U.S. Route 23: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Highway in the United States}} |
{{Short description|Highway in the United States}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} |
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{{Use American English|date=September 2023}} |
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{{Infobox road |
{{Infobox road |
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| country = USA |
| country = USA |
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| type = US |
| type = US |
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| route = 23 |
| route = 23 |
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| map = {{ |
| map = {{maplink-road|frame-height=290|from=U.S. Route 23.map}} |
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⚫ | |||
|type2=line|from2=U.S. Route 23 in Georgia.map |
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|type3=line|from3=U.S. Route 23 in North Carolina.map |
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|type4=line|from4=U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee 1.map |
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|type5=line|from5=U.S. Route 23 in Virginia.map |
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|type6=line|from6=U.S. Route 23 in Kentucky.map |
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|type7=line|from7=U.S. Route 23 in Ohio.map |
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|type8=line|from8=U.S. Route 23 in Michigan.map |
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}} |
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| map_custom = yes |
| map_custom = yes |
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| map_notes = US 23 highlighted in red |
| map_notes = US 23 highlighted in red |
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| length_mi = 1435.17 |
| length_mi = 1435.17 |
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| length_round = 2 |
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| length_ref = <ref name="DeLorme">{{cite map |author= DeLorme |author-link= DeLorme |title= Street Atlas USA 2007 |year= 2007 |publisher= DeLorme}}</ref> |
| length_ref = <ref name="DeLorme">{{cite map |author= DeLorme |author-link= DeLorme |title= Street Atlas USA 2007 |year= 2007 |publisher= DeLorme}}</ref> |
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| established = 1926<ref name="USH 1926">{{cite map |author1= [[Bureau of Public Roads]] |author2= [[American Association of State Highway Officials]] |date= November 11, 1926 |title= United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials |url= https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_System_of_Highways_Adopted_for_Uniform_Marking_by_the_American_Association_of_State_Highway_Officials.jpg |scale= 1:7,000,000 |location= Washington, DC |publisher= [[United States Geological Survey]] |oclc= 32889555 |access-date= November 7, 2013 |via= [[Wikimedia Commons]] |name-list-style= amp}}}</ref> |
| established = 1926<ref name="USH 1926">{{cite map |author1= [[Bureau of Public Roads]] |author2= [[American Association of State Highway Officials]] |date= November 11, 1926 |title= United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials |url= https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_System_of_Highways_Adopted_for_Uniform_Marking_by_the_American_Association_of_State_Highway_Officials.jpg |scale= 1:7,000,000 |location= Washington, DC |publisher= [[United States Geological Survey]] |oclc= 32889555 |access-date= November 7, 2013 |via= [[Wikimedia Commons]] |name-list-style= amp}}}</ref> |
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*{{jct|country=USA|I|70|I|71}} in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus, OH]] |
*{{jct|country=USA|I|70|I|71}} in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus, OH]] |
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*{{jct|country=USA|I|75}} in [[Perrysburg, Ohio|Perrysburg, OH]] |
*{{jct|country=USA|I|75}} in [[Perrysburg, Ohio|Perrysburg, OH]] |
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*{{jct|country=USA|I| |
*{{jct|country=USA|I|94}} in [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor, MI]] |
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*{{jct|country=USA|I| |
*{{jct|country=USA|I|96}} in [[Brighton, Michigan|Brighton, MI]]}} |
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| direction_b = North |
| direction_b = North |
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| terminus_b = {{Jct|country=USA|I|75}} at [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City, MI]] |
| terminus_b = {{Jct|country=USA|I|75}} at [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City, MI]] |
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|states=[[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[North Carolina]], [[Tennessee]], [[Virginia]], [[Kentucky]], [[Ohio]], [[Michigan]] |
| states = [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[North Carolina]], [[Tennessee]], [[Virginia]], [[Kentucky]], [[Ohio]], [[Michigan]] |
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| previous_type = US |
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| previous_route = 22 |
