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M-168 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-168 is one of the shortest state trunkline highways
in the US state of Michigan
, extending 0.953 miles (1.5 km) from a junction with M-22
in downtown Elberta
to the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks. It follows the south shore of Lake Betsie (formed by the Betsie River
before flowing into Lake Michigan
). The highway was commissioned in 1931 and served as a connection to the car ferries until 1984. Currently the road is being reconstructed by the Michigan Department of Transportation
(MDOT) in preparation to transfer it to village control.
just west of where M-22 crosses over Lake Betsie. Known as Frankfort Avenue, M-168 then travels to the northwest near the shore of the lake through a mixed residential and commercial area before turning slightly westward onto Furnace Avenue. Along Furnace Avenue, the roadway is lined with homes on one side and lake frontage on the other. Eventually, the road curves to the west where it intersects Betsie Valley Trail coming to its terminus shortly thereafter at the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks.
.
(MDOT) document indicates that in 2010, a $2.1 million project will reconstruct M-168. Upon completion of the project, the route will be jurisdictionally transferred to the Village of Elberta
, thereby removing M-168 from the state trunkline system.
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"....
, extending 0.953 miles (1.5 km) from a junction with M-22
M-22 (Michigan highway)
M-22 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. It is long and follows the Lake Michigan shoreline of the Leelanau Peninsula, making up a portion of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. It also passes through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore...
in downtown Elberta
Elberta, Michigan
Elberta is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. The village located in the east of Gilmore Township, on the south side of Lake Betsie, which is formed by the Betsie River before flowing into Lake Michigan. The village is on M-22 just...
to the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks. It follows the south shore of Lake Betsie (formed by the Betsie River
Betsie River
The Betsie River is a stream in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Michigan. The name is derived from the French Riviere Aux Bec Scies, meaning river of sawbill ducks . Other alternate names include Aug-sig-o-sebe, Aux Buscies, Betsey's River, Black Robe, Gay-she-say-ing, Riviere du Pere...
before flowing into Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
). The highway was commissioned in 1931 and served as a connection to the car ferries until 1984. Currently the road is being reconstructed by the Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
(MDOT) in preparation to transfer it to village control.
Route description
M-168 begins at a junction with M-22M-22 (Michigan highway)
M-22 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. It is long and follows the Lake Michigan shoreline of the Leelanau Peninsula, making up a portion of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. It also passes through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore...
just west of where M-22 crosses over Lake Betsie. Known as Frankfort Avenue, M-168 then travels to the northwest near the shore of the lake through a mixed residential and commercial area before turning slightly westward onto Furnace Avenue. Along Furnace Avenue, the roadway is lined with homes on one side and lake frontage on the other. Eventually, the road curves to the west where it intersects Betsie Valley Trail coming to its terminus shortly thereafter at the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks.
History
M-168 has existed in its current location since 1931. It was originally assumed into the state trunkline system as being 0.8 miles (1.3 km) in length. Aside from a minor realignment of the junction with M-22 in 1987, the route has remained in this configuration since 1931. From upon its creation until 1984, the road was the main entrance for cars bound for boarding the car ferryTrain ferry
A train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
.
Future
A Michigan Department of TransportationMichigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
(MDOT) document indicates that in 2010, a $2.1 million project will reconstruct M-168. Upon completion of the project, the route will be jurisdictionally transferred to the Village of Elberta
Elberta, Michigan
Elberta is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. The village located in the east of Gilmore Township, on the south side of Lake Betsie, which is formed by the Betsie River before flowing into Lake Michigan. The village is on M-22 just...
, thereby removing M-168 from the state trunkline system.