| Western Terminus: |
M-5/Grand River Ave at Clarenceville (boundary between Farmington Hills and Livonia) |
| Eastern Terminus: |
I-94/Edsel Ford Frwy at Exit 225 in Harper Woods |
| Length: |
20.728 miles |
| Maps: |
Route Map of M-102 |
| Notes: |
For all but the easternmost mile, M-102 is also known as Eight Mile Rd. (That easternmost mile is Vernier Rd.) M-102/Eight Mile Rd is also the physical and psychological dividing line between Detroit and the suburbs to the north. |
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From late 1977 until late 1994, M-102 continued northwesterly via Grand River Ave and the "Farmington bypass" from its present western terminus to end at the I-96, I-275 & I-696 interchange. |
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The 1964 edition of the Official Michigan Highway Map issued by the Department of State Highways shows the route of what had been designated M-29 between Detroit and the Mount Clemens area having been redesignated as an easterly and northerly extension of M-102. Beginning at M-102's former eastern terminus at US-25/Gratiot Ave, the supposed M-102 extension continued easterly along EIght Mile and Vernier Rds to Jefferson Ave, then northerly along Jefferson into Macomb Co to Shook Rd, then westerly via Shook to I-94/Edsel Ford Frwy. The 1964 map showed this segment of M-29 as now being part of M-102 and M-29 ending at its current southern terminus at I-94 Exit 243 in Chesterfield Twp. However, the 1965 edition of the official map showed M-29 again running southerly with I-94 to Shook Rd and taking its former routing along Shook, Jefferson, Vernier and Eight Mile, terminating at jct US-25 & M-102 at the cnr of Eight Mile Rd & Gratiot Ave. No other maps have been found to date showing this change as such and no reports in the media have been located, either. Thus, it appears this was a change the Dept of State Highways intended on implementing, but may not have, as it would seem odd to replace all M-29 route markers south of Mount Clemens with M-102 signs to only reverse the action within a year. If additional research uncovers more on this route change, it will be included here. |
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In "State Trunkline Needs, 1960–1980," a set of maps prepared by the State Highway Dept's Office of Planning, Programming Division in 1960 showing possible additions, upgrades and improvements to the state trunkline system over the ensuing twenty years, MSHD staff recommended massive and transformative changes to the route of M-102 during that timeframe:
- Converting the entire route of M-102 to a fully controlled-access freeway over its entire distance, as well as extending the route—as a full freeway—westerly along the Eight Mile Rd corridor to a new western terminus at I-275. The M-102 freeway would have also extended easterly from US-25/Gratiot Ave along the Eight Mile–Vernier Rd corridor, supplanting the M-29 designation there. From its beginning at I-275, the M-102 freeway was proposed to have interchanges at Newburgh-Halsted Rds, I-96/US-16/Jeffries Frwy-Grand River Ave, US-24/Telegraph Rd, M-39/Southfield Frwy, BS I-696/John C Lodge Frwy, BUS US-10/Woodward Ave, I-75/US-10/Walter P Chrysler Frwy, Dequindre Rd, M-53/Mound Road Frwy, Van Dyke Ave, Groesbeck Hwy, M-97 freeway (at Schoenherr Rd), US-25/Gratiot Ave, Kelly Rd, and I-94/Edsel Ford Frwy. This proposal never came to fruition.
