The county-designated highways in Michigan comprise a 1,241.6-mile-long (1,998.2 km) system of primary county roads across the US state of Michigan. Unlike the State Trunkline Highway System, these highways have alphanumeric designations with letters that correspond to one of eight lettered zones in the state. The County-Designated Highway System (CDH System) was created in 1970 in response to the business concerns of a woman from Saugatuck. Her one-woman crusade in the 1960s started after the highway in front of her motel was turned over to local control as a county road and removed from state highway maps when the nearby freeway opened. After nearly a decade of efforts, the first two test highways were designated, one each in the Lower and Upper peninsulas of the state and included on the 1970 state highway map. The system was created and expanded in scope c.October 5, 1970, after it was approved by the County Road Association of Michigan and the State Highway Commission.

Quick Facts County-Designated Highway System, System information ...
County-Designated Highway System
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Highway markers for A-2 in Allegan County and H-58 in Alger County
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Current highways highlighted in red, former highways in gray, FFH-16 in brown
System information
Maintained by various county road commissions
Length1,241.614 mi[1] (1,998.184 km)
FormedOctober 1970 (1970-10)[2]
Highway names
County-DesignatedA-nn through H-nn
County RoadCounty Road nn (CR nn, Co. Rd. nn)
System links
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The system uses eight lettered zones which are divided by major state highways. Each county road in the system is designated with the zone letter followed by a number. Six of the zones, A–F, are in the Lower Peninsula while the Upper Peninsula is divided into the remaining two, G and H. There have been a total of 66 different highways designated in seven of the zones; as of 2021 no E highways have been named. Participation by the county road commissions is optional, and not all counties use the system. One additional highway, Forest Highway 16 (marked as "H-16"), has appeared on state maps since the 1980s although it is not a part of the system. Of the highways designated, two were removed from the system and later partially restored.

History

When the Interstate 196 (I-196) freeway was built in the Saugatuck area in the 1960s, US Highway 31 (US 31) was shifted to the new freeway. The former route along Blue Star Highway was returned to county jurisdiction, which removed the various state highway markings from the roadway and displaced Blue Star Highway from the state highway maps of the time. At the time, Mr. and Mrs. Howard "Gene" Temple owned a motel along the roadway in Saugatuck, and they were dismayed over the number of canceled reservations they were receiving because guests could not find their business. Mrs. Temple approached the Village of Saugatuck and the local chamber of commerce to get better highway markings for the area. She even contacted state legislators and members of the State Highway Commission. No changes were made, even though businesses along Blue Star Highway were suffering from a lack of traffic.[3]

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H-58 west of Grand Marais

Mrs. Temple contacted officials at the Allegan County Road Commission and the County Road Association of Michigan in August 1968. State Senator Gary Byker of Hudsonville was also contacted, and he convened meetings with representatives on the state, county and local levels in search of a solution. These meetings resulted in a test program for the 1970 state highway map that marked Blue Star Highway as A-2; the Allegan County Road Commission spent $2,000 (equivalent to $12,100 in 2023[4]) to erect about 50 markers along the road in their county.[3] A second road in the Upper Peninsula was designated B-1 between Engadine and Rudyard in Mackinac and Chippewa counties.[5] Both county roads on the state highway map contained the caption "Experimental Program for Identifying Key County Roads". The markers used were the blue and yellow pentagon shields developed by the National Association of County Engineers. Mrs. Temple earned an honor as the first woman in "Michigan to obtain a highway designation from the State Highway Commission".[3]

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A-2 in Allegan County south of Holland

The program was implemented by October 5, 1970, and expanded in scope. Instead of using designations beginning with an A for county roads in the Lower Peninsula and with a B for those in the Upper Peninsula, the system was divided into eight zones. The first of these revised assignments were shown on the 1971 state highway map; A-2 retained its number but B-1 was renumbered to H-40 in the Upper Peninsula.[6] Earl Rogers, the engineer-director of the County Road Association of Michigan stated at the time that the county road commissions would gradually phase in signage over the coming years. Participation in the system was made optional, but all counties had agreed to the system.[2] As of 2015, no counties in the E zone have assigned roads to the system, and many counties in the other zones have yet to participate.[7] The system comprises 1,241.614 miles (1,998.184 km) of roadways.[1]

