US-12 historic designation approved by Heritage Route Committee

Contact: Julie Martin 269-208-7829

Agency: Transportation

May 4, 2004 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will soon designate 209 miles of US-12 from New Buffalo to Detroit as a Historic Heritage Route. The east-west corridor traverses the counties of Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Washtenaw and Wayne. MDOT's Heritage Route Committee has approved the route's nomination as a premier addition to the Michigan Heritage Route Program, pending any requests for a public hearing.

"US-12 is among the oldest road corridors east of the Mississippi River and accesses some of the most extensive and significant historic, cultural, scenic and recreational resources in Michigan," said Pete Hanses, MDOT's Heritage Route manager. "It begins in downtown Detroit, just blocks from the Detroit River, and extends through southern Michigan to the Michigan/Indiana border south of New Buffalo. It was originally a network of centuries-old trails created by Native Americans. Over the years it has had many names such as Sauk Trail, Chicago Road, and Michigan Avenue."

Any citizen who would be impacted by the proposed designation may request, in writing, that a formal public hearing be held. Any such request must be received by no later than Friday, May 14, 2004. Address your request to Robert H. Parsons, Public Hearings Officer; Bureau of Transportation Planning; MDOT; P. O. Box 30050; Lansing, MI 48909, or E-mail him at parsonsb@michigan.gov.

Created by legislation in 1993, the program emphasizes cooperation among local residents, their government officials, landowners and interested groups to preserve unique scenic, historic or recreational highways. The Heritage Route Program is a grass roots program, requiring involvement by local residents to ensure that their highway and its roadsides remain in their natural and unspoiled condition. Michigan residents have an opportunity as individuals, groups, or entire communities to become involved in this important effort to preserve Michigan roadsides that have scenic, historic and/or recreational qualities.

There are three categories of Heritage Routes: Scenic - a state highway having outstanding natural beauty; Historic - a state highway having outstanding historic buildings and resources along its length; and Recreational – a state highway maintained not only to serve the recreational driver, but also to capture that recreational setting of the facility or area itself, and set the mood for the recreational experience.

For further information about the history of US-12 and the Heritage Route Program, visit: http://www.swmicomm.org/SWMC/US12.htm.

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