M-55 (Michigan highway)
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| M-55 | |||||||||
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| Length: | 151.16 mi[1] (243.27 km) | ||||||||
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| Formed: | 1920 | ||||||||
| West end: |  US 31 near Manistee |
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| Major junctions: |
 M-37 near Dublin
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| East end: |  US 23 in Tawas City |
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M-55 is one of only three state highways that extend across the U.S. state of Michigan's Lower Peninsula from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan, the others being M-46 and M-72.
M-55 had its beginning about 1920 when it was designated from Merritt to Cadillac. About 1926, M-55 was extended eastward to Houghton Lake, and another segment of the highway was started from Whittemore westward to West Branch. Later, M-55 was extended eastward from Whittmore to US 23 at Tawas City.
In 1932, the two segments of M-55 were connected when a stretch of the highway was opened between West Branch and Houghton Lake, and a western extension began from Cadillac to US 31 near Manistee.
Since 1932, segments of M-55 were relocated, notably a more direct route from West Branch eastward in 1938, and a segment from east of Cadillac to M-66 south of Lake City in 1970. The last gravel stretch of M-55 was paved in 1959.
In 1973, M-55 was co-signed with a portion of the newly opened stretch of I-75 from West Branch to slightly east of the M-157 junction, and in 2000, M-55 was signed on a portion of the new US 131 freeway around Cadillac and co-signed with M-115 to the southern side of Lake Cadillac.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Michigan Highways: Highways 50 through 59 Christopher J. Bessert. URL Accessed October 28, 2006.