Zone system

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Map of the zone system

As implemented in October 1970, the CDH System is divided into eight zones: six in the Lower Peninsula and two in the Upper Peninsula. This contrasts to the state highway system that makes no attempt to group designations by geography in the state. The boundaries for each zone are determined by major state trunkline highways on each peninsula. Each highway is given a designation composed of the zone letter followed by a two-digit number. Within the zone, numbers are assigned on a grid system: north–south highways use odd numbers and east–west highways have even numbers. Lower numbers are used to the south or west sides of the zones.[2]

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H-13 during winter

The Lower Peninsula is divided into six zones, A-F:

  • The A zone is bordered by I-96 on the north and US 127 on the east. The other two sides are formed by the southern state line with Indiana and Ohio and the western boundary along Lake Michigan.
  • The B zone is bordered by I-96 on the south, Lake Michigan on the west, US 10 on the north and US 127 on the east.
  • The C zone is bordered by US 10 on the south and both I-75 and US 127 on the east.[a] The northwestern boundary is Lake Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac.
  • The D zone is bordered by US 127 on the west, I-96 on the north, the Detroit River and Lake Erie to the east and Ohio to the south.
  • The E zone is bordered by I-96 on the south, US 127 on the west, US 10 and Saginaw Bay on the north and Lake Huron on the east. As of 2015, no highways have been designated in the E zone.
  • The F Zone is bordered by both I-75 and US 127 on the west, Lake Huron on the north and east with US 10 on the south.[a]

The Upper Peninsula is divided into the G and H zones. The dividing line between the two zones is US 41, between Lakes Michigan and Superior with zone G to the west of US 41 and zone H to the east of it.[2]

