Michigan Highways: Michigan's Route Markers

Michigan's Route Markers

From the earliest times of numbered and marked state trunklines in Michigan, the standard state route marker has been the shape of a diamond with a block letter "M" in the upper corner. Early on, the diamond was taller than wide, had the words "STATE TRUNKLINE" across the widest part and the "M" and the route number were of the same size.

These early route markers would either be erected on stand-alone posts or on telephone and electric line poles along the highway. (Utility poles close by the side of the travelled-way were much more common in the first half of the 20th century.) By the 1930s and 40s, the diamond had been "squashed" down so that all angles were at 90 degrees.

In the early 1970s when U.S. federal government mandated updated and standardized traffic signage, the traditional Michigan "cutout" diamond was then incorporated with a square black sign "blank," as it is today. For more than three decades, the Michigan state trunkline marker has remained relatively unchanged.

This page attempts to illustrate the many and varies types of route markers used on Michigan's highways, from Interstate, US and State highways to National Forest routes, Great Lakes Circle Tours, county roads and others. Pick a type of route marker to jump directly to it:

Interstate Highway Markers (Mainline Routes)

Original style Interstate route marker adopted in the late 1950s and in use into the 1980s.	Newer-style Interstate route marker omits the state name, allowing for larger and easier-to-read numerals.	Interstate Business Loop route marker, commonly used in Michigan.	Interstate Business Spur route marker is less common due to a smaller number of these routes.
Interstate Highway Markers (3-digit Loop & Spur Routes)

Original style Interstate three-digit route marker adopted in the late 1950s and in use into the 1980s.	Newer-style Interstate three-digit route marker omits the state name, allowing for larger and easier-to-read numerals.	Three-digit Interstate Business Loop route marker, commonly used in Michigan.	Three-digit Interstate Business Spur route marker is less common due to a smaller number of these routes.
US Highway Markers

Original style US Highway route marker adopted in the mid-1920s and in use into the 1940s.	Intermediate style US Highway route marker adopted in the 1940s and in use into the 1970s.	Intermediate style three-digit US Highway route marker adopted in the 1940s and in use into the 1970s.	This "Outline Sign" was used in the 1950s-60s for junction, target and overhead assemblies.

Beginning in the early-1970s, US Highway route markers began appearing on square black "sign blanks" and continue as such today.	The modern-day three-digit US Highway route marker, also adopted in the early-1970s.	The modern-day three-digit US Highway route marker using a narrower version of the FHWA typeface to accommodate larger numbers.	As Michigan has two US Highways with two "1"s in their designations, many US-131 and US-141 route markers have been posted using the two-digit route shield.
State Highway Markers

These are two representations of early state trunkline route markers from the 1920s, one wrapped around a utility pole (L) and the other an independently-mounted sign (R).	A more standard state highway route marker was settled upon throughout the 1930s and 40s.	In the 1950s and 1960s, the route marker remained much the same, albeit the numerals are rendered in the standard FHWA typeface.	In the early-1970s, the FHWA recommended using square blank "sign blanks" for all state route markers and Michigan obliged with its current style of trunkline route marker.

Another rendition of the present state highway marker, this one showing how three-digit route numbers appear.	To date, the only reassurance or other independently-mounted state highway markers in an elongated format appear along M-553 in Marquette Co.	A very unique route, Mackinac Island's M-185 is the only "motorless state highway" and sports unique signage, including distances from the visitor center.	Yet another unique trunkline route, the CAPITOL LOOP in downtown Lansing functions as a loop off I-496, but has its own unique markers.
County Route Markers

The standard Intercounty (County-Designated) Highway route marker, although the one above is unique in that A-2 is the only 'two-character' Intercounty route in the state.	Another Intercounty (County-Designated) Highway route marker, this one uses a hyphen between the letter and numbers.	Some counties in Michigan sign their own county routes, such as Gogebic illustrated above, using the standard NACo route marker.	Many other counties opt to use an older style of county route marker: a square white blank with the county name and route number in the center.
Federal Forest Highway & Forest Road Markers

