
This Quirky Little Michigan Highway Ends At an Off-Ramp Just 4000 Feet Into Ohio
US Highways are generally intended to be long cross-country, multi-state travel. Take some of the routes that pass through Michigan - US 31 travels from Mackinaw City to Mobile, Alabama. US 41 runs from Copper Harbor to Miami while US 23 runs from the Straits of Mackinac to Jacksonville.
The highway in question here is US 223. It's a short, stubby highway that is quirky in that it's a US-level route that only exists within 2 Michigan counties, Lenawee and Monroe - and the aforementioned 4000 feet into Ohio.
US 223 begins at a recently-constructed roundabout on US 127 south of Jackson and passes diagonally through Adrian to the Ohio Line at Toledo. US 223 meets US 23 while still in Michigan but just 5 miles north of Ohio. US 223 could certainly end at that point at US 23 - however US Highways are intended to pass through multiple states, so US 223 is routed along the same pavement as US 23 totally redundantly through the final few miles of Michigan. The highway then officially takes the first off ramp in Ohio which is Alexa Road.
READ MORE: Michigan Just Quietly Killed an Ionic State Highway
The beginning point for US 223 in Ohio is the Alexis Road northbound on-ramp to US 23.
Overall the highway runs just 46 miles. Does it deserve to be a US highway? Perhaps to those around Adrian and Lenewee County who would like to have the 'prestige' of a major route in their region, maybe. But the highway could certainly be designated with a Michigan state highway M-xx route number.
There were plans to upgrade the US 223 corridor to become US 73. However that potential future interstate appears DOA with the Michigan Department of Transportation.
So it will likely be status quo for US 223 a short Michigan-centric highway that has a quirky little meaningless tail into Ohio.
These Short, Overlooked MIchigan Highways Exist Only to Leave the State
Gallery Credit: Google Maps Street View
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