U.S. Route 127 in Michigan
Encyclopedia
US Highway 127 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Chattanooga, Tennessee
, to the Lower Peninsula
of the US state of Michigan
. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway
that runs for 214.12 miles (344.59 km), entering from Ohio
south of Hudson
and ending at a partial interchange with I-75
south of Grayling
. Prior to 2002, US 127 ended at I-69
north of East Lansing
, a total of approximately 83 miles (134 km).
US 127 is the primary route connecting Lansing
and Central Michigan
to Northern Michigan
and the Mackinac Bridge
. From the south side of Jackson
northerly, it is mostly a four-lane freeway, with posted speed limits of 70 miles per hour (31 m/s) for passenger cars, and 60 miles per hour (27 m/s) for trucks.
A notable exception is a 16 miles (26 km) stretch from north of St. Johns
to just south of Ithaca
, where access to the road is not limited and speeds are restricted to 65 miles per hour (29 m/s) for passenger cars, 55 miles per hour (25 m/s) for trucks.
used to survey Michigan in the early 19th century. That stretch is called Meridian Road north to Jackson
. From the state line north, US 127 follows the Hillsdale
–Lenawee
county line north to Hudson and curves east into Addison
. North of Addison is the intersection with US 223
at the northern/western terminus of US 223, and about a mile (1.6 km) farther north, US 12
in rural northwest Lenawee County, east of Somerset. US 127 continues northward to the Jackson area where it becomes a full freeway along the east side of Jackson. When US 127 and I-94
meet on the city's northeast side, they join together westward before US 127 splits off northward. The US 127 freeway continues northward through Leslie
and Mason
to the Lansing area.
In the Lansing area, US 127 follows the I-496
/Ransom E. Olds
Freeway around the city's east side north of I-96
. Right near the Red Cedar River
, just west of the Michigan State University
campus, I-496 and US 127 separate as US 127 continues north and I-496 turns west. US 127 meets I-69
at the 1998–2002 terminus of the highway. From here north, US 127 follows the former US 27 north to Grayling
.
The freeway ends just north of St. Johns
. For a 16 miles (26 km) stretch north to just south of Ithaca
, US 127 is a four-lane highway with cross-street traffic and driveway access to adjacent homes and businesses. While there are no immediate plans to convert this section to freeway, MDOT
continues to purchase parcels for right-of-way to be used for future upgrades.
MDOT
has made several improvements to this stretch of roadway recently to improve safety and traffic flow. This includes the construction of an interchange at M-57
in 2000 in southern Gratiot County
, replacing an accident-prone intersection. In 2009, MDOT
constructed median u-turn crossovers (also known as a "Michigan Left") at several intersections in northern Clinton County to remove cross-street traffic. In April 2010, the MDOT
raised speed limits for passenger cars on this non-freeway stretch to 65 miles per hour (29 m/s) from the previous 55 miles per hour (25 m/s).
South of Ithaca, the highway becomes a freeway again for the remainder of its routing. US 127 crosses the Pine River
in Alma
and runs near the campus of Central Michigan University
, crossing the Chippewa River
in Mt. Pleasant. Mt. Pleasant is also home to the Saginaw Band of Chippewa Indians and their tribal reservation.
There is a welcome center in the median of US 127/US 10
in Clare
. US 127 continues north through the community of Harrison
, county seat of Clare County
. The freeway serves the resort areas of Houghton Lake
and Higgins Lake
in Roscommon County
before ending 4 miles (6 km) south of Grayling at a partial interchange with I-75
. Traffic along US 127 northbound has access to northbound I-75 and southbound traffic on I-75 can access US 127 southbound.
, M-23
, M-34
and M-80
. US 127 originally ran from the Toledo, Ohio
area through Adrian
to Jackson and Lansing. The southern end of US 127 was rerouted in 1930 from Somerset south to Hudson and on to Cincinnati, Ohio
. The section of former US 127 between Somerset and Toledo became US 223
. The city of Mason
was bypassed in 1954. The former route through town was designated BUS US 127 at the time. The US 127 expressway was first started in 1957 with an extension south of Mason to Leslie
. A further extension to Jackson was opened in 1958. By 1964 this expressway was converted to full freeway, complete with interchanges and the BUS US 127. The US 127 freeway was extended north to the Lansing area by 1968. Near Lansing, it was routed along I-496
to the north side of Lansing and East Lansing to connect with US 27. The last extension of US 127 for another 11 years was completed in 1973 when the freeway was completed north to DeWitt
. Two changes took place in the routing of US 127 in the 1980s as the I-69
freeway was completed. The northern Lansing bypass was completed in 1984 and I-69 was built through Clinton County
in 1987. These changes routed I-69 along a portion of US 127 near DeWitt and removed a TEMP I-69 routing from US 127 on the east side of Lansing. The opening of the St. Johns Bypass on August 31, 1998 shortened US 127 by almost 2 miles (3 km) while US 27 was routed along the I-69 freeway between exits 87 and 89 to connect with the new freeway northward.