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| next_type = US |
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| next_route = 24 |
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}} |
}} |
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⚫ | '''U.S. Route 23''' or '''U.S. Highway 23''' ('''US 23''') is a major north–south [[United States Numbered Highway]] between [[Jacksonville, Florida]], and [[Mackinaw City, Michigan]]. It is an original 1926 route which originally reached only as far south as [[Portsmouth, Ohio]], and has since been extended. It was formerly part of the major highway known as the [[Dixie Highway]]. The highway's southern terminus is in Jacksonville, Florida, at [[U.S. Route 1|US 1]]/[[U.S. Route 17|US 17]]. The northern terminus is at [[Interstate 75]] (I-75) in Mackinaw City, Michigan. |
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⚫ | '''U.S. Route |
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==Route description== |
==Route description== |
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{{ |
{{Lengths table|length_ref=<ref name="DeLorme" />}} |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[U.S. Route 23 in Florida|FL]] |
|[[U.S. Route 23 in Florida|FL]] |
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|{{Convert|37.67|mi|km|disp=table}} |
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|37.67 |
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|60.66 |
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|- |
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|[[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|GA]] |
|[[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|GA]] |
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|{{Convert|391.69|mi|km|disp=table}} |
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|391.69 |
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|630.74 |
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|- |
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|[[U.S. Route 23 in North Carolina|NC]] |
|[[U.S. Route 23 in North Carolina|NC]] |
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|{{Convert|109.22|mi|km|disp=table}} |
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|109.22 |
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|175.88 |
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|- |
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|[[U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee|TN]] |
|[[U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee|TN]] |
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|{{Convert|57.48|mi|km|disp=table}} |
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|78.14 |
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|125.83 |
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|- |
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|[[U.S. Route 23 in Virginia|VA]] |
|[[U.S. Route 23 in Virginia|VA]] |
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|{{Convert|60.91|mi|km|disp=table}} |
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|60.91 |
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|98.08 |
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|- |
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|[[U.S. Route 23 in Kentucky|KY]] |
|[[U.S. Route 23 in Kentucky|KY]] |
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|{{Convert|157.76|mi|km|disp=table}} |
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|157.76 |
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|253.89 |
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|[[U.S. Route 23 in Ohio|OH]] |
|[[U.S. Route 23 in Ohio|OH]] |
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|234.86<ref name="OH SLD">{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Techservsite/availpro/Road_%20Infor/SLD/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030219122926/http://www.dot.state.oh.us/techservsite/availpro/Road_%20Infor/SLD/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 19, 2003|title=Technical Services Straight Line Diagrams|publisher=[[Ohio Department of Transportation]]|access-date=July 20, 2007}}</ref> |
|{{Convert|234.86|mi|km|disp=table}}<ref name="OH SLD">{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Techservsite/availpro/Road_%20Infor/SLD/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030219122926/http://www.dot.state.oh.us/techservsite/availpro/Road_%20Infor/SLD/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 19, 2003|title=Technical Services Straight Line Diagrams|publisher=[[Ohio Department of Transportation]]|access-date=July 20, 2007}}</ref> |
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|378.20 |
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|[[U.S. Route 23 in Michigan|MI]] |
|[[U.S. Route 23 in Michigan|MI]] |
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|{{Convert|364.92|mi|km|disp=table}} |
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|364.92 |
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|587.63 |
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|Total |
|Total |
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|1435.17 |
|{{Convert|1435.17|mi|km|disp=table}} |
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|2309.68 |
