M-70 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-70 was a state trunkline highway
in the US state of Michigan
. In the 1920s, the highway originally connected Sterling
in southwest Arenac County
with Prescott
in southeast Ogemaw County
. The route was later adjusted to run from M-76
near Sterling along a convoluted route through Maple Ridge
and Prescott to end at M-55
in Nester's Corners. The highway was still a gravel road when the designation was removed by 1960.
. The highway ran north and crossed the Rifle River
at a point between sections of the Ogemaw State Forest
. The highway turned east on Main Street Road in Melita. From there, M-70 ran east on Main Street Road to the junction with Reed Road where it turned northward to Maple Ridge Road. The highway followed Maple Ridge Road east into Maple Ridge and turned north on Briggs Road. Crossing the Ogemaw–Arenac county line, the road name changed to Sage Lake Road into the village of Prescott
. From there, it turned westerly on Greenwood Road through downtown Prescott, and north on Clark Road to end at M-55
one mile (1.6 km) west of Nester Corners, which is the intersection of South Sage Lake Road and M-55.
north of Whittemore
. The segment east of Prescott to Whittemore was turned over to the county, but the section north of Prescott was added to M-70. This extended M-70 north to its terminus in Nester's Corners. The designation was decommissioned by July 1, 1960. At the time, the highway was still a gravel road.
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 US 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"....
. In the 1920s, the highway originally connected Sterling
Sterling, Michigan
Sterling is a village in Arenac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 533 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
in southwest Arenac County
Arenac County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 17,269 people, 6,710 households, and 4,717 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 9,563 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
with Prescott
Prescott, Michigan
Prescott is a village in Ogemaw County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 286 at the 2000 census. The village is within Richland Township.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land....
in southeast Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,645 people, 8,842 households, and 6,189 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 15,404 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
. The route was later adjusted to run from M-76
M-76 (Michigan highway)
M-76 is a former state trunkline highway designation in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway's designation was decommissioned when the last section of it was converted to freeway as a part of the present-day Interstate 75 . At that time, M-76 extended from US Highway 23 ...
near Sterling along a convoluted route through Maple Ridge
Maple Ridge, Michigan
Maple Ridge is an unincorporated community in Arenac County on the boundary between Clayton Township and Mason Township at , about twelve miles north of Standish. A post office operated here from December 4, 1873 until June 14, 1919....
and Prescott to end at M-55
M-55 (Michigan highway)
M-55 is a state trunkline highway in the northern part of the US state of Michigan. M-55 is one of only three state highways that extend across the Lower Peninsula from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan; the others are M-46 and M-72. The highway crosses through rural forest and farmlands to connect...
in Nester's Corners. The highway was still a gravel road when the designation was removed by 1960.
Route description
The final route used by M-70 followed Melita Road starting at M-76 northwest of SterlingSterling, Michigan
Sterling is a village in Arenac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 533 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
. The highway ran north and crossed the Rifle River
Rifle River
Rifle River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises in northeastern Ogemaw County and flows through Arenac County to enter Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. Once a logging river during the Michigan forestry boom at the turn of the 20th century, the river is now primarily used for recreation,...
at a point between sections of the Ogemaw State Forest
Au Sable State Forest
The Au Sable State Forest is a state forest in the north-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources....
. The highway turned east on Main Street Road in Melita. From there, M-70 ran east on Main Street Road to the junction with Reed Road where it turned northward to Maple Ridge Road. The highway followed Maple Ridge Road east into Maple Ridge and turned north on Briggs Road. Crossing the Ogemaw–Arenac county line, the road name changed to Sage Lake Road into the village of Prescott
Prescott, Michigan
Prescott is a village in Ogemaw County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 286 at the 2000 census. The village is within Richland Township.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land....
. From there, it turned westerly on Greenwood Road through downtown Prescott, and north on Clark Road to end at M-55
M-55 (Michigan highway)
M-55 is a state trunkline highway in the northern part of the US state of Michigan. M-55 is one of only three state highways that extend across the Lower Peninsula from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan; the others are M-46 and M-72. The highway crosses through rural forest and farmlands to connect...
one mile (1.6 km) west of Nester Corners, which is the intersection of South Sage Lake Road and M-55.
History
M-70 was first shown on a state map on July 1, 1919, with the debut of the Michigan state trunkline highway system. The original routing was shown between M-76 at Sterling and M-55 at Prescott. In 1929, M-55 was shifted to run due east from Selkirk to US Highway 23U.S. Route 23 in Michigan
US Highway 23 is a United States Numbered Highway that runs from Jacksonville, Florida to Mackinaw City, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan, it is a major north–south state trunkline highway that runs through the Lower Peninsula...
north of Whittemore
Whittemore, Michigan
Whittemore is a city in Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 384 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
. The segment east of Prescott to Whittemore was turned over to the county, but the section north of Prescott was added to M-70. This extended M-70 north to its terminus in Nester's Corners. The designation was decommissioned by July 1, 1960. At the time, the highway was still a gravel road.