The Michigan Department of Transportation petitioned the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) for approval to remove US 27 from Michigan in 1999. This would remove the 88 miles (142 km) concurrency
of I-69 and US 27 south of the Lansing area. MDOT proposed that US 127 be extended north over the former US 27 to Grayling. AASHTO approved this change on April 16, 1999 nearly tripling the highway from 83 miles (134 km) to 214 miles (344 km). The highway markers were changed over in 2002, converting US 27 and the BUS US 27 routes to US 127 and BUS US 127 routes. In 2011, an extra lane was added to the northbound lanes of US 127 between Grand River Avenue
at mile marker 78 up to Lake Lansing Road, at exit 79.
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The original defined alignment of Interstate 73
(I-73) would have simply run along I-75
to Detroit. However, the definition was amended in 1995 to have a branch along the US 223 corridor to south of Jackson and the US 127 corridor (formerly US 27 north of Lansing
until 2002) north to I-75 near Grayling
. From Grayling it would simply use I-75 to Sault Ste. Marie
. Except south of Jackson, where it is a two-lane road and a section of road north of Lansing where the freeway reverts to a divided highway, this is mostly a rural four-lane freeway. MDOT abandoned further study of I-73 after June 12, 2001, diverting remaining funding to safety improvement projects along the corridor. MDOT included using the US 223 corridor as one of its three options to build I-73 in 2000. The others included using the US 127 corridor all the way into Ohio with a connection to the Ohio Turnpike
or using US 127 south and a new freeway connection to US 223 at Adrian. MDOT abandoned further study of I-73 after June 12, 2001, diverting remaining funding to safety improvement projects along the corridor. The department stated there was a "lack of need" for sections of the proposed freeway, and the project website was closed down in 2002. According to press reports in 2011, a group advocating on behalf of the freeway is working to revive the I-73 project in Michigan. According to an MDOT spokesman, "to my knowledge, we’re not taking that issue up again." The Lenawee County Road Commission is not interested in the freeway, and according to the president of the Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce, "there seems to be little chance of having an I-73 link between Toledo and Jackson built in the foreseeable future."
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, to the Lower Peninsula
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...
of 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"....
. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway
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...
that runs for 214.12 miles (344.59 km), entering from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
south of Hudson
Hudson, Michigan
Hudson is a city in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,307 at the 2010 census. The city is located within Hudson Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
and ending at a partial interchange with I-75
Interstate 75 in Michigan
Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Miami, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I-75 enters the state from Ohio in the south, just to the north of Toledo. It runs generally north through Detroit, Pontiac and Bay City, crossing the...
south of Grayling
Grayling, Michigan
Grayling is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Crawford County. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. Grayling takes its name from the Grayling fish that was once prevalent in its lakes and streams....
. Prior to 2002, US 127 ended at I-69
Interstate 69 in Michigan
Interstate 69 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that currently runs from Indianapolis, Indiana, to the US–Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state south of Coldwater and passes through the cities of Lansing and Flint...
north of 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...
, a total of approximately 83 miles (134 km).
US 127 is the primary route connecting Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
and Central Michigan
Central Michigan
Central Michigan, often called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan can be considered as a subregion of Central Michigan. As its name implies, it is the central area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and...
to Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
and the Mackinac Bridge
Mackinac Bridge
The Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the non-contiguous Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. Opened in 1957, the bridge is the third longest in total suspension in the world and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages...
. From the south side of Jackson
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
northerly, it is mostly a four-lane freeway, with posted speed limits of 70 miles per hour (31 m/s) for passenger cars, and 60 miles per hour (27 m/s) for trucks.
A notable exception is a 16 miles (26 km) stretch from north of St. Johns
St. Johns, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,485 people, 2,994 households, and 1,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,909.1 per square mile . There were 3,148 housing units at an average density of 802.9 per square mile...
to just south of Ithaca
Ithaca, Michigan
Ithaca is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,098. It is the county seat of Gratiot County.-Geography:...
, where access to the road is not limited and speeds are restricted to 65 miles per hour (29 m/s) for passenger cars, 55 miles per hour (25 m/s) for trucks.