List

More information Number, Length (mi) ...
Number Length (mi)[1] Length (km) Southern or western terminus Northern or eastern terminus Counties Formed Removed Notes
A-2 41.60966.963 M-63 in Lake Michigan BeachBL I-196/US 31 in Holland Berrien, Van Buren, Allegan 01970-01-011970[8]current Was part of US 31 until 1963[9]
A-37 23.15437.263 M-222 in AlleganI-196 in Hudsonville Allegan, Ottawa 01977-01-011977[10]current
A-42 16.44126.459 M-40 in Heath TownshipUS 131 & M-179 in Hopkins Township Allegan 01982-01-011982[11]current Eastern half became M-179 in 1998[12]
A-45 41.87067.383 Bus. US 131 in KalamazooM-11 in Grand Rapids Kalamazoo, Allegan, Kent 01972-01-011972[13]current Was part of US 131 until segments were bypassed between 1957[14] and 1963[15]
B-15 34.06954.829 US 31, Bus. US 31 & B-86 in Montague TownshipOld Bus. US 31 (Monroe Road) in Pentwater Township Muskegon, Oceana 01970-01-011970[16]current
B-23 10.57417.017 US 31 in Dalton TownshipB-86 in Blue Lake Township Muskegon 01971-01-011971[17]current
B-31 25.17840.520 I-96 in NunicaM-120 in Brunswick Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo 01970-01-011970[18]current Was M-213 from the mid-1930s[19] until the end of the 1950s[20]
B-35 31.00449.896 I-96 in CoopersvilleM-82 in Sheridan Township Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo 01970-01-011970[18]current
B-72 41.28366.439 US 31 in MuskegonUS 131 & M-57 in Algoma Township Muskegon, Ottawa, Kent 01970-01-011970[21]current
B-86 17.05927.454 US 31 & Bus. US 31/B-15 in Montague TownshipM-82 & M-120 at the HoltonGreenwoodDaytonSheridan township quadri-point Muskegon, Oceana 01970-01-011970[22]current
B-88 15.41624.810 M-37 in White CloudUS 131 in Mecosta Township Newaygo, Mecosta 01984-01-011984[23]01998-01-011998[12] Became part of M-20[24]
B-96 16.23126.121 M-37 in Lilley TownshipUS 131 & Bus. US 131 in Big Rapids Township Newaygo, Mecosta 01984-01-011984[23]current
C-38 18.73830.156 US 131 & M-88 in MancelonaOld 27 & F-38 in Otsego Lake Township Antrim, Otsego 01970-01-011970[25]current
C-42 13.03920.984 US 131 in AlbaM-32 on the ElmiraHayes township line Antrim, Otsego 01970-01-011970[26]current
C-48 36.66559.007 US 31 in AtwoodOld 27 in Corwith Township Antrim, Charlevoix, Otsego 01970-01-011970[27]current
C-56 15.80125.429 US 31 in Charlevoix TownshipM-75 in Boyne City Charlevoix 01972-01-011972[28]current
C-58 21.72234.958 C-81 in Bear Creek TownshipI-75 in Wolverine Emmet, Cheboygan 01984-01-011984[29]current
C-64 16.30426.239 US 31 in PellstonM-27 in Inverness Township Emmet, Cheboygan 01970-01-011970[30]current
C-65 18.02829.013 M-88 in Central Lake TownshipUS 31 in Charlevoix Antrim, Charlevoix 01972-01-011972[31]current
C-66 28.04745.137 M-119 & C-77 in Cross VillageUS 23 & M-27 in Cheboygan Emmet, Cheboygan 01970-01-011970[30]current
C-71 5.0318.097 C-56 in Horton BayUS 31 in Bay Shore Charlevoix, Emmet 01972-01-011972[32]current
C-73 8.11813.065 M-32 on the JordanWarner township lineM-75 in Boyne City Emmet, Charlevoix 01972-01-011972[32]current
C-77 15.97025.701 M-119 in Harbor SpringsM-119 & C-66 in Cross Village Emmet 01970-01-011970[33]current
C-81 10.02816.139 US 131 & M-75 in Walloon LakeUS 31 in Bay View Charlevoix, Emmet 01982-01-011982[34]current Southern segment
C-81 32.65852.558 M-119 in Little Traverse TownshipNicolet Avenue in Mackinaw City Emmet 01970-01-011970[35]current Northern segment
D-19 11.17217.980 D-32 in PinckneyI-96 in Marion Township Livingston 01970-01-011970[36]current
D-32 8.37113.472 M-106 in GregoryD-19 in Pinckney Livingston 01970-01-011970[37]current Also called the "Highway to Hell"[38]
F-01 9.93415.987 F-38 on the CharltonVienna township lineF-44 on the Charlton–Vienna township line Otsego, Montmorency 01970-01-011970[39]current Follows the Otsego–Montmorency county line[40]
F-05 24.49939.427 M-68 in Forest TownshipUS 23 on the CheboyganBenton Township line Cheboygan 01970-01-011970[41]current
F-18 28.76146.286 F-97 in Nester TownshipF-19 in Prescott Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco 01979-01-011979[42]01984-01-011984[43]
F-18 18.11129.147 F-97 in Nester TownshipM-33 on the HortonMills township line Roscommon, Ogemaw 02003-01-012003[44]current
F-19 13.05821.015 MasonRichland township lineSage Lake & Laird Lake roads in Hill Township Ogemaw 01977-01-011977[45]01984-01-011984[46]
F-20 25.12040.427 Henderson Lake Road on the MillsRichland township lineUS 23 on the Tawas CityAlabaster Township line Ogemaw, Iosco 01977-01-011977[47]01984-01-011984[43]
F-21 27.25243.858 M-32 near HillmanUS 23 in Rogers City Montmorency, Presque Isle 01984-01-011984[48]current