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|} |
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===Florida=== |
===Florida=== |
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{{stack| |
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{{Stack| |
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[[File:NB US 23 Begins in Jacksonville, FL.jpg|250px|right|thumb|The official southern beginning of US |
[[File:NB US 23 Begins in Jacksonville, FL.jpg|250px|right|thumb|The official southern beginning of US 23 as seen from US 1 and US 17 in Jacksonville, Florida]] |
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}} |
}} |
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⚫ | US 23 begins at [[U.S. Route 1|US 1]] (Main Street) at the northern end of downtown [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], starting as a [[one-way pair]], with the northbound lanes meeting with [[Florida State College at Jacksonville]]. It is also unsigned State Road 139 (SR 139) from its southern terminus to its interchange with US 1 in northwestern Jacksonville (SR 139 continues east along [[Florida State Road 10A (Jacksonville)|SR 10A]] from the end of US 23 to [[Florida State Road 115|SR 115]]). West of I-95, US 23 ends the one-way pair, continuing as Kings Road through northwestern Jacksonville, as an off-grid road. A few miles to the west, US 23 meets with US 1/[[Florida State Road 15|SR 15]] ([[Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway (Jacksonville)|Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway]]), becoming concurrent with the highway through the rest of its journey through Florida. The road continues northwest, intersecting with [[Interstate 295 (Florida)|I-295]] and eventually makes its way out of Jacksonville. At [[Callahan, Florida|Callahan]], US 1/US 23 meets with [[U.S. Route 301|US 301]], beginning a three-way concurrency as the road continues northward toward the [[St. Marys River (Florida–Georgia)|St. Marys River]], leaving Florida and entering Georgia. |
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{{main|U.S. Route 23 in Florida}} |
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===Georgia=== |
===Georgia=== |
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{{ |
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Georgia}} |
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In Georgia, US |
In Georgia, US 23 enters from Florida running concurrently with US 1 and US 301 just south of [[Folkston, Georgia|Folkston]]. Within [[Homeland, Georgia|Homeland]], US 301 branches off and US 23 continues northwesterly with US 1 as a divided four-lane highway toward [[Waycross, Georgia|Waycross]] where it intersects [[U.S. Route 82|US 82]]. US 23 splits from US 1 {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} north of [[Alma, Georgia|Alma]] and continues to [[Hazlehurst, Georgia|Hazlehurst]] as a two-lane highway. |
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In Hazlehurst, US 23 intersects [[U.S. Route 221|US |
In Hazlehurst, US 23 intersects [[U.S. Route 221|US 221]] and begins running concurrently with [[U.S. Route 341|US 341]], a divided four-lane highway designated the Golden Isles Parkway. Continuing into [[McRae, Georgia|McRae]] the highway intersects [[U.S. Route 280|US 280]], [[U.S. Route 319|US 319]], and [[U.S. Route 441|US 441]]. In [[Eastman, Georgia|Eastman]], US 23 leaves US 341 to intersect [[Interstate 16|I-16]] near [[Macon, Georgia|Macon]]. |
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US |
US 23 is two lanes from Eastman to the community of [[Empire, Georgia|Empire]], then five lanes with a center turning lane to the [[Cochran, Georgia|Cochran]] bypass, which is two lanes. In Cochran, US 23 runs concurrently with [[U.S. Route 129 Alternate (Georgia)|US 129 Alternate]] (US 129 Alt.). North of Cochran, it is undivided four lanes for {{convert|13|mi|km}} to the junction with [[Georgia State Route 96|State Route 96]] (SR 96) in [[Tarversville, Georgia|Tarversville]], then two lanes for the next {{convert|24|mi|km}} to the junction with I-16 near Macon near old Camp Wheeler. North of I-16, US 23, known as Ocmulgee East Boulevard, turns on Emery Highway and then turns onto Spring Street before crossing under I-75 and the [[Ocmulgee River]]. After the river, US 23 turns onto Riverside Drive, then parallels the Ocmulgee River and I-75, [[U.S. Route 41|US 41]], and [[U.S. Route 80|US 80]], and leaves US 129 Alt. US 23 then crosses I-75 again and continues to [[Jackson, Georgia|Jackson]]. |
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In [[Henry County, Georgia|Henry County]] US 23 continues north concurrently with [[Georgia State Route 42|SR 42]]. US 23 follows Moreland Avenue concurrently with SR |
