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M-32 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-32 is a state trunkline highway
in the Lower Peninsula
of the U.S. state of Michigan
. It is an east–west route running 100.14 miles (161.16 km) from M-66
in East Jordan
to US Highway 23 (US 23) in Alpena
. It runs via Gaylord
and Atlanta
through forested terrain. There is one business spur for the highway that currently exists.
The highway has been extended a few times during its history, once reaching both lakes Michigan
and Huron
. Although it is no longer a true "cross-peninsular" highway, it is close, and there are efforts being made to extend the road back to US 31, restoring the cross-peninsular status lost in 1974 when it was shortened away from Charlevoix
.
. There it joins US 131
along a concurrency
before turning east through Elmira and running east toward Gaylord. North of the Alba Road intersection, M-32 passes a cluster of lakes that includes Lake 27. Continuing east, M-32 crosses through a retail corridor before it passes under Interstate 75 (I-75) and runs into downtown Gaylord with Business Loop I-75 (BL I-75). Passing out of Gaylord, the highway runs southeasterly toward Johannesburg. The road passes Big Lake and turns south on Turtle Lake Road at the intersection with Beckett Road. The highway resumes its eastward path on McCoy Road into Johannesburg. It passes through the community and meets the county line in Vienna. There M-32 turns northwesterly to Atlanta. In town, M-32 meets and joins M-33
. The two highways cross the Thunder Bay River
before parting ways east of Atlanta in Avery Township
. M-32 turns north by Fletcher Pond, which straddles the Montmorency
–Alpena
county line. Outside of the village of Hillman
, M-32 passes Business M-32 (BUS M-32). In western Alpena County, the trunkline runs to the north of Manning Hill and passes the south end of the Alpena County Regional Airport
outside Alpena. In the city, M-32 follows Washington Avenue. The end of the highway is at US 23, blocks from the Thunder Bay
of Lake Huron
.
All of M-32 consists of rural two-lane highway outside of the city of Gaylord. The highway passes through forest lands outside of the communities along the highway. From US 131 east to the eastern terminus at US 23, M-32 is listed on the National Highway System
(NHS), a group of highways which are determined to be important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility. The exception is a portion in eastern Otsego
and western Montmorency
counties, between the corner of Beckett & Turtle Lake Roads, six miles (10 km) east of Gaylord to the crossroads known as Big Rock, five miles (8 km) west of Atlanta.
(now US 131) and M-10
(later US 23, now M-65
) near Lachine. In 1933, M-32 was extended westerly along M-131 and then to M-66 in East Jordan. The concurrency along M-131 would remain when US 131 replaced it in 1939. Another change in this year comes on the east end as US 23 is realigned north of Alpena. M-32 takes over the US 23 routing between Lachine and Alpena. M-32 would be extended along M-66 to Charlevoix from 1964 until 1974. BUS M-32 would be disconnected from M-32 when the latter is realigned in Hillman in 1994.
Municipal officials in the Village of Ellsworth
have sought an extension of M-32 westward from East Jordan to end at US 31. Such an extension would restore M-32's status as a "cross-peninsular" highway, making it the 4th if extended.
. There are markers present, but BUS M-32 does not connect to M-32. It is the shortest business route in the state, and the second shortest overall trunkline. It is 0.006 mile (0.00965604 km) longer than M-212
in Aloha. The termini for BUS M-32 are Hillman Road and Old M-32 south of Hillman and the northern city limit along Hillman Road.
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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 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 U.S. 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"....
. It is an east–west route running 100.14 miles (161.16 km) from M-66
M-66 (Michigan highway)
M-66 is a north–south state trunkline highway on the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Indiana state line in the south to Charlevoix in the north. M-66 is the only state highway to traverse almost the entire north–south distance of the LP. It starts as a...
in East Jordan
East Jordan, Michigan
East Jordan is a city in Charlevoix County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,507 at the 2000 census.The city is at the end of the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, at the mouth of the Jordan River. M-66 connects with US 31 at Charlevoix about 12 miles to the northwest and with US...
to US Highway 23 (US 23) in Alpena
Alpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census...
. It runs via Gaylord
Gaylord, Michigan
Gaylord is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,681. It is the county seat of Otsego County. The city is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord; it is by far the smallest settlement serving as the location of an active Roman...
and Atlanta
Atlanta, Michigan
Atlanta is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan, along the 45th parallel. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and does not have any legal status as an incorporated municipality. The population was 757 at the 2000 census...
through forested terrain. There is one business spur for the highway that currently exists.
The highway has been extended a few times during its history, once reaching both lakes 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...
and Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
. Although it is no longer a true "cross-peninsular" highway, it is close, and there are efforts being made to extend the road back to US 31, restoring the cross-peninsular status lost in 1974 when it was shortened away from Charlevoix
Charlevoix, Michigan
Charlevoix is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,994. It is the county seat of Charlevoix County....
.
Route description
M-32 starts at the corner of Lake and Water streets in East Jordan. From there it follows Water, Bridge, Mill and State streets through town. It finally turns south on Maple Street leaving town. The trunkline turns east on Rogers Road south of Patricia Lake and then runs southeast into Antrim CountyAntrim County, Michigan
-History:Antrim County was formed in 1863. In 1950 its population was 10,721. The county seat was originally located in Elk Rapids, but was moved to Bellaire in 1904 after 25 years of litigation.-Demographics:...
