M-27 (Michigan highway)

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This article describes a Michigan state trunkline highway numbered M-27. For the former U.S. Highway with the same number, see U.S. Route 27 in Michigan; for other uses, see M27

M-27

Maintained by MDOT

Length:

16.77 mi^[1] (26.99 km)

Formed:

1961^[2]

South end:

I-75 near Indian River

Major
junctions:

M-33 near Aloha

North end:

US 23 & C-66 in Cheboygan

Counties:

Cheboygan

Major cities:

Indian River, Topinabee, Cheboygan

Michigan highways
< US-27		M-28 >

M-27 is a short north-south state trunkline highway in the extreme north of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The route runs between I-75 just north of Indian River and Cheboygan, where it meets US 23 near Lake Huron. It remains as a relic of the old US 27 which disappeared north of Grayling after being supplanted by I-75, which lies close to old US 27 between Grayling and Indian River.

1 Route description
2 History
- 2.1 Previous alignment
- 2.2 Current alignment
3 Major intersections
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Route description

I-75 takes a more direct route between Indian River and Mackinaw City. M-27 follows old US 27 through Topinabee and Cheboygan. With US 23 it is a scenic, if indirect, alternative to I-75 on its approach to the Mackinac Bridge. M-27 runs along the western shore of Mullett Lake and forms the main street of Topinabee. M-27 intersects M-33 near the confluence of the Cheboygan and Black rivers. North of the M-33 junction, M-27 runs parallel to the Cheboygan River on the west river bank.

M-27 is given the local road name of "Main Street" in Cheboygan and "Straits Highway" outside the City of Cheboygan.^[3] Together with State Street/US 23, Main Street/M-27 forms the two major streets in the Cheboygan street grid. The main downtown businesses are located along Main St. and south to the city limits.

[edit] History

[edit] Previous alignment

This is the second time a highway was designated M-27 in Michigan. The original M-27 was located in The Thumb, running from the Mount Clemens area east and north through New Baltimore to Port Huron. There it ran through Carsonville and Minden City to Harbor Beach and along Lake Huron to Port Austin. This version of M-27 was designated around 1920 and would last until 1926. All of M-27 would be given to other highways including M-29 (Mount Clemens to Port Huron), M-51 (Port Huron to M-83), and M-29 (Harbor Beach to Port Austin).^[2]

[edit] Current alignment

The construction of I-75 lead to the replacement of the northern portion of US 27. I-75 angles west of due north toward Mackinaw City; US 27 (and now M-27) angles to the east toward the north. Between Grayling and Indian River, I-75 directly replaced US 27. North of Indian River, I-75 was built on a new alignment leaving a section of former US 27 as a state trunkline. Between Cheboygan and Mackinaw City, US 23 and US 27 coincided before 1961; US 23 remains intact. M-27 was designated in 1961 on the current alignment replacing US 27 which was truncated back to Grayling.^[2] Today, the streach from Grayling to about Wolverine is known as Old 27, and from there to Indian River is designated as the Straits Highway.^[3]

[edit] Major intersections

County	Location	Mile^[1]	Roads	Notes
Cheboygan	Indian River	0.00	I-75	Southern terminus at exit 310
	Cheboygan		M-33	Northern terminus of M-33
			C-64 VFW Road
		16.77	US 23 C-66 State Street	Northern terminus of M-27. C-66 approaches from the west and terminates. US 23 continues through to the east or north.