U.S. Route 223 marker

U.S. Route 223

Map
US 223 highlighted in red, Bus. US 223 highlighted in green
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 23
Maintained by ODOT and MDOT
Length46.34 mi[a] (74.58 km)
Existed1930[1][2]–present
Major junctions
South end US 23 / SR 51 / SR 184 in Sylvania, OH
Major intersections
North end US 127 in Woodstock Township, MI
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesOhio, Michigan
CountiesOH Lucas
MI Monroe, Lenawee
Highway system
  • Ohio State Highway System
← SR 222OH→ SR 223
← M-222MI→ M-227
← M-151M-151→ M-152

US Route 223 or US Highway 223 (US 223) is a diagonal (northwest–southeast) United States Numbered Highway lying in the states of Michigan and Ohio. The southernmost section is completely concurrent with the US 23 freeway, including all of the Ohio segment. It connects US 23 in the south near Toledo, Ohio, with US 127 south of Jackson, Michigan. The highway passes through farmland in southern Michigan and woodland in the Irish Hills. Including the concurrency on the southern end, US 223 is 46.34 miles (74.58 km) in total length.

The highway designation was created in 1930 out of the southern end of US 127. Three sets of reroutings through Adrian have resulted in the creation of two different business loops through the city. A change proposed in the 1960s and implemented in the 1970s shifted the southern end of US 223 to replace M-151 and then run along the US 23 freeway between Whiteford Township, Michigan, and Sylvania, Ohio. Since the 1980s, US 223 no longer reaches Toledo, instead feeding into the freeway system for the city. Changes proposed and enacted into law in the 1990s would upgrade the highway as an Interstate Highway. Congress has designated this corridor as part of Interstate 73 (I-73), although neither state intends to complete the freeway at this time.

Route description

US 223 starts at an interchange with State Route 51 (SR 51) and SR 184 in Sylvania on the northwest side of the Toledo, Ohio metropolitan area. US 223 runs concurrently with US 23 around two-thirds of a mile (1.0 km) to the Ohio–Michigan state line.[3] The two highways' designations follow the freeway northward through rural farmland. At exit 5, US 223 separates from US 23 and turns west along an extension of St. Anthony Road.[4][5]

Photograph of the
Freeway approaching exit 3 in southern Monroe County

The highway continues westward through the farmland as a two-lane road to the Monroe–Lenawee county line. US 223 meets its former routing and turns northwesterly along Lansing Road,[4][5] crossing a branch of the Indiana & Ohio Railway. US 223 runs parallel to the Adrian & Blissfield Railroad that branches off southwest of the highway.[6] Both the highway and rail line run northwesterly into Blissfield. The two cross while US 223 runs along Adrian Street through downtown, and the highway makes its first crossing of the River Raisin before leaving downtown. The second crossing is in Palmyra northwest of Blissfield.[4][5]

US 223 returns to a due west track as it crosses a branch of the Norfolk Southern Railway, and the roadway approaches the outskirts of Adrian.[4][6] The highway runs along the southern city limits for Adrian as it meets M-52. The only business loop for US 223 runs north of this intersection with M-52 into downtown Adrian while US 223 continues through a secondary business corridor south and west of town. US 223 crosses Beaver Creek and then intersects M-34 on the western city line in a residential section of Adrian. As US 223 crosses fully into the city of Adrian, it continues northwesterly, then turns due west at the intersection where it meets its business loop's western terminus. Outside of town, the highway crosses through more farmland continuing to northwestern Lenawee County.[4][5]

Entering Blissfield

US 223 passes out of flat farmlands into the Irish Hills region as the highway runs northeast of Manitou Beach as the roadway rounds the northern shore of Devils Lake. The Irish Hills region has gently rolling hills that transition to forests from farms. Southeast of Somerset, US 223 meets US 127 and ends.[4][5] The entire highway in both Ohio and Michigan is listed on the National Highway System,[7][8] a system of highways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[9]

History

As early as 1912, the Ohio section of what is now US 223 was shown on maps as SR 54, however the road was not signed with the number at the time.[10] The Michigan section carried two numbers when the signs were erected by July 1, 1919. The segment from Somerset to Adrian was M-80, and the remainder in Michigan was M-34.[11] Ohio signed its highways, including SR 54, by July 1923.[12][13]