In [[Henry County, Georgia|Henry County]], US 23 continues north concurrently with [[Georgia State Route 42|SR 42]]. US 23 follows Moreland Avenue concurrently with SR 42 in [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton County]] and [[Metro Atlanta]], running for several miles in a perfectly straight and due north–south line, which is also the [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton]]–[[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb]] county line. The highway then turns onto Ponce de Leon Avenue, splitting from SR 42, to follow [[U.S. Route 29|US 29]], [[U.S. Route 78|US 78]], and [[U.S. Route 278|US 278]]. Farther along, US 23 turns onto Clairemont Avenue and onto Buford Highway to leave Metro Atlanta. In [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]], US 23 turns right onto [[Georgia State Route 20|SR 20]], then onto [[Interstate 985|I-985]]. The highway intersects [[U.S. Route 129|US 129]] in [[Gainesville, Georgia|Gainesville]]. At the end of I-985, US 23 then continues concurrently with [[Georgia State Route 365|SR 365]] north. |
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US 23 intersects [[U.S. Route 123|US |
US 23 intersects [[U.S. Route 123|US 123]] in [[Cornelia, Georgia|Cornelia]] and begins following US 441. In [[Clayton, Georgia|Clayton]], the highway then intersects [[U.S. Route 76|US 76]]. |
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Though US |
Though US 23 roughly parallels [[Interstate 75|I-75]] from Macon to [[Atlanta]], and the two routes come within a few miles in Atlanta, US 23 only intersects with I-75 at the Riverside Drive exit in Macon. It crosses back over I-75 a few miles south. This is the only place that US 23 runs west of I-75 until many miles to the north, in [[Perrysburg, Ohio]], (near [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]]). |
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===North Carolina=== |
===North Carolina=== |
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{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in North Carolina}} |
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in North Carolina}} |
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The highway runs concurrent with [[U.S. Route 441|US |
The highway runs concurrent with [[U.S. Route 441|US 441]] between the Georgia state line and [[Dillsboro, North Carolina|Dillsboro]], then with [[U.S. Route 74|US 74]] through [[Waynesville, North Carolina|Waynesville]] as the [[Great Smoky Mountains Expressway]], followed by [[U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina|US 19]] through Canton and [[Enka, North Carolina|Enka]]–[[Candler, North Carolina|Candler]]. West of [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]], the highway follows [[Interstate 26|I-26]] to the Tennessee state line. |
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===Tennessee=== |
===Tennessee=== |
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{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee}} |
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee}} |
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US |
US 23 runs concurrently with the newly upgraded I-26 from the North Carolina state line past [[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]] and [[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]]. Just west of Kingsport, I-26 stops at the junction with [[U.S. Route 11W|US 11W]], and US 23 continues to run north to the Virginia state line. |
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===Virginia=== |
===Virginia=== |
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⚫ | |||
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Virginia}} |
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Virginia}} |
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⚫ | |||
US |
US 23 extends for {{convert|61|mi|km}} through far [[Southwest Virginia]] with the southern point beginning at [[Weber City, Virginia|Weber City]] and the northern point ending at [[Pound, Virginia|Pound]]. It runs concurrent with [[U.S. Route 58|US 58]] and [[U.S. Route 421|US 421]] from [[Gate City, Virginia|Gate City]] to [[Duffield, Virginia|Duffield]]. It crosses the [[Clinch River]] near [[Clinchport, Virginia|Clinchport]]. From Duffield to [[Big Stone Gap, Virginia|Big Stone Gap]], it passes through the [[George Washington and Jefferson National Forests]]. The entire route is a four-lane divided highway. The stretch of highway is known as [[The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail]] and is a symbol of the highway's importance to country music. |
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US |
US 23 passes by the following towns, cities, and counties in Virginia as well: Gate City in [[Scott County, Virginia|Scott County]]; [[Norton, Virginia|Norton]] (an [[Independent city (United States)|independent city]]); and Big Stone Gap and Pound in [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise County]]. |
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===Kentucky=== |
===Kentucky=== |
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{{ |
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Kentucky}} |
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[[File:US 23 KY.jpg|right|thumb|US 23 in Pike County south of Pikeville]] |
[[File:US 23 KY.jpg|right|thumb|US 23 in Pike County south of Pikeville, Kentucky]] |