Route description
US 127 enters Michigan as a two-lane highway south of Hudson following the course (with minor deviations) of the Michigan MeridianMichigan Meridian
The Michigan Meridian is the meridian used as a reference in the Michigan Survey, the survey of the U.S. state of Michigan in the early 19th century. It is located at 84 degrees, 22 minutes and 24 seconds west longitude at its northern terminus at Sault Ste...
used to survey Michigan in the early 19th century. That stretch is called Meridian Road north to Jackson
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
. From the state line north, US 127 follows the Hillsdale
Hillsdale County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,527 people, 17,335 households, and 12,550 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 20,189 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
–Lenawee
Lenawee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
county line north to Hudson and curves east into Addison
Addison, Michigan
Addison is a village in Lenawee County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 627. The village is located on the boundary between Rollin Township on the south and Woodstock Township on the north.-Geography:...
. North of Addison is the intersection with US 223
U.S. Route 223
US Route 223 or US Highway 223 is a diagonal US Highway lying in the US states of Michigan and Ohio. The southern most section is completely concurrent with the US 23 freeway, including all of the Ohio segment. It connects US 23 in the south near Toledo, Ohio with US 127 and...
at the northern/western terminus of US 223, and about a mile (1.6 km) farther north, US 12
U.S. Route 12 in Michigan
US Highway 12 is a US Highway that runs from Aberdeen, Washington to Detroit, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan it runs for . Previous to the creation of Interstate Highways in Michigan, US 12 ran along Michigan Avenue between Kalamazoo and Detroit, a highway corridor now served by I-94...
in rural northwest Lenawee County, east of Somerset. US 127 continues northward to the Jackson area where it becomes a full freeway along the east side of Jackson. When US 127 and I-94
Interstate 94 in Michigan
Interstate 94 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Billings, Montana, to the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state south of New Buffalo...
meet on the city's northeast side, they join together westward before US 127 splits off northward. The US 127 freeway continues northward through Leslie
Leslie, Michigan
Leslie is a city in Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,851 at the 2010 census. The city is surrounded by Leslie Township, but is politically autonomous.-Geography:...
and Mason
Mason, Michigan
Mason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is named after the state's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,252. It is the county seat of Ingham County. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital,...
to the Lansing area.
Interstate 496
Interstate 496 is an Interstate Highway that passes through downtown Lansing, Michigan and is a "child" of Interstate 96. It is ceremonially designated the R.E. Olds Freeway along the portion that cuts through the city of Lansing...
/Ransom E. Olds
Ransom E. Olds
Ransom Eli Olds was a pioneer of the American automotive industry, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named. He claimed to have built his first steam car as early as 1894, and his first gasoline powered car in 1896...
Freeway around the city's east side north of I-96
Interstate 96
Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
. Right near the Red Cedar River
Red Cedar River (Michigan)
The Red Cedar River is a westward-flowing tributary of the Grand River in Michigan. Its source is Cedar Lake which is located in Marion Township in the southeastern corner of Livingston County, and it runs about through Okemos, East Lansing, including the campus of Michigan State University, and...
, just west of the 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,...
campus, I-496 and US 127 separate as US 127 continues north and I-496 turns west. US 127 meets I-69
Interstate 69 in Michigan
Interstate 69 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that currently runs from Indianapolis, Indiana, to the US–Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state south of Coldwater and passes through the cities of Lansing and Flint...
at the 1998–2002 terminus of the highway. From here north, US 127 follows the former US 27 north to Grayling
Grayling, Michigan
Grayling is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Crawford County. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. Grayling takes its name from the Grayling fish that was once prevalent in its lakes and streams....
.
The freeway ends just north of St. Johns
St. Johns, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,485 people, 2,994 households, and 1,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,909.1 per square mile . There were 3,148 housing units at an average density of 802.9 per square mile...
. For a 16 miles (26 km) stretch north to just south of Ithaca
Ithaca, Michigan
Ithaca is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,098. It is the county seat of Gratiot County.-Geography:...
, US 127 is a four-lane highway with cross-street traffic and driveway access to adjacent homes and businesses. While there are no immediate plans to convert this section to freeway, MDOT
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...
continues to purchase parcels for right-of-way to be used for future upgrades.
MDOT
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...
has made several improvements to this stretch of roadway recently to improve safety and traffic flow. This includes the construction of an interchange at M-57
M-57 (Michigan highway)
M-57 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The highway connects US Highway 131 near Rockford on the west end to M-15 near Otisville in the Lower Peninsula. In between, the mostly rural highway passes through farmland and connects several highways and smaller towns...
in 2000 in southern Gratiot County
Gratiot County, Michigan
-US Highways:* US-127 routes north to I-75 and south to Lansing.* BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown Alma.* BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown Ithaca.* BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown St. Louis....