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Connector 102: An unsigned state trunkline connector route, internally designated by MDOT as "Connector 102" runs between M-10/John C Lodge Frwy and M-102/Eight Mile Rd in northwestern Detroit. Connector 102, which is signed as "TO EAST M-102" for northbound traffic and "TO SOUTH M-10" for southbound traffic, consists of Greenfield Rd from the sbd Lodge Frwy service drive (the service drive itself is officially known as "James Couzens Frwy" after the former name of the M-10 freeway in this area) northerly to the wbd M-102/Eight Mile Rd service drive. Additionally, all of Greenlodge St from Greenfield Rd southwesterly to the sbd Lodge Frwy service drive ("James Couzens Frwy") is included in Connector 102, although Greenlodge is nothing more than a one-way cut-off ramp-like street. Ironically, a four-lane, divided roadway named Motor Dr serves a very similar purpose in the southwestern quadrant of the M-10/John C Lodge Frwy & M-102/Eight Mile Rd interchange, although Motor Dr is officially considered to be two separate freeway ramps and, therefore, is not given a "Connector" designation. Until c.2006–08, Connector 102 was officially known as Connector 23 internally to MDOT, until a major renumbering of unsigned Connector Route designations largely made them correspond with one of the signed highways they connected to at either end. |
| History: |
1926 – At a joint meeting of the City of Detroit rapid transit and planning commissions and the Oakland-Wayne and Macomb-Wayne Superhighway Commissions, it is decided to improve and pave Eight Mile Rd along the Oakland-Macomb/Wayne Co line from Lake St Clair westerly (inland) to Grand River Ave and beyond. (The two Superhighway Commissions consist of joint bodies made up of the two affected county road commissions.) The currently unpaved county roadway will be improved on a widened 204-foot right-of-way, which is four feet wider than the right-of-way acquired for the massive Wider Woodward project. The project will be started by the superhighway commissions, but built to State Highway Dept standards and specifications. |
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1927 (Sept 10) – Even prior to the official establishment of a state trunkline route along 8 Mile Rd on the Oakland-Macomb/Wayne Co line, a five-mile segment of 8 Mile (Baseline) Rd is constructed as a 20-foot wide, paved roadway from Division (Greenfield) Rd on the west to John R St on the east by the Oakland-Wayne Superhighway Commission. Constructed first are the eastbound lanes (or "south slab" as the State Highway Dept refers to it) with future plans to build another 20-foot wide "slab" to the north separated by a median for westbound traffic. The project cost $167,000 to complete. |
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1928 (Nov 5) – A new 7.8-mile long state trunkline route is established along Eight Mile (Baseline) Rd along the Wayne/Oakland-Macomb Co line on the northern edge of Detroit and designated M-102. Beginning at US-10/Woodward Ave, M-102 travels east along Eight Mile (Baseline) Rd for 7.8 miles, terminating at US-25/Gratiot Ave. (This trunkline establishment is made in Wayne Co, even though the trunkline itself travels along the county line.) At the same time, construction of the first 20-foot wide pavement along Eight Mile (Baseline) Rd between John R. St and M-53/Van Dyke Ave is completed by Oakland-Wayne and Macomb-Wayne Superhighway Commissions. Similar to the segment completed the year before between Division (Greenfield) Rd and John R. St, only the future westbound lanes (the "north slab") are completed with ample right-of-way preserved to the south for a similar set of eastbound lanes (the "south slab") in the near future. As the portion of the new M-102 route along Eight Mile (Baseline) Rd from M-53/Van Dyke Ave easterly to US-25/Gratiot Ave has not yet been constructed, through traffic is advised that this stretch of roadway is largely impassable and should be avoided. |
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1929 – The "south slab" for eastbound M-102/Eight Mile Rd traffic between John R. St and M-53/Van Dyke Ave along the Wayne/Macomb Co line is constructed and opened to traffic. M-102/Eight Mile Rd is now a divided highway with two 20-foot wide concrete roadways for the three miles between John R. and M-53/Van Dyke, separated by a landscaped median. |
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1930 – Three segments of existing and future M-102 along Eight Mile Rd are constructed and opened to traffic this year:
- The 2.9-mile long segment of the "south slab" of M-102/Eight Mile Rd from M-53/Van Dyke Ave easterly to US-25/Gratiot Ave is completed and opened to traffic. This 20-foot wide concrete roadway is proposed to be become the eastbound lanes of a divided Eight Mile as construction continues. The entire length of M-102 as has been designated to this time is now paved and open to traffic.
- An additional 3.2 miles of the "south slab" of Eight Mile Rd from US-25/Gratiot Ave easterly to Vernier Rd, then southeasterly along Vernier to Mack Ave is completed by county authorities. As with the rest of the "Eight Mile Superhighway," this 20-foot wide concrete roadway is planned to be the eastbound lanes of the future divided highway.