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US 23 is known as the "Country Music Highway" as it enters Kentucky from Virginia after crossing [[Pound Gap]] near [[Whitesburg, Kentucky|Whitesburg]]. [[Loretta Lynn]], [[Dwight Yoakam]], [[Billy Ray Cyrus]], [[Patty Loveless]], [[Crystal Gayle]], [[Chris Stapleton]], [[Hylo Brown]], and more are all noted along US 23's path through Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://www.countrymusichighway.com/cmhstars.html |title= Country Music Highway Stars |website= Kentucky's US 23 Country Music Highway |access-date= December 3, 2013}}</ref> US 23 combines with [[U.S. Route 119|US 119]] near [[Pikeville, Kentucky|Pikeville]] and continues northward. Just south of Pikeville, it joins [[U.S. Route 460|US |
US 23 is known as the "Country Music Highway" as it enters Kentucky from Virginia after crossing [[Pound Gap]] near [[Whitesburg, Kentucky|Whitesburg]]. [[Loretta Lynn]], [[Dwight Yoakam]], [[Billy Ray Cyrus]], [[Patty Loveless]], [[Crystal Gayle]], [[Chris Stapleton]], [[Hylo Brown]], and more are all noted along US 23's path through Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://www.countrymusichighway.com/cmhstars.html |title= Country Music Highway Stars |website= Kentucky's US 23 Country Music Highway |access-date= December 3, 2013}}</ref> US 23 combines with [[U.S. Route 119|US 119]] near [[Pikeville, Kentucky|Pikeville]] and continues northward. Just south of Pikeville, it joins [[U.S. Route 460|US 460]] and [[Kentucky Route 80]] (KY 80). It then passes through the [[Pikeville Cut-Through]] and US 119 diverges from the route near [[Coal Run Village, Kentucky|Coal Run Village]]. KY 80 splits to the south from US 23 near [[Prestonsburg, Kentucky|Prestonsburg]], and US 460 splits to the west in [[Paintsville, Kentucky|Paintsville]]. US 23 then passes through the outer edge of [[Louisa, Kentucky|Louisa]] and intersects [[Interstate 64|I-64]] in [[Catlettsburg, Kentucky|Catlettsburg]]. The highway also begins to run concurrently with US 60 from Catlettsburg to [[Ashland, Kentucky|Ashland]]. |
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In Ashland, US 23 follows Winchester Avenue and then Greenup Avenue through downtown. Winchester Avenue continues north from 33rd Street as US 23 Business until rejoining US 23 at 6th Street. From here US 23 passes the Ashland Town Center Mall and the Melody Mountain shopping district before exiting the city limits. Continuing north near [[Bellefonte, Kentucky|Bellefonte]], the highway passes AK Steel's Ashland Works then enters [[Greenup County, Kentucky|Greenup County]]. It passes several shopping centers and downtown [[Russell, Kentucky|Russell]] and then briefly enters [[Flatwoods, Kentucky|Flatwoods]] before entering [[Raceland, Kentucky|Raceland]] along the southern banks of the [[Ohio River]]. |
In Ashland, US 23 follows Winchester Avenue and then Greenup Avenue through downtown. Winchester Avenue continues north from 33rd Street as [[U.S. Route 23 Business (Ashland, Kentucky)|US 23 Business]] (US 23 Bus.) until rejoining US 23 at 6th Street. From here, US 23 passes the Ashland Town Center Mall and the Melody Mountain shopping district before exiting the city limits. Continuing north near [[Bellefonte, Kentucky|Bellefonte]], the highway passes [[AK Steel]]'s Ashland Works then enters [[Greenup County, Kentucky|Greenup County]]. It passes several shopping centers and downtown [[Russell, Kentucky|Russell]] and then briefly enters [[Flatwoods, Kentucky|Flatwoods]] before entering [[Raceland, Kentucky|Raceland]] along the southern banks of the [[Ohio River]]. After passing through the cities of [[Wurtland, Kentucky|Wurtland]], [[Greenup, Kentucky|Greenup]], and [[South Shore, Kentucky|South Shore]], the highway crosses the Ohio River at [[South Portsmouth, Kentucky|South Portsmouth]] and enters [[Ohio]] at [[Portsmouth, Ohio|Portsmouth]]. |
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Since 1999, the entire Kentucky portion is a four-lane divided highway; in some of the larger cities, there are additional traffic lanes present in both directions. In northeastern Kentucky, from the I-64 junction north into Ohio, some sections are four-lanes undivided, with a double yellow line instead of a median. |
Since 1999, the entire Kentucky portion is a four-lane divided highway; in some of the larger cities, there are additional traffic lanes present in both directions. In northeastern Kentucky, from the I-64 junction north into Ohio, some sections are four-lanes undivided, with a double yellow line instead of a median. These are the oldest four-lane sections of US 23 in Kentucky which were upgraded in 1950s and 1960s before divided highways became the design standard. They can be found on US 23 in the cities of Catlettsburg, Ashland, and Russell. |
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===Ohio=== |
===Ohio=== |
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{{ |
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Ohio}} |
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[[File:US 23 Northbound near Marion, Ohio.jpg|thumb|right|US |
[[File:US 23 Northbound near Marion, Ohio.jpg|thumb|right|US 23 near Marion, Ohio]] |
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The majority of US |
The majority of US 23 in Ohio is a divided expressway, with the exception of downtown [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]] and the portion of the route between [[Carey, Ohio|Carey]] and [[U.S. Route 20|US 20]] east of [[Perrysburg, Ohio|Perrysburg]]. |
