There's a roadway that few Michiganders know about that sounds like it should be a major thoroughfare across the nation. However it exists for just a few miles north of Monroe.

The road is U.S. Turnpike - this is its story.

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U.S. Turnpike exists as a branch off of Dixie Highway, a remnant of a once expansive highway that ran the length of the country from Sault Ste Marie to Miami.

U.S. Turnpike begins at the Huron River which is the Monroe/Wayne County line. It runs just 3.9 miles outside of South Rockwood before ending at Dixie Highway.

US Turnpike Full Route
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Likely the biggest clue to the route's history is what is becomes when it crosses north into Wayne County: Jefferson Ave. Jefferson is an incredibly significant road through Metro Detroit being one of the 'spur' routes that radiated from downtown with Jefferson running southwest towards Toledo.

Jefferson's history dates back to an early military road, Hull's Trace, considered the first road in what would become Michigan Territory.

Hull's Trace over the centuries has been replaced by roads bearing names like Detroit-Frenchtown Road, Detroit & Toledo Turnpike and United States Road.

READ MORE: Forgotten Monument Marks Ancient Roadway Across Michigan No One Remembers

And that history is very likely the namesake for U.S. Turnpike, a morphing of United State Road and the Detroit Turnpike.

While it's a long bypassed route today, should you ever find yourself on U.S. Turnpike in Monroe County, know you're travelling quite literally the first road in Michigan.

[Inspired by: Old Highway Alignments on Facebook]

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