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M-144 (1940 Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-144 was the designation assigned to two former state trunkline highways
in the US state of Michigan
. The original version of M-144 existed as a short spur connecting the Michigan State Police
headquarters in East Lansing
to Michigan Avenue, which was signed at the time as M-39
. The second version of M-144 began in Roscommon County
and traveled between the towns of Roscommon
and Luzerne
in Oscoda County
.
near Roscommon, traveled due east before turning to the northeast, passing by the community of Eldorado before terminating at a junction with M-72
near Luzerne
.
. Later, the eastern terminus of M-144 was shifted to end at M-72 north of Eldorado while the western terminus shifted into downtown Roscommon. After the completion of the I-75 freeway west of Roscommon, the routing of M-18
had become obsolete. It was then realigned on top of the M-144 routing, thereby removing M-144 from the state trunkline system and the number has not been used since.
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...
.
Route description
At its greatest extent, the second version of M-144 began at a junction with M-76M-76 (Michigan highway)
M-76 is a former state trunkline highway designation in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway's designation was decommissioned when the last section of it was converted to freeway as a part of the present-day Interstate 75 . At that time, M-76 extended from US Highway 23 ...
near Roscommon, traveled due east before turning to the northeast, passing by the community of Eldorado before terminating at a junction with M-72
M-72 (Michigan highway)
M-72 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan, running from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan across the northern part of the Lower Peninsula. The highway connects M-22 in Empire with US Highway 23 in Harrisville. It is one of only three Michigan state trunklines that cross the Lower...
near 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...
.
History
The second routing of M-144 in 1940 ran between Roscommon and Luzerne. This section of highway had originally been designated M-72, but was replaced with the M-144 designation between Luzerne and Roscommon while the M-72 designation was shifted to run westerly out of Luzerne into Crawford CountyCrawford County, Michigan
See also: List of counties bordering eight counties-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,273 people, 5,625 households, and 4,038 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 10,042 housing units at an average density of 18 per...
. Later, the eastern terminus of M-144 was shifted to end at M-72 north of Eldorado while the western terminus shifted into downtown Roscommon. After the completion of the I-75 freeway west of Roscommon, the routing of M-18
M-18 (Michigan highway)
M-18 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs for through the central region of the state connecting US Highway 10 near North Bradley with M-72 in rural Crawford County near the community of Luzerne...
had become obsolete. It was then realigned on top of the M-144 routing, thereby removing M-144 from the state trunkline system and the number has not been used since.