40A (south) and 40B (north); exit 77 on I-75
41.10866.15741Squirrel RoadSigned as exit 41A (south) and 41B (north) eastbound
Rochester Hills42.47268.35242Adams RoadWestbound exit via Hamlin Road
43.64070.23244Crooks Road
46.07774.15446 M-150 (Rochester Road) – Rochester Hills, Troy
Oakland–Macomb county lineRochester Hills–Shelby Township city line48.15777.50148Dequindre RoadEastbound exit and entrance via South Boulevard/Dobry Drive
MacombShelby Township–Sterling Heights city line50.16180.726—Mound Road, Merrill Road
Utica51.08082.205Eastern end of freeway
Utica–Sterling Heights city line52.17683.969 M-53 – Detroit, Imlay CityExit 17 on M-53
Macomb–Clinton township line59.16895.222
 M-97 south (Groesbeck Highway) / North Avenue		Northern terminus of M-97
59.94296.467 M-3 (Gratiot Avenue) – Mt. ClemensKnown as "William P. Rosso Highway" east of M-3
Chesterfield–Harrison township line60.496–
60.514		97.359–
97.388		 I-94 – Detroit, Port HuronExit 240 on I-94; roadway continues eastbound as William P. Rosso Highway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b Michigan Department of Transportation (2021). Next Generation PR Finder (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department (July 1, 1919). State of Michigan (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Lower Peninsula sheet. OCLC 15607244. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  3. ^ a b c Google (August 30, 2010). "Overview Map of M-59" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Michigan Department of Transportation (2010). Uniquely Michigan: Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:158,400. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit Area inset. OCLC 42778335, 639960603.
  5. ^ Staff (n.d.). "Truck Driver's Guidebook: Hazardous Materials". WasteWatcher. The Border Center. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  6. ^ Staff (2010). "Malls & Boutiques". Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  7. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (July 1, 1932). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:840,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L14. OCLC 12701053.
  8. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (October 1, 1932). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:840,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L14. OCLC 12701053.
  9. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (June 1, 1936). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701143.
  10. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 15, 1936). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701143, 317396365. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  11. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (May 1, 1938). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Spring ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701143. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  12. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (April 15, 1939). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Summer ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L14. OCLC 12701143.
  13. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (May 1, 1947). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L14. OCLC 12701120, 494733404.
  14. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1948). Michigan Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L14. OCLC 12701120.
  15. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1961). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L14. OCLC 12701120, 51857665. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1961)
  16. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department (1962). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L14. OCLC 12701120, 173191490. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  17. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1958). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701120, 51856742. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1958)
  18. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1960). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L12. OCLC 12701120, 81552576. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1960)
  19. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department (1963). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ L12–L14. OCLC 12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  20. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1964). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L14. OCLC 12701120, 81213707. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  21. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways (1966). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § L13. OCLC 12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  22. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways (1967). Michigan Water-Winter Wonderland: Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § L13. OCLC 12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  23. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways (1972). Michigan, Great Lake State: Official Highway Map (Map). c. 1:918,720. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § L13. OCLC 12701120.
  24. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways (1973). Michigan, Great Lake State: Official Highway Map (Map). c. 1:918,720. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § L13. OCLC 12701120, 81679137. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  25. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (1984). Say Yes to Michigan!: Official Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:158,400. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit and Vicinity inset. OCLC 12701177. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  26. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (1987). Yes Michigan: Official Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:158,400. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit and Vicinity inset. OCLC 12701177. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  27. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (1995). Michigan Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:158,400. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit and Vicinity inset. OCLC 42778335, 32885070. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  28. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (1997). Michigan Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:158,400. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit and Vicinity inset. OCLC 42778335, 39132463. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  29. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (1998). Michigan Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:158,400. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit and Vicinity inset. §§ A10–A11. OCLC 42778335.
  30. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (1999). Michigan Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:158,400. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit and Vicinity inset. §§ A10–A11. OCLC 42778335, 55974644. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  31. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (2019). Truck Operator's Map (PDF) (Map). c. 1:221,760. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit and Vicinity inset. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  32. ^ Shea, Bill (May 10, 2010). "Stimulus Funds Drive 32,710 Jobs for Transit". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved May 28, 2012 – via HighBeam Research.[dead link]
  33. ^ "Road Work Season Wraps up in Metro Detroit". States News Service. November 17, 2010. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2012 – via HighBeam Research.

External links

  • M-59 at Michigan Highways
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