F-26 20.87133.589 Siegrist Road on the HillPlainfield township lineM-55 in Tawas Township Iosco County 01977-01-011977[49]01984-01-011984[50]
F-28 31.90551.346 F-97 at St. HelenM-65 in Plainfield Township Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco 01977-01-011977[51]01984-01-011984[52]
F-28 2.0103.235 F-97 in Richfield TownshipRichfield–Foster township line Roscommon 02003-01-012003[53]current
F-30 21.92035.277 M-65 in GlennieUS 23 in Greenbush Alcona 01973-01-011973[54]current
F-32 55.86689.908 BL I-75/M-93 in GraylingM-65/M-72 in Curran Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona 01982-01-011982[55]current
F-38 15.83425.482 Old 27 & C-38 in Otsego Lake TownshipF-01 on the CharltonVienna township line Otsego 01970-01-011970[56]current
F-41 31.80351.182 US 23 in OscodaUS 23 in Caledonia Township Iosco, Alcona 01973-01-011973[57]current Was M-171 from 1936[58] until 1960[59]
F-42 7.25211.671 BL I-75 in GaylordM-32 Otsego 01970-01-011970[60]current
F-44 15.64925.185 M-32 on the BagleyLivingston township lineF-01 on the CharltonVienna township line Otsego 01970-01-011970[61]current
F-97 72.164116.137 M-18 on the SageSherman township lineM-32 in Charlton Township Gladwin, Roscommon, Crawford, Otsego 01971-01-011971[62]current
G-08 2.3353.758 CTH-JJ at the Wisconsin state line in Mellen TownshipUS 41 in Wallace Menominee 01970-01-011970[63]current
G-12 23.54737.895 CR 352 & Z-1 Road in Lake TownshipM-35 in Cedar River Menominee 01970-01-011970[64]current
G-18 11.85019.071 CTH-Z at the Wisconsin state line in Holmes TownshipUS 41 in Carney Menominee 01972-01-011972[65]current
G-30 46.47074.786 M-95 in RandvilleUS 2/US 41 in Bark River Township Dickinson, Menominee Delta 01972-01-011972[66]01991-01-011991[67] Became part of M-69[67]
G-38 9.63215.501 G-67 in RalphUS 2/US 41/M-35 in Escanaba Dickinson, Marquette, Delta 01972-01-011972[68]02002-01-012002[69]
G-67 9.46015.224 M-69 in FelchG-38 in Ralph Dickinson 01972-01-011972[70]02002-01-012002[71]
G-69 16.66926.826 US 2 in WaucedahM-69 in Foster City Dickinson 01972-01-011972[72]current
H-01 11.03817.764 M-67 in TrenaryM-94 in Eben Junction Alger 01972-01-011972[73]current Southern segment
H-01 8.78914.145 M-94 in ChathamM-28 in Onota Township Alger 01972-01-011972[74]current Northern segment
H-03 7.70212.395 M-94 in Forest LakeM-28 in Au Train Alger 01972-01-011972[75]current
H-05 13.57021.839 Alger–Delta county lineM-94 in Au Train Township Alger 01973-01-011973[76]current
H-11 3.5045.639 H-58 in Munising TownshipMiners Castle in Munising Township Alger 02004-01-012004[77]current Was part of H-13[77]
H-13 36.19258.245 US 2 in Nahma JunctionH-58 in Munising Township Delta, Alger, Schoolcraft 01972-01-011972[78]current Runs along Federal Forest Highway 13 (FFH 13)[79]
H-15 4.9407.950 M-28/M-94 in ShingletonH-58 in Van Meer Alger 01972-01-011972[75]current
FFH 16 50.50481.278 CR 436 in Stambaugh TownshipM-38 in Laird Township Iron, Houghton, Ontonagon Mis-marked as "H-16" on state maps in 1983–85[80] and again since 1992[81]
H-33 18.22229.325 US 2 in Newton TownshipM-28 in Lakefield Township Mackinac, Luce 01970-01-011970[82]current Was M-135 from 1929[83] until 1960[84]
H-37 22.85236.777 M-123 in McMillan TownshipH-58 in Deer Park Luce 01970-01-011970[85]current
H-40 52.68084.780 M-117 in EngadineM-48 in Rudyard Mackinac, Chippewa 01970-01-011970[86]current Was part of M-48 from 1927[87] until 1960,[88] and then B-1 in the test phase[6]
H-42 10.22516.456 M-77 in Germfask TownshipH-33 in Curtis Schoolcraft, Mackinac 01970-01-011970[89]current
H-44 8.16213.135 US 41 in KivaM-67 in Limestone Alger 01972-01-011972[74]current Western segment
H-44 11.59418.659 M-77 in GermfaskH-33 in Helmer Mackinac, Luce 01970-01-011970[89]current Eastern segment; was part of M-98 from 1919[90] until 1960[91]
H-52 12.63120.328 M-28 in Hiawatha TownshipH-58 in Melstrand Alger, Schoolcraft 01972-01-011972[75]02004-01-012004[77]
H-57 7.63512.287 US 2 in Moran TownshipM-123 in Brevort Township Mackinac 01970-01-011970[92]current
H-58 68.985111.021 M-28 in MunisingH-37 in Deer Park Alger, Schoolcraft 01970-01-011970[93]current Western paved section runs through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore[94]
H-63 45.27672.865 BL I-75 in St. Ignace TownshipBS I-75 in Sault Ste. Marie Mackinac, Chippewa 01970-01-011970[95]current Was part of US 2 from 1933[96] until 1962–63[97]
  •       Former
Close

See also

Notes

  1. Since C-64 and C-66 keep their designations across I-75, M-27 likely forms part of the boundary as well.

References

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