M-109 is the designation of a state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan that runs between Empire and Glen Arbor. The highway is a loop connected to M-22 at both ends that allows tourists access to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive located on a section of sandy forest land between Lake Michigan and Glen Lake. The trunkline traverses an area named the "Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America, the morning show on ABC. The highway was designated by 1929 and fully paved in 1939.
M-109 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 M-109 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by MDOT | ||||
| Length | 6.831 mi[1] (10.993 km) | |||
| Existed | c. May 1, 1929[2]–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  M-22 near Empire | |||
| North end | M-22 at Glen Arbor | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Michigan | |||
| Counties | Leelanau | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Route description edit
M-109 starts at an intersection on M-22 north of Empire. The trunkline runs northward along Dune Highway past Maple Grove Cemetery and through woods in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.[3][4] The area was named the "Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America in August 2011;[5] the designation came after a social media campaign to capitalize on the show's website poll.[6] Further north, the highway passes the entrance to Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive before running along the western shore of Glen Lake. Near the northwestern corner of the lake, M-109 passes the entrance to the Dune Climb in an area that's predominantly fields. The trunkline makes a 90-degree turn at the intersection with Glen Haven Road, the former M-209, south of Glen Haven, a former logging town on the shores of Lake Michigan. M-109 turns easterly at the intersection to follow Harbor Highway. It runs through another wooded area between Glen Lake and Sleeping Bear Bay. The highway passes the D.H. Day Campground and enters Glen Arbor, following Western Avenue. At the intersection with M-22 (Ray Street), M-109 terminates in the middle of town.[3][4]
Like other state highways in Michigan, M-109 is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). In 2011, the department's traffic surveys showed that on average, 783 vehicles used the highway daily along Dune Highway and 758 vehicles did so each day along Harbor Highway, the highest and lowest counts along the highway, respectively.[7] No section of M-109 is listed on the National Highway System,[8] a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.[9]
History edit
The first section of roadway to receive the M-109 designation was in place and signed on maps by May 1, 1929. The roadway was a spur from M-22 north of Empire that ended at Glen Haven, just west of the D.H. Day State Park.[2] The highway was extended east along an existing road between Glen Haven and Glen Arbor. This extension was in place by May 1, 1933, completing the modern routing of M-109.[10] The highway was fully paved in 1939.[11][12]
Major intersections edit
The entire highway is in Leelanau County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Township | 0.000 | 0.000 |  M-22 / LMCT – Empire | |
| 1.260 | 2.028 | Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive | ||
| Glen Haven | 4.798 | 7.722 | Glen Haven Road | Former M-209 |
| Glen Arbor | 6.831 | 10.993 | M-22 / LMCT – Leland | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | ||||
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Michigan Department of Transportation (2021). Next Generation PR Finder (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Michigan State Highway Department (May 1, 1929). Official Highway Service Map (Map). [c. 1:810,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. OCLC 12701195, 79754957.
- ^ a b Michigan Department of Transportation (2012). Pure Michigan: State Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:975,000. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. § G8. OCLC 42778335, 794857350.
- ^ a b Google (July 9, 2012). "Overview Map of M-109" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ Orso, Alberto; Parise, Sabrina (August 17, 2011). "Sleeping Bear Dunes Voted 'Most Beautiful Place in America'". Good Morning America. New York: American Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ Lovy, Howard (August 24, 2011). "The Sleeping Giant Behind Sleeping Bear: How Scenery and Social Media Created 'The Most Beautiful Place in America'". Crain's Detroit Business. Detroit: Crain Communications. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2008). "Traffic Monitoring Information System". Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
- ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (April 23, 2006). National Highway System, Michigan (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (May 1, 1933). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:840,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § G8. OCLC 12701053. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2016 – via Archives of Michigan.
- ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (April 15, 1939). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Summer ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § G8. OCLC 12701143.
- ^ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1939). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § G8. OCLC 12701143. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
External links edit
- M-109 at Michigan Highways