The Lost History of Michigan's Alt US 24 Highway Explained

US 24 is one of Michigan's best known highways. Known as Telegraph Road for much of its run north from the Ohio state line, there's an alternate routing of US 24 that has largely been lost to history.

The competing US 24 designations go back to the highways history.

👇🏼BELOW: This is the Opposite End of Every National Highway That Begins in Michigan👇🏼

There are 3-4 major highway routes coming north into Michigan from Toledo. Today's mainline US 24 is routed along Telegraph Road. To the east of that is Dixie Highway, which Michigan numbers at M-125 (a nod to the former US 25). To the east of that is Interstate 75, the Detroit-Toledo Expressway.

There's a 4th route, and this one is the other US 24. It's a short extension of Summit Street in Toledo that extends into Monroe County and meets I-75 at Exit 2.

This map helps to show the relation of the Alt or Connector 24 to the mainline US 24:

Google Maps Street View

It's interesting that Google Maps shows the Alternate US 24 designation while it remains unsigned by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

It is a state highway that's unmarked. Within the state's inventory it's known as Connector 75. That designation continues north of the I-75 interchange until Summit Street ends at M-125/Dixie Highway.

Both connector routes and unsigned routes are somewhat rare within Michigan as nearly all drivers who take Summit Street have no idea they are travelling a historic highway.

This is the Opposite End of Every Federal Highway That Begins in Michigan

There are 16 different federal highways (US and Interstate routes) that begin in Michigan but end elsewhere, some just a few miles across the state line some thousands of miles away. Here is the opposite end of every highway that begins in Michigan.