| Western Terminus: |
M-50 on the south side of Brooklyn in southeast Jackson Co |
| Eastern Terminus: |
US-12 in the Irish Hills area of north-central Lenawee Co, four miles east of Cambridge Junction |
| Length: |
7.750 miles |
| Maps: |
Route Map of M-124 |
| Notes: |
This route forms the north and east sides of the state highways which encircle Wamplers Lake on the Lenawee/Jackson county line, while M-50 runs to the west of the lake and US-12 runs along the south side. M-124 begins on the east side by dissecting Walter J Hayes State Park, then bends westerly toward M-50 at Brooklyn. M-124 actually began as a very short access route serving the state park from US-112 (now US-12) in the late 1920s, only later elongated to run through to Brooklyn along the north side of Wamplers Lake in the late 1930s. |
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 In late 2022 or early 2023, all existing square (24" x 24") M-124 route markers along the entire route were replaced with new wide/rectangular (24" x 36") route markers, including those along intersecting trunklines. |
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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 one major change to the route of M-124: complete decommissioning! At that time, State Highway Dept planners had planned on the routes of US-112 (present-day US-12) and M-50 in the Irish Hills region to also have been decommissioned and transferred to local control, having been replaced by proposed freeways along the US-127 corridor and to the south of US-112 (neither of which ever happened). With the trunklines at both ends of M-124 planned to be jurisdictionally transferred, it only made sense for the MDSH to also earmark M-124 for transfer to local control as well, otherwise it would become an isolcated state highway not connected to any other state highways. Of course, none of these plans ever came to fruition and M-124 exists today much as it has since 1932. |
| History: |
1924 (Sept 30) – The State Administrative Board directs State Highway Commissioner Frank Rogers to prepare for the development of a highway link from M-23 (present-day US-12) in the Irish Hills northerly into Cedar Hill State Park (present-day Walter J Hayes State Park) on Wamplers Lake. |
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1928 (Jun 28) – A 1.4-mile long trunkline is established in northern Lenawee Co (1.3 mi) and southeasternmost Jackson Co (0.1 mi) beginning at US-112 (present-day US-12) in the Irish Hills 4 miles east of Cambridge Junction and proceeding northerly to Cedar Hills State Park, serving as a state park access road. |
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1931 (June 19) – The State Administrative Board approves a short extension of M-124 in Cedar Hills State Park as part of 30 additional miles of roadway approved to be added to the trunkline sytem. |
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1931 (Aug 17) – A 0.4-mile extension of M-124 is established northerly from the northern terminus of the highway in southeastern Jackson Co. The extended roadway is also completed and opened to traffic during this month as well. Also at this time, Cedar Hills State Park is renamed Walter J Hayes State Park. |
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1932 (Early Aug–Oct 29) – A slight realignment to M-124 in Lenawee Co from US-112 northerly into W J Hayes State Park is completed and opened to traffic in early August. Then on Oct 29, the realignment is made official when it is assumed into the state trunkline highway system. The former route of M-124 along Hane Hwy northerly from US-112 for a short distance is turned back to county control, while a portion of the former route through W J Hayes State Park is incorporated into the park access roads. The remainder of the old route is obliterated. The former route was 1.3 miles in length while the new route is one-tenth mile shorter. |
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1932 (Nov 1) – The State Administrative Board approves a adding more than six miles to the length of M-124 taking the route from the W J Hayes State Park area around Wamplers Lake and into Brooklyn. |
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1933 (May 27) – M-124 is no longer a spur route when 6.5 miles of additional trunkline are established from the northern terminus of M-124 westerly to M-50 in Brooklyn. |
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1939 (Jul 13) – The westernmost two miles of M-124 are realigned, shaving 0.3-mile from the route. Part of the former route is obliterated, while the portion of Monroe Pike north of Wamplers Lake Rd is turned back to local control. With this realignment, the entire route of M-124 is now paved. |
| Controlled Access: |
No portion of M-124 exists as freeway or expressway. |
| NHS: |
No portion of M-124 is on the National Highway System (NHS). |
| Photographs: |
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| Weblinks: |
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