, replacing an accident-prone intersection. In 2009, MDOT
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...
constructed median u-turn crossovers (also known as a "Michigan Left") at several intersections in northern Clinton County to remove cross-street traffic. In April 2010, the MDOT
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...
raised speed limits for passenger cars on this non-freeway stretch to 65 miles per hour (29 m/s) from the previous 55 miles per hour (25 m/s).
South of Ithaca, the highway becomes a freeway again for the remainder of its routing. US 127 crosses the Pine River
Pine River (Michigan)
Pine River may refer to any of the following streams in the U.S. state of Michigan:# Pine River . The main branch forms with the confluence of the East and West Branches of the Pine River at in Alcona County...
in Alma
Alma, Michigan
Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,275 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905....
and runs near the campus of Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
, crossing the Chippewa River
Chippewa River (Michigan)
The Chippewa River is a stream in the U.S. state of Michigan that runs through the central Lower Peninsula. The Chippewa is a tributary of the Tittabawassee River and is thus part of the Saginaw River drainage basin...
in Mt. Pleasant. Mt. Pleasant is also home to the Saginaw Band of Chippewa Indians and their tribal reservation.
There is a welcome center in the median of US 127/US 10
U.S. Route 10 in Michigan
US Highway 10 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from West Fargo, North Dakota, to the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway enters the state on the SS Badger crossing Lake Michigan at Ludington and ends at Bay City.US 10 was created as part of...
in Clare
Clare, Michigan
Clare is a city in Clare and Isabella counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located primarily in Clare County, the city had a population of 3,173 at the 2000 census....
. US 127 continues north through the community of Harrison
Harrison, Michigan
Harrison is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,108. It is the county seat of Clare County.The city is named after U.S. President William Henry Harrison....
, county seat of Clare County
Clare County, Michigan
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 31,252 people, 12,686 households, and 8,753 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile . There were 22,229 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
. The freeway serves the resort areas of 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...
and Higgins Lake
Higgins Lake, Michigan
Higgins Lake is a small unincorporated community along the southern and western shores of Higgins Lake, a recreational and fishing lake in Roscommon County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. Higgins Lake is the name of the post office for the area, with ZIP code 48627...
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:...
before ending 4 miles (6 km) south of Grayling at a partial interchange with I-75
Interstate 75 in Michigan
Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Miami, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I-75 enters the state from Ohio in the south, just to the north of Toledo. It runs generally north through Detroit, Pontiac and Bay City, crossing the...
. Traffic along US 127 northbound has access to northbound I-75 and southbound traffic on I-75 can access US 127 southbound.
History
US 127 debuted with the rest of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926. This new designation replaced part or all of M-14M-14 (Michigan highway)
M-14 is a east–west state trunkline highway in the southeastern portion of the US state of Michigan. Entirely freeway, it connects Ann Arbor with Detroit by way of connecting with I-96.-Route description:...
, M-23
M-23 (Michigan highway)
M-23 was an early designation for the east–west state trunkline highway in the southern part of the US state of Michigan that became US 112 when the US Highway system came into existence in the mid-1920s. It extended from the Michigan/Indiana state line just north of Elkhart, Indiana, going...
, M-34
M-34 (Michigan highway)
M-34 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the southeastern region of the US state of Michigan. It has a western terminus near Osseo on M-99 and runs through forest and farm lands to its eastern terminus at Business US Highway 223 and M-52 in Adrian...
and M-80
M-80 (Michigan highway)
M-80 is a state trunkline highway in the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from Kinross to M-129 near Donaldson. The highway serves the site of the former Kincheloe Air Force Base and the current Chippewa County International Airport...
. US 127 originally ran from the Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
area through Adrian
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
to Jackson and Lansing. The southern end of US 127 was rerouted in 1930 from Somerset south to Hudson and on to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. The section of former US 127 between Somerset and Toledo became US 223
U.S. Route 223
US Route 223 or US Highway 223 is a diagonal US Highway lying in the US states of Michigan and Ohio. The southern most section is completely concurrent with the US 23 freeway, including all of the Ohio segment. It connects US 23 in the south near Toledo, Ohio with US 127 and...
. The city of Mason
Mason, Michigan
Mason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is named after the state's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,252. It is the county seat of Ingham County. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital,...
was bypassed in 1954. The former route through town was designated BUS US 127 at the time. The US 127 expressway was first started in 1957 with an extension south of Mason to Leslie
Leslie, Michigan
Leslie is a city in Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,851 at the 2010 census. The city is surrounded by Leslie Township, but is politically autonomous.-Geography:...