Federal Forest Highway route markers appear in several of Michigan's national forests. These are high-quality, well-maintained (usually all-weather) highways.	Secondary Forest Road sign, used on roads generally open to automobile travel and closed to ORV use. These roads can range from paved to one-lane gravel.	Low-Standard Forest Road signs are used for roads which may be open to motorized use or may be closed to all but ORV or foot traffic. These range from one-lane gravel to two-track.	The National Forest Scenic Byway sign is used in many places across the U.S., specificially in Michigan on the Black River Harbor Scenic Byway north of Bessemer.
Great Lakes Circle Tour Markers

The Great Lakes Circle Tour sign, used very sparingly in Michigan, although it does appear once in awhile.	The Lake Erie Circle Tour route marker, appearing in only two Michigan counties: Monroe and Wayne.	The Lake Huron Circle Tour route marker as it appears along Lake Huron shoreline routes in both peninsulas.	The Lake Huron Circle Tour Loop route marker is used in the DeTour Village area.

The Lake Michigan Circle Tour route marker is found along many miles of Michigan trunkline.	The Lake Michigan Circle Tour Loop runs along M-109 in Leelanau Co.	The Lake Michigan Harbor Tour is a locally-posted route in the Saugatuck-Douglas area.	The Lake Superior Circle Tour route marker appears often throughout the U.P.

	The Lake Superior Circle Tour Loop marker appears along at least two highways in the U.P.	The Lake Superior Circle Tour Scenic Spur runs via M-77 from Seney to Grand Marais.
Heritage Route Markers

Historic Heritage Route marker.	Recreational Heritage Route marker.	Scenic Heritage Route marker.
Other Route Markers

The Blue Star Highway route marker is used along a portion of the former route of US-31 in Van Buren Co.	The Oceana Circle Tour route marker appears along a locally-designated route in Muskegon and Oceana Cos.	The Polar Equator Trail route marker can be found in Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency and Alpena Cos.	The Red Arrow Highway route marker is used along the former route of US-12 in Van Buren and Berrien Cos.

The Shoreline Trail route marker appears on a locally-designated route in Muskegon Co running along the Lake Michigan shoreline.	In 2004, US-23 from Standish to Mackinaw City was designated as the Sunrise Side Scenic Highway and these route markers are posted along the route.	This "US-41 Scenic Route" marker was used from the late-1960s until 1999 along US-41 in northern Keweenaw Co.

Acknowledgements:

Nearly every route marker image above was created by Christopher J. Bessert and, therefore, are copyrighted ©2008 Christopher J. Bessert, All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or otherwise use them without prior written permission. Any commercial use is strictly prohibited.

However, some acknowledgements and credit are necessary.

Many thanks to Michael Adams and his "Roadgeek" typeface series used to create many of these rotue markers.
Additional thanks to Bruce S Cridlebaugh and his "USHighwaysOldStyle" typeface used for the 'original style' US and State route markers.
Richard C. Moeur's "Sign Manual" website provided a few of the graphic bases used in creating these markers.
Many thanks to Barry Camp for his assistance with the Capitol Loop marker.
James Lin's "Highway Route Markers" website provided much inspiration.
The "Sunrise Side Coastal Highway" image is courtesy Michigan's Sunrise Side, Inc.
The two earliest state trunkline markers ("M-2" and "M-11") were reproducted from a Rand McNally & Co. "Junior Auto Trails Map of Michigan," 1926.

Additional Information:

For more information on Michigan's state trunkline (and other) route markers, visit the following off-site sources:

Roadpix - Michigan's Changing Route Marker Styles - a page at Barry Camp's website which captures examples of route marker experimenting by MDOT in mid-Michigan.
Highway Route Markers by James Lin, features highway markers from the US, Canada, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico.
About Via: Signs - the Signs category listing from the About Via website.
Road Signs of Michigan by Mark O'Neil. Also includes route markers and traffic signal photos from across the US.
Michigan's Route Markers: The Clearview Future? - See what Michigan's route markers might look like if MDOT switches from using the FHWA typeface to the new Clearview typeface they are now beginning to use on freeway guide signage.