| Southern Terminus: |
I-75 at Exit 313 between Indian River and Topinabee |
| Northern Terminus: |
US-23 in downtown Cheboygan (cnr Main St & State St) |
| Length: |
16.729 miles |
| Map: |
 Route Map of M-27 |
| Notes: |
M-27 was formerly a segment of US-27 before that route was replaced by I-75 north of Grayling in 1961. |
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Although many commercial road maps show M-27 continuing south from I-75 through Indian River to end at M-68, this is most definitely not the case. In fact, the M-27 designation has never existed south of I-75 at Indian River, and the portion of Straits Hwy through town was turned back to local control in November 1962 soon after US-27 was removed from that route. |
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In October 1982, the Reflective Systems Unit of MDOT began reviewing the state trunkline sytem and "discovered a substantial number of dual and some triple routing on both the free access and limited access system." The result of which was forwarded to
"the Trunkline Numbering Committee in an attempt to reduce as much of this unnecessary routing as possible in an attempt to avoid driver confusion and save funds." That December, the MDOT Traffic & Safety Division stated "We recommend removal of M-33 between M-27 and US-23." In March 1983, the Supervising Engineer of the Reflective Safety Unit concurred and recommended to the Trunkline Numbering Committee those changes be implemented. The M-33 signs along M-27 were likely removed in 1983 or 1984. |
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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 absolutely no upgrades or modifications to M-27 during that timeframe. Not surprisingly, the route and composition of M-27 today looks very much like it did in the early 1960s! |
| History: |
c.1920 – Michigan's "original" M-27 begins at M-19/Gratiot Ave (later US-25) in Chesterfield Twp north of Mount Clemens and continues easterly and northerly through New Baltimore, Algonac, Marine City and St Clair to meet back up with M-19, and run concurrently into downtown Port Huron. From Port Huron, M-27 takes a route which would later be occupied by M-51 through Croswell, Carsonville, Deckerville and Minden City to M-31 (today's M-142) west of Harbor Beach. M-27 then turns easterly tinto Harbor Beach, then northwesterly along the Lake Huron shoreline via Port Hope to end at M-19 (present-day M-53) in Port Austin. |
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1926 – The entire route of M-27 is replaced by other designations. From US-25/Gratiot Ave (frormerly M-19) to Port Huron, via Algonac, the route becomes a portion of a new Chesterfield Twp-to-Bay City routing of M-29. From Port Huron to M-83 (formerly M-31, now M-142) via Carsonville, M-27 is redesignated as M-51. The portion from the former M-31 & M-27 jct into Harbor Beach becomes part of a new M-83, while the last stretch from Harbor Beach to Port Austin becomes another portion of the new M-29. It would be 35 years before another M-27 would be designated in Michigan. |
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1961 – The present-day M-27 is commissioned when US-27 is scaled back by a total of 94 miles from Mackinaw City to Grayling. The portion of the former US-27 between I-75 north of Indian River and US-23 in downtown Cheboygan is designated as M-27. |
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1982 (Oct)—1983 (Mar) – In October 1982, some MDOT staffers internally propose terminating M-33 at its jct with M-27 four miles south of downtown Cheboygan, thereby eliminating the concurrent M-27/M-33 route into the city from the south. By March 1983, others within the department concur and plans are made to remove M-33 markers along M-27 which likely happens later in 1983 or in 1984. (See Notes section above for details.) |
| Controlled Access: |
No portion of M-27 is freeway or expressway. |
| NHS: |
No portion of M-27 is on the National Highway System (NHS). |
| Memorial Highway: |
At present, no portion of M-27 has been designated as part of a Memorial Highway. |
| Photographs: |
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| Weblinks: |
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