. A further extension to Jackson was opened in 1958. By 1964 this expressway was converted to full freeway, complete with interchanges and the BUS US 127. The US 127 freeway was extended north to the Lansing area by 1968. Near Lansing, it was routed along I-496
Interstate 496
Interstate 496 is an Interstate Highway that passes through downtown Lansing, Michigan and is a "child" of Interstate 96. It is ceremonially designated the R.E. Olds Freeway along the portion that cuts through the city of Lansing...
to the north side of Lansing and East Lansing to connect with US 27. The last extension of US 127 for another 11 years was completed in 1973 when the freeway was completed north to DeWitt
DeWitt, Michigan
DeWitt is a city in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,507 at the 2010 census.-History:DeWitt was named after DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York during the 1830s. It was first settled by Captain David Scott, who moved there from Ann Arbor in 1833, and platted the...
. Two changes took place in the routing of US 127 in the 1980s as the I-69
Interstate 69 in Michigan
Interstate 69 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that currently runs from Indianapolis, Indiana, to the US–Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state south of Coldwater and passes through the cities of Lansing and Flint...
freeway was completed. The northern Lansing bypass was completed in 1984 and I-69 was built through Clinton County
Clinton County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
in 1987. These changes routed I-69 along a portion of US 127 near DeWitt and removed a TEMP I-69 routing from US 127 on the east side of Lansing. The opening of the St. Johns Bypass on August 31, 1998 shortened US 127 by almost 2 miles (3 km) while US 27 was routed along the I-69 freeway between exits 87 and 89 to connect with the new freeway northward.
The Michigan Department of Transportation petitioned the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...
(AASHTO) for approval to remove US 27 from Michigan in 1999. This would remove the 88 miles (142 km) concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
of I-69 and US 27 south of the Lansing area. MDOT proposed that US 127 be extended north over the former US 27 to Grayling. AASHTO approved this change on April 16, 1999 nearly tripling the highway from 83 miles (134 km) to 214 miles (344 km). The highway markers were changed over in 2002, converting US 27 and the BUS US 27 routes to US 127 and BUS US 127 routes. In 2011, an extra lane was added to the northbound lanes of US 127 between Grand River Avenue
Grand River Avenue
US Highway 16 , also called Grand River Avenue for much of its length, is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Before the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the highway had been designated M-16...
at mile marker 78 up to Lake Lansing Road, at exit 79.
Future
Interstate 73
Interstate 73 is a main route of the Interstate Highway System, currently located entirely within the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of a longer planned corridor, defined by various Federal laws to run from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Grayling, Michigan, but only the part south of...
(I-73) would have simply run along I-75
Interstate 75 in Michigan
Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Miami, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I-75 enters the state from Ohio in the south, just to the north of Toledo. It runs generally north through Detroit, Pontiac and Bay City, crossing the...
to Detroit. However, the definition was amended in 1995 to have a branch along the US 223 corridor to south of Jackson and the US 127 corridor (formerly US 27 north of Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
until 2002) north to I-75 near Grayling
Grayling, Michigan
Grayling is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Crawford County. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. Grayling takes its name from the Grayling fish that was once prevalent in its lakes and streams....
. From Grayling it would simply use I-75 to Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
. Except south of Jackson, where it is a two-lane road and a section of road north of Lansing where the freeway reverts to a divided highway, this is mostly a rural four-lane freeway. MDOT abandoned further study of I-73 after June 12, 2001, diverting remaining funding to safety improvement projects along the corridor. MDOT included using the US 223 corridor as one of its three options to build I-73 in 2000. The others included using the US 127 corridor all the way into Ohio with a connection to the Ohio Turnpike
Ohio Turnpike
The Ohio Turnpike, officially the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike, is a -long, limited-access toll highway in the U.S. state of Ohio, serving as a primary corridor to Chicago and Pittsburgh...
or using US 127 south and a new freeway connection to US 223 at Adrian. MDOT abandoned further study of I-73 after June 12, 2001, diverting remaining funding to safety improvement projects along the corridor. The department stated there was a "lack of need" for sections of the proposed freeway, and the project website was closed down in 2002. According to press reports in 2011, a group advocating on behalf of the freeway is working to revive the I-73 project in Michigan. According to an MDOT spokesman, "to my knowledge, we’re not taking that issue up again." The Lenawee County Road Commission is not interested in the freeway, and according to the president of the Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce, "there seems to be little chance of having an I-73 link between Toledo and Jackson built in the foreseeable future."
Exit list
- US 127 was updated with exit numbers on the freeway sections as of 2008.