Map of
Routing of US 223 and M-151 in Michigan on October 1, 1957

When the United States Numbered Highway System debuted on November 11, 1926, these highways were all used as part of the southern end of US 127, which started in Lansing, Michigan, and ended in Toledo at the time.[14] In 1930, US 127 south of Somerset was rerouted to replace M-14 to the state line and extended to end in Cincinnati, Ohio. The section of US 127 between Somerset and Toledo was then renumbered US 223, making the highway a spur of US 23.[1][2]

The routing of US 223 was changed through Adrian in 1935, shifting the highway along different streets through town.[15][16] Another change in 1942 through Adrian led to the creation of the first business loop through the city.[17][18] This version of the business loop lasted until the main highway was moved a second time in 1956. With this subsequent move, the business loop designation was shifted to its current location.[19][20]

M-151 marker

M-151

LocationWhiteford Township
Length3.715 mi[21] (5.979 km)
Existed1935[22]–1977[23]

Michigan first started converting US 23 into a freeway in 1957.[24] Several years later, the state first proposed a realignment of US 223 in 1965. This change would have rerouted the highway to replace M-151 in southern Monroe County, and use the US 23 freeway to connect to Sylvania, Ohio.[25] The Michigan State Highway Department truncated M-151 in 1965, eliminating the section that ran eastward through Samaria to US 25 south of Monroe.[26][27] The remainder of the US 223 realignment change was made in 1977 when Michigan shifted its segment of US 223 over M-151 as previously proposed. Instead of running south through Ottawa Lake along Memorial Highway, US 223 continued east to the US 23 freeway and south into Ohio.[23] The former routing has been retained as an unsigned highway.[21]

The last major change occurred when the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) truncated US 223 at exit 234. The city of Toledo and the state proposed the change in late 1985 to simplify travel in the area.[28] The section of US 223 from Sylvania into downtown Toledo was used for an extension of SR 51 when the change was made between 1985 and 1987.[29][30]

A local regional planning group in Michigan proposed upgrading the section of US 223 through Lenawee County in 1990, citing increased congestion and accidents in the previous five years. The commission also supported upgrades to the highway because it was the main route between the Jackson and Toledo areas.[31] Subsequent upgrades during 2000 added passing lanes near Palmyra and 6.6 miles (10.6 km) of roads were resurfaced.[32]

Future

Main article: Interstate 73

The original defined alignment of I-73 would have run along I-75 to Detroit.[33] However, Congress amended that definition in 1995 to have a branch along the US 223 corridor to south of Jackson and the US 127 corridor north to I-75 near Grayling. From Grayling it would use I-75 to Sault Ste. Marie.[34] Except south of Jackson, where the existing highways are two-lane roads and a section of road north of Lansing where the freeway reverts to a divided highway, this corridor is mostly a rural four-lane freeway.[4] While there are no immediate plans to convert the section of US 127 between St. Johns and Ithaca to freeway, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) continues to purchase parcels for right-of-way to be used for future upgrades.[35]

MDOT included using the US 223 corridor as one of its three options to build I-73 in 2000. The others included using the US 127 corridor all the way into Ohio with a connection to the Ohio Turnpike or using US 127 south and a new freeway connection to US 223 at Adrian.[36] MDOT abandoned further study of I-73 after June 12, 2001, diverting remaining funding to safety improvement projects along the corridor.[37] The department stated there was a "lack of need" for sections of the proposed freeway, and the project website was closed down in 2002.[38] According to press reports in 2011, a group advocating on behalf of the freeway is working to revive the I-73 project in Michigan. According to an MDOT spokesman, "to my knowledge, we’re not taking that issue up again."[39] The Lenawee County Road Commission is not interested in the freeway, and according to the president of the Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce, "there seems to be little chance of having an I-73 link between Toledo and Jackson built in the foreseeable future."[39]

In 2012, MDOT announced a construction project along the US 23/US 223 freeway in southern Monroe County what would rebuild the northbound lanes of the freeway between exits 1 and 5 in addition to improving the interchange ramps in the area. The interchange between US 223 the freeway at exit 5 will also be modified to contain a pair of roundabouts in a configuration known as a dogbone interchange.[40]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[3][21]kmExitDestinationsNotes
LucasSylvania0.000.00234
 US 23 south