. There it joins US 131
U.S. Route 131
US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...
along a 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...
before turning east through Elmira and running east toward Gaylord. North of the Alba Road intersection, M-32 passes a cluster of lakes that includes Lake 27. Continuing east, M-32 crosses through a retail corridor before it passes under Interstate 75 (I-75) and runs into downtown Gaylord with Business Loop I-75 (BL I-75). Passing out of Gaylord, the highway runs southeasterly toward Johannesburg. The road passes Big Lake and turns south on Turtle Lake Road at the intersection with Beckett Road. The highway resumes its eastward path on McCoy Road into Johannesburg. It passes through the community and meets the county line in Vienna. There M-32 turns northwesterly to Atlanta. In town, M-32 meets and joins M-33
M-33 (Michigan highway)
M-33 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from Interstate 75 at Alger in Arenac County north to M-27 near Cheboygan. In between, the trunkline runs through rural sections of the northeastern Lower Peninsula including state and national forest areas...
. The two highways cross the Thunder Bay River
Thunder Bay River
The Thunder Bay River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It drains much of Alpena County and Montmorency County, and a small portion of Oscoda County, into Thunder Bay on the eastern side of northern Michigan...
before parting ways east of Atlanta in Avery Township
Avery Township, Michigan
Avery Township is a civil township of Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 717.-Geography:...
. M-32 turns north by Fletcher Pond, which straddles the Montmorency
Montmorency County, Michigan
-Michigan State trunklines:* M-32* M-33-Michigan State trunkline business loops:* Business M-32 is short, disconnected route in the village of Hillman.-Montmorency County intercounty highways:* F-01* F-21-Demographics:...
–Alpena
Alpena County, Michigan
Alpena County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,598. The county seat is Alpena. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.It was founded originally in 1840 as Anomickee County...
county line. Outside of the village of Hillman
Hillman, Michigan
Hillman is a village in Alpena and Montmorency counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 685 at the 2000 census. Nearly all of the village is located within Hillman Township , with only a tiny portion extending into Green Township .-Geography:According to the United States Census...
, M-32 passes Business M-32 (BUS M-32). In western Alpena County, the trunkline runs to the north of Manning Hill and passes the south end of the Alpena County Regional Airport
Alpena County Regional Airport
-Top Destinations:- External links :* , official site* from USGS The National Map...
outside Alpena. In the city, M-32 follows Washington Avenue. The end of the highway is at US 23, blocks from the Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
of Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
.
All of M-32 consists of rural two-lane highway outside of the city of Gaylord. The highway passes through forest lands outside of the communities along the highway. From US 131 east to the eastern terminus at US 23, M-32 is listed on the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
(NHS), a group of highways which are determined to be important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility. The exception is a portion in eastern Otsego
Otsego County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,301 people, 8,995 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,375 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
and western Montmorency
Montmorency County, Michigan
-Michigan State trunklines:* M-32* M-33-Michigan State trunkline business loops:* Business M-32 is short, disconnected route in the village of Hillman.-Montmorency County intercounty highways:* F-01* F-21-Demographics:...
counties, between the corner of Beckett & Turtle Lake Roads, six miles (10 km) east of Gaylord to the crossroads known as Big Rock, five miles (8 km) west of Atlanta.
History
M-32 was formed as a state trunkline in 1919 along its present routing between M-13M-13 (Michigan highway)
M-13 is a north–south state trunkline highway that runs through the Saginaw Bay region of the US state of Michigan. It runs from Interstate 69 south of Lennon to US Highway 23 near Standish. The southern section of the trunkline runs long a pair of county lines in a rural area dominated by farm...
(now US 131) and M-10
M-10 (Michigan highway)
M-10, is a state trunkline route in the US state of Michigan. The southernmost portion follows Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit, and the southern terminus is at the intersection of Jefferson and Randolph Street leading to the entrance to the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel...
(later US 23, now M-65
M-65 (Michigan highway)
M-65 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The highway runs between termini on US Highway 23 near Omer and Rogers City in the northeastern Lower Peninsula of the state. M-65 runs inland through several small communities in the region, passing through forests and fields along...
) near Lachine. In 1933, M-32 was extended westerly along M-131 and then to M-66 in East Jordan. The concurrency along M-131 would remain when US 131 replaced it in 1939. Another change in this year comes on the east end as US 23 is realigned north of Alpena. M-32 takes over the US 23 routing between Lachine and Alpena. M-32 would be extended along M-66 to Charlevoix from 1964 until 1974. BUS M-32 would be disconnected from M-32 when the latter is realigned in Hillman in 1994.
Future
As stated above, a portion of M-32 is not on the NHS. Instead, the Federal Highway Administration map for the NHS in Michigan shows a proposed realignment that has not been built as of 2008.Municipal officials in the Village of Ellsworth
Ellsworth, Michigan
Ellsworth is a village in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 483 at the 2000 census. The village is primarily a bedroom community with its primary industry being gravel and other aggregates. Agriculture and forestry are also important industries...
have sought an extension of M-32 westward from East Jordan to end at US 31. Such an extension would restore M-32's status as a "cross-peninsular" highway, making it the 4th if extended.
Major intersections
Business spur
BUS M-32 is a 0.738 miles (1.188 km) business spur route running through Hillman, MichiganHillman, Michigan
Hillman is a village in Alpena and Montmorency counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 685 at the 2000 census. Nearly all of the village is located within Hillman Township , with only a tiny portion extending into Green Township .-Geography:According to the United States Census...
. There are markers present, but BUS M-32 does not connect to M-32. It is the shortest business route in the state, and the second shortest overall trunkline. It is 0.006 mile (0.00965604 km) longer than M-212
M-212 (Michigan highway)
M-212 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. M-212 was designated in order to provide access from M-33 to both the small community of Aloha on the eastern shore of Mullett Lake, as well as to Aloha State Park, where the highway ends. M-212 is the shortest state highway in...
in Aloha. The termini for BUS M-32 are Hillman Road and Old M-32 south of Hillman and the northern city limit along Hillman Road.