- A bit to the west, a 1.1-mile segment of the westbound lanes (the "north slab") of M-102/Eight Mile Rd are completed and opened to traffic from John R. St westerly to US-10/Woodward Ave.
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1931 – Four segments of existing and future M-102 along Eight Mile Rd are constructed and opened to traffic this year:
- The westbound side (the "north slab") of M-102/Eight Mile Rd is completed and opened to traffic between US-25/Gratiot Ave and M-53/Van Dyke Rd on the Macomb/Wayne Co line. The existing pavement becomes the eastbound lanes for M-102.
- Immediately to the east of the above segment, the westbound lanes ("north slab") of Eight Mile Rd and Vernier Rd from Mack Ave northwesterly and westerly to US-25/Gratiot Ave are completed by county authorities and opened to traffic.
- To the west, the westbound lanes ("north slab") of Eight Mile Rd from US-10/Woodward Ave westerly to Greenfield Rd are completed and opened to traffic.
- From Greenfield Rd westerly to Five Points Rd at the western city limit of Detroit (with Southfield Twp in Oakland Co on the north side), both eastbound and westbound lanes ("north and south slabs") of Eight Mile Rd are completed and opened to traffic.
- At this point, Eight Mile Rd is constructed as a four-lane divided "superhighway" with two 20-foot roadways in each direction separated by median from Five Points Rd easterly to Vernier Rd, then southeasterly along Vernier to Mack Ave, with the segment from US-10/Woodward Ave easterly to US-25/Gratiot Ave the portion on the state trunkline highway system as M-102. The remainder of Eight Mile Rd west of US-10/Woodward Ave and east of US-25/Gratiot Ave is a county-maintained roadway.
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1933 – To the west of the completed Eight Mile Rd "superhighway" segment, the Oakland-Wayne Superhighway Commission completes construction on 1¾ mile of both east- and westbound Eight Mile Rd ("north and south slabs"), consisting of both 20-foot wide concrete roadways separated by a landscaped median, from US-16/Grand River Ave easterly to Five Points Rd. The "superhighway" is now complete and open from Grand River Ave to Mack Ave. |
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1939 (July 14) – While not part of M-102, the portion of Eight Mile and Vernier Rds from US-25/Gratiot Ave easterly to Mack Ave (then easterly to Jefferson Ave and northerly along Jefferson into Macomb Co) is transferred to state control and designated as part of M-29, which runs along the Lake Saint Clair shoreline and the Saint Clair River toward Port Huron. The Gratiot-to-Harper segment of this establishment would someday become an extension of M-102... twice—once temporarily on paper and a second time in reality. |
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1942 – Exactly 10 miles of Eight Mile (Baseline) Rd from US-10/Woodward Ave westerly to US-16/Grand River Ave on the Wayne/Oakland Co line is transferred to state control in two pieces and becomes a westerly extension of M-102:
- (Jan 28) – The first 4.9 miles of the westerly extension of M-102 along Eight Mile (Baseline) Rd from US-10/Woodward Ave to Southfield Rd is officially established as a state trunkline. (This establishment is made in Wayne Co.)
- (Aug 10) – The next 5.1 miles of the M-102 westerly extension of M-102 along Eight Mile (Baseline) Rd from Southfield Rd westerly to US-16/Grand River Ave is officially assumed into the state trunkline system. M-102 now spans from US-16/Grand River Ave on the west to US-25/Gratiot Ave on the east. (This establishment is made in Oakland Co.)