 SR 51 south (Monroe Street) – Sylvania		Southern end of US 23 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 51; exit number follows US 23 and is for SR 51 (also serves SR 184); freeway continues southward as US 23
 0.66
0.000		1.06
0.000		Ohio–Michigan state line
MonroeWhiteford Township1.4872.3931Sterns Road
2.9804.7963Ottawa Lake, LambertvilleConnects to Consear Road
5.0988.2045
 US 23 north – Ann Arbor		Northern end of US 23 concurrency; northern end of freeway section
LenaweeMadison Township–Adrian city line24.92340.110

 Bus. US 223 north / M-52 (Adrian Highway/Main Street) – Chelsea		Southern terminus of Bus. US 223
26.32842.371 M-34 (Beecher Street) – HudsonGrade-separated interchange via Industrial Drive
Adrian27.67644.540

 Bus. US 223 east (Maumee Street)		Western terminus of Bus. US 223; indirect southbound access from Bus. US 223
Woodstock Township45.69573.539 US 127 – Hudson, JacksonNorthern terminus; highway continues as US 127 north
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Business loop

Business plate.svg

Business US Highway 223 marker

Business US Highway 223

LocationAdrian, Michigan
Length3.751 mi[21] (6.037 km)
Existed1956[19][20]–present

Business US Highway 223 (Bus. US 223) is a business route running through downtown Adrian, Michigan. It is also currently the highest numbered and signed business routing in the state of Michigan. Both Business Spur I-375 (BS I-375) and Capitol Loop currently exist but BS I-375 is not signed and the Capitol Loop, while inventoried as Connector 496 does not use that number on signs.[41]

The current routing of Bus. US 223 marks the second time the designation has been used in the Adrian area. The first was created in 1942 when the first bypass of Adrian was constructed. This bypass was built along Cadmus Road at Treat Highway west to M-52 (Adrian Highway). US 223 then ran along M-52 to connect with the previous routing. Bus. US 223 was designated along Church, Center, Beecher and Treat streets, the former routing of US 223 through downtown.[17][18] This incarnation of Bus. US 223 would survive until March 26, 1956 when another new bypass of Adrian was built. The first Bus. US 223 was deleted to allow the designation to be used on the routing of the first US 223 bypass. This first bypass became the current alignment of Bus. US 223.[19][20]

Photograph
The YMCA on Bus. US 223 west of Downtown Adrian

In the current routing, Bus. US 223 follows M-52 (Main Street) and a former route of US 223 through downtown. The southern terminus is at US 223 at an intersection with M-52 near the southern city line. The business loop runs concurrently with M-52 north into downtown on Main Street, breaking off and running northwesterly along Church Street. From there Bus. US 223 turns westward onto Maumee Street. The route follows Maumee Street to its northern terminus, meeting US 223 again northwest of downtown Adrian.[42]

Major intersections
The entire highway is in Lenawee County.

Locationmi[21]kmDestinationsNotes
Madison Township–Adrian city line0.0000.000
 M-52 south (Adrian Highway)
US 223 – Toledo, Jackson		Southern end of M-52 concurrency; highway continues into Madison Township as M-52
Adrian1.0041.616
 M-34 west – Hudson		Eastern terminus of M-34
1.6492.654
 M-52 north (East Main Street)		Northern end of M-52 concurrency
3.7516.037
 US 223 north		No direct access between Bus. US 223 and US 223 south
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Total mileage is a summation of the state mileages.

