October 27, 2009 -- M-1 (Woodward Avenue), which stretches from the Detroit River to the city of Pontiac, is celebrating its official designation as an All-American Road by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. It was the only Michigan route on a list of 42 new designations in the National Scenic Byways program that included five new All-American Roads and 37 National Scenic Byways in 32 states.
"Woodward Avenue has been part of United States transportation history for more than a century and is forever linked with America's automobile heritage. M-1 was the nation's first mile of rural concrete highway back in 1909 and has been a vital urban corridor ever since," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle.
Woodward Avenue travels 27 miles through the communities of Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Ferndale, Highland Park, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac and Royal Oak. It has a history of important designations. In 1998, it was recognized as an Automobile National Heritage Area by the National Park Service. In 1999, MDOT named Woodward Avenue as a Michigan Heritage Route. In 2002, Woodward Avenue was selected as a National Byway by the Federal Highway Administration. There are currently 151 routes in the National Scenic Byway program.
The National Scenic Byways program was created by Congress in 1991 to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation recognizes certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways based on one or more archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities. More information is available on the National Scenic Byways Web site at: www.byways.org and on MDOT's Web site at www.michigan.gov/heritageroutes. State Byway Coordinator, Pete Hanses, can be reached at 517-335-2934.
MDOT: Working to improve our state roads and bridges.
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