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1963–64 – As noted in the Notes section above, the 1964 Michigan Official Highway Map showed M-102 taking over the route of M-29 along Eight Mile and Vernier Rds, Jefferson Ave and Shook Rd between Detroit and the Mount Clemens area. However, the 1965 edition of the map shows this change reverted back the pre-1964 status. As no other maps, documentation or other sources can be found to show this change did, indeed, take place for such a short period of time, it is likely no changes in the field ever ocurred and M-102's eastern terminus remains at US-25/Gratiot Ave. |
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1971 (Jul 1) – With the route of M-29 from I-94/Edsel Ford Frwy at Exit 225 in Harper Woods easterly and northerly to I-94 at Exit 235 in Harrison Twp (southeast of Mount Clemens) being transferred to county and municipal control, the route of M-29 is truncated to terminate at I-94/Edsel Ford Frwy Exit 243 in Chesterfield Twp, west of New Baltimore. The remaining segment of M-29 along Eight Mile and Vernier Rds between US-25/Gratiot Ave and I-94/Edsel Ford Frwy at Exit 225 is designated as an easterly extension of M-102. This segment of Eight Mile and Vernier Rds had possibly been redesignated as M-102 in 1964 (see Notes section above), but that change was likely never implemented at the time. |
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1977 (Nov 21, 9:30 am) – The I-96/Jeffries Frwy is completed and opened to traffic from M-39/Southfield Frwy in Detroit, through Redford Twp and Livonia, to I-275 near Plymouth. The I-96 designation is applied to this freeway, then runs northerly concurrently with I-275 to the former route of I-96 in Farmington Hills. Simultaneously, the route of BS I-96 from the former eastern terminus of I-96 southeast of downtown Farmington into downtown Detroit is decommissioned. The "Farmington Bypass" from Grand River southeast of downtown Farmington to jct I-96/I-275/I-696 on the Farmington Hills/Novi boundary also loses its I-96 route designation. As such, M-102 is extended from its western terminus to run northwesterly via Grand River Ave (formerly BS I-96) to the "Farmington Bypass," then along the former route of I-96 to a new western terminus at jct I-96/I-275/I-696. (Former BS I-96 along Grand River Ave from Eight Mile Rd southeasterly into Detroit is designated as M-5.) The route of M-102 is now a third longer, having been extended by more than miles. |
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1990 (Aug 17)  – A short segment of what had originally been constructed at part of the eastbound-only US-16 "Farmington Cutoff"—a two-lane highway completed in 1933 and serving as a US-16 bypass around the City of Farmington, but for eastbound traffic only after originally the originally-bi-directional highway experienced a tragically high fatality rate—which had been severed by construction of the US-16 Brighton-Farmington Expressway in the mid 1950s is finally cancelled as an unsigned state trunkline route and turned back to city control. The segment runs from Halsted Rd northwesterly alongside the M-102 freeway to Grand River Ave and now acts as a two-way frontage road on the south side of the freeway and helps connect Halstead Rd south of the freeway with Grand River. The 0.141-mile roadway is now a City of Farmington Hills street. |
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1994 (Oct 27, 9:30am) – The first segment of the M-5 "Haggerty Connector" is completed and opened to traffic from the massive I-96, I-275 & I-696 interchange on the Farmington Hills/Novi boundary northerly to a temporary terminus at 12 Mile Rd. To join this segment of M-5 with the existing M-5 along Grand River Ave in Detroit, the portion of M-102 from Eight Mile Rd at Clarenceville northwesterly to the I-96, I-275 & I-696 interchange is redesignated as M-5, while M-102 scaled back to end at Grand River Ave—its western terminus from 1942–1977. M-5 now continues northwesterly past Eight Mile Rd along Grand River Ave and the "Farmington Bypass" freeway, then turns northerly along the "Haggerty Connector" to 12 Mile Rd. |
| Controlled Access: |
No portion of M-102 is freeway or expressway. |
| NHS: |
The entire route of M-102 is on the National Highway System (NHS). |
| Memorial Highway: |
Columbus Memorial Highway – the portion of M-102 from M-5/Grand River Ave easterly to M-3/Gratiot Ave along the Wayne/Oakland and Wayne/Macomb county lines has been established as a memporial highway honoring the explorer Christopher Columbus. From MDOT: "Christopher Columbus (c. 1451 to May 20, 1506) was an Italian explorer and navigator. In 1492, he sailed across the Atlantic from Spain in the Santa Maria, with the Pinta and the Niña ships alongside, hoping to find a new route to India. Between 1492 and 1504, he made a total of four voyages to the Caribbean and South America and has been credited for opening up the Americas to European colonization." |
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