M-144 was the designation assigned to two former state trunkline highways

Michigan Highway System

The Michigan State Trunkline Highway System is made up of all the highways designated as Interstates, U.S. Highways and State Highways in the US state of Michigan. The system is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation and comprises of trunklines in all 83 counties of Michigan on...

 in the US state of Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

. The original version of M-144 existed as a short spur connecting the Michigan State Police

Michigan State Police

The Michigan State Police is the state police agency for the state of Michigan. The MSP is a full service law enforcement agency with its sworn members having full police powers statewide....

 headquarters in East Lansing

East Lansing, Michigan

East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...

 to Michigan Avenue, which was signed at the time as M-39

M-39 (Michigan highway)

M-39 is a state highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from Lincoln Park to Southfield. The southern terminus of M-39 is at the corner of Southfield Road and Lafayette Boulevard in Lincoln Park, one block southeast of the junction of I-75 and two blocks northwest of M-85...

. The second version of M-144 began in Roscommon County

Roscommon County, Michigan

-Local attractions and activities:The community is centered in the area of two very large lakes, in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's Warblers, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include:...

 and traveled between the towns of Roscommon

Roscommon, Michigan

Roscommon is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,133. It is the county seat of Roscommon County....

 and Luzerne

Big Creek Township, Michigan

Big Creek Township is a civil township of Oscoda County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,380 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* Luzerne is an unincorporated community on M-72 at...

 in Oscoda County

Oscoda County, Michigan

See also: List of counties bordering eight counties-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,418 people, 3,921 households, and 2,717 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile . There were 8,690 housing units at an average density of 15 per...

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Route description

The original M-144 of 1936 served as a connector route from M-39, Michigan Avenue, in East Lansing to the State Police Headquarters on Harrison Road. The road traveled alongside the campus of Michigan State University

Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...

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History

The first incarnation of M-144 only lasted for four years, designated in 1936 to serve as the aforementioned connector to the state police headquarters, it was removed in 1940 at which time it was relocated near Houghton Lake

Houghton Lake, Michigan

Houghton Lake is an unincorporated community in Roscommon Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place for statistical purposes with the same name. The population was 3,749 at the 2000 census.The community is situated on the...

 as version two of M-144. The former northern terminus at Michigan Avenue, today, is unsigned state trunkline M-143

M-143 (Michigan highway)

M-143, also known as Michigan Avenue, is an unsigned spur state trunkline highway in the south central region of the US state of Michigan. The M-143 portion of Michigan Avenue runs from the East Lansing city limit to a junction with M-43 at Grand River Avenue. This unsigned highway is the second...

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Major intersections