Michigan's Northwestern Highway

[Tom]

About 50 years ago, there was a proposal that came up to extend the Northwestern Highway from its current terminus (M-10) to Fenton or the general vicinity.  Would anyone know if this is still on the drawing board, or why it was shelved, if not?

[leifvanderwall]

That is the first time I ever heard of that proposal. I think what complicated it were the Oakland County lakes.

[Brandon]

True, the lakes have complicated many highway proposals in the region.  I do know that I-275 was supposed to go through the area, but no idea if the Northwestern Hwy was ever supposed to meet up with it.  It would make sense though.

[tvketchum]

Northwestern predated the interstates, and the US 23 freeway. At one time, there was discussions of extending it to US 23, but NIMBYs killed that as well as I 275. The right of way which was owned for the project was sold long ago, like 1980 or so. One might have to go to a library and search old Detroit News and Detroit Free Press articles for information, since that was before online access.

[Hellfighter]

It won't happen now. If you look at it today where it ends, there's a huge shopping center in the way. End of Story...

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.529713,-83.36031&spn=0.010531,0.055747&z=15&layer=c&cbll=42.529722,-83.360321&panoid=FQOAm2EGood-riR8L6N0gw&cbp=11,319.22,,0,-6.99