References

  1. ^ a b Ohio Department of Highways (1930). Map of Ohio Showing State Highway System (PDF) (Map). 1:760,320. Columbus: Ohio Department of Highways. OCLC 5673562, 7237073. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Ohio Department of Highways (1931). Map of Ohio Showing State Highway System (PDF) (Map). 1:760,320. Columbus: Ohio Department of Highways. §§ E4–B14. OCLC 5673562, 7231737. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Ohio Department of Transportation (January 1990). Straight Line Diagram for US 223 in Lucas County (PDF). Bowling Green: Ohio Department of Transportation. p. 1. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Michigan Department of Transportation (2010). Uniquely Michigan: Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:975,000. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. §§ N11–N12. OCLC 42778335, 639960603.
  5. ^ a b c d e Google (September 26, 2010). "Overview Map of US 223" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  6. ^ a b Michigan Department of Transportation (April 2009). Michigan's Railroad System (PDF) (Map). Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  7. ^ Federal Highway Administration (December 2003). National Highway System, Toledo, OH–MI (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  8. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (2005). National Highway System, Michigan (PDF) (Map). Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  9. ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  10. ^ Ohio State Highway Department (1912). Map of Ohio Showing Inter-County Highways (PDF) (Map). c. 1:563,200. Columbus: Ohio State Highway Department. OCLC 13716556. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  11. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (July 1, 1919). State of Michigan (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Lower Peninsula sheet. OCLC 15607244. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  12. ^ Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works (April 1922). Map of Ohio State Highways Showing All Improved Roadways and Indicating System Constructed Under Administration of Gov. Harry L. Davis (PDF) (Map). c. 1:563,200. Columbus: Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  13. ^ Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works (July 1923). Map of Ohio Showing State Routes (PDF) (Map). 1:760,320. Columbus: Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  14. ^ Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved November 7, 2013 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  15. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (May 15, 1935). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N12. OCLC 12701143.
  16. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (July 15, 1935). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N12. OCLC 12701143.
  17. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1941). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N12. OCLC 12701143.
  18. ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (June 1, 1942). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Summer ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N12. OCLC 12701143.
  19. ^ a b c Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1955). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N12. OCLC 12701120.
  20. ^ a b c Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1956). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N12. OCLC 12701120.
  21. ^ a b c d e Michigan Department of Transportation (2021). Next Generation PR Finder (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  22. ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1935). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N12. OCLC 12701143.
  23. ^ a b Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (July 6, 1977). "Route Numbering Committee Agenda" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 2. Retrieved August 2, 2014 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  24. ^ Grigsby, John N. (February 20, 1957). "US 23 Work To Start in Michigan This Year". Toledo Blade. p. 1. OCLC 12962635. Retrieved December 19, 2010 – via Google News.
  25. ^ "Michigan Asks to Reroute US 223". Toledo Blade. September 9, 1965. p. 29. OCLC 12962635. Retrieved December 19, 2010 – via Google News.
  26. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1965). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N13. OCLC 12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  27. ^ Michigan Department of State Highways (1966). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § N13. OCLC 12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  28. ^ "Route-Shift Plan Gains at Hearing". Toledo Blade. November 22, 1985. p. 16. OCLC 12962635. Retrieved December 19, 2010 – via Google News.
  29. ^ Ohio Department of Transportation (1985). Ohio Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). c. 1:563,200. Columbus: Ohio Department of Transportation. §§ E3–F3. OCLC 5673562, 17931814. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  30. ^ Ohio Department of Transportation (1987). Ohio Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). c. 1:563,200. Columbus: Ohio Department of Transportation. §§ E2–F3. OCLC 5673562, 20279267, 314722844. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  31. ^ Harvey, Hank (January 29, 1990). "Planning Group Seeks Upgrading of US 223". Toledo Blade. p. 13. OCLC 12962635. Retrieved December 19, 2010 – via Google News.
  32. ^ "Michigan Highway Plan Focuses on Repair Work: Engler Pledges Gradual Shift to New Construction". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. January 26, 2000. p. 9. OCLC 12962635. Retrieved December 19, 2010 – via Google News.
  33. ^ United States Congress (December 18, 1991). "Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991". Washington, DC: United States Congress. §1105(c)(5). Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  34. ^ United States Congress (November 28, 1995). "The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995". Washington, DC: United States Congress. §1105(c)(5). Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  35. ^ Rook, Christine (July 12, 2009). "Finishing US 127 Still Has Support". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1A, 4A. ISSN 0274-9742. OCLC 6678181. Retrieved July 13, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Michigan Settles on 3 Options for I-73: State Still May Decide not to Build Highway". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. December 14, 2000. p. B2. OCLC 12962717. Retrieved December 19, 2010 – via Google News.
  37. ^ Stiles, Linda (June 13, 2001). "Funds for I-73 Instead Will Be Used to Repair Routes 127, 223". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. A1. OCLC 9939307.
  38. ^ Hickey, JoAnne (August 22, 2007). "South Takes the Lead: I-73 Will Push from South to North" (PDF). Marion Star & Mullins Enterprise. Marion, South Carolina. p. 5A. OCLC 761993706. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  39. ^ a b Pelham, Dennis (July 16, 2011). "Group Seeks to Revive I-73 Interest in Michigan". The Daily Telegram. Adrian, MI. p. A8. OCLC 33972687. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  40. ^ Patch, David (April 17, 2012). "Forum Planned on US 23 Work In Monroe Co.: Roundabouts To Be Built at US 223 Junction". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  41. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (2006). Truck Operator's Map (Map). c. 1:221,760. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Detroit, Lansing insets.
  42. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (2010). Official Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). c. 1:221,760. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Adrian inset. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.

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