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US |
US 23 crosses the [[Ohio River]] from [[Kentucky]], enters [[Portsmouth, Ohio|Portsmouth]], and passes through the towns of [[Lucasville, Ohio|Lucasville]], [[Piketon, Ohio|Piketon]], [[Waverly, Ohio|Waverly]], [[Chillicothe, Ohio|Chillicothe]], and [[Circleville, Ohio|Circleville]], before reaching Columbus. The highway then mostly follows High Street in Columbus, which was the original route. However, it now bypasses the central business district and northern Columbus neighborhoods by following the [[one-way pair]]ing of 4th Street (northbound) and 3rd/Summit Street (southbound) between the downtown area and Hudson Street, and Indianola Avenue north before returning to its original course on High Street at Morse Road. US 23 then follows High Street northbound from Columbus, going through [[Worthington, Ohio|Worthington]], passing the village of [[Lewis Center, Ohio|Lewis Center]], entering [[Delaware, Ohio|Delaware]] at the Cheshire Road intersection. After US 23 intersects the northern terminus of [[Ohio State Route 315|State Route 315]] (SR 315) and passes a retail district, it becomes a limited-access [[freeway]], bypassing downtown Delaware, before resuming as an [[Limited-access road|expressway]] with at-grade crossings north of the city.<ref name="Ohiomap">{{cite map |year= 2003 |edition=2003–04 |title= Official Ohio Transportation Map |author= Ohio Department of Transportation |location= Columbus |publisher= Ohio Department of Transportation }}</ref> |
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At [[Waldo, Ohio|Waldo]], US |
At [[Waldo, Ohio|Waldo]], US 23 again becomes a freeway. It continues as a freeway throughout most of [[Marion County, Ohio|Marion County]], then resumes at-grade crossings with a mix of some freeway-style junctions which are otherwise signalized after the [[Morral, Ohio|Morral]] interchange.<ref name="Ohiomap" /> US 23 runs concurrently with divided [[Ohio State Route 15|SR 15]] until it takes a different route at the [[Carey, Ohio|Carey]] exit. SR 15 continues on to [[Findlay, Ohio|Findlay]] and is designed to allow most traffic to bypass the northern stretch of US 23 by offering a fast connection to [[Interstate 75|I-75]]. US 23 continues north through Carey, [[Fostoria, Ohio|Fostoria]], and [[Risingsun, Ohio|Risingsun]]. |
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West of [[Woodville, Ohio|Woodville]], US |
West of [[Woodville, Ohio|Woodville]], US 23 intersects US 20, where it has an overlap for several miles. US 23 then joins I-75 near [[Perrysburg, Ohio|Perrysburg]], then follows [[Interstate 475 (Ohio)|I-475]] around the west side of [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]], passing through [[Sylvania, Ohio|Sylvania]] before entering [[Michigan]]. In the portion where I-75 and US 23 overlap, this is a [[wrong-way concurrency]], with southbound I-75 concurrent with northbound US 23, and northbound I-75 concurrent with southbound US 23 in this stretch. |
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US |
US 23 passes near the birthplace of President [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] in [[Delaware, Ohio|Delaware]], as well as near the home of President [[Warren G. Harding]] in [[Marion, Ohio|Marion]]. |
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===Michigan=== |
===Michigan=== |
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{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Michigan}} |
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Michigan}} |
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[[File:End US |
[[File:End US 23 NB.JPG|thumb|Northern terminus of US 23, Mackinaw City, Michigan]] |
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In [[Southeast Michigan]], US 23 serves as a north–south bypass to the west of [[Metro Detroit]]. US 23 enters Michigan as a full freeway, sharing a brief concurrency with [[U.S. Route 223|US 223]] until that highway splits west toward [[Adrian, Michigan|Adrian]]. US 23 continues north to [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]], where it intersects [[Interstate 94|I-94]] and bypasses the city to the east and north, before turning northbound once more. US 23 shares an interchange with [[Interstate 96|I-96]] at [[Brighton, Michigan|Brighton]] before continuing north to the [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]] area, where it begins a nearly {{Convert|74|mi|km|adj=on}} concurrency with [[Interstate 75|I-75]]. The combined freeway passes to the west of Flint, sharing an interchange with [[Interstate 69 |I-69]], before continuing north toward [[Saginaw, Michigan|Saginaw]] and [[Bay City, Michigan|Bay City]]. |
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US 23 enters [[Northern Michigan]] south of [[Standish, Michigan|Standish]], exiting the I-75 freeway at a [[trumpet interchange]] and continuing easterly on a short freeway before intersecting [[M-13 (Michigan highway)|M-13]], where US 23 turns northbound along a [[two-lane road]]. Beginning here, US 23 follows the shoreline of [[Lake Huron]] northerly, passing through cities such as [[Tawas City, Michigan|Tawas City]], [[Alpena, Michigan|Alpena]], and [[Cheboygan, Michigan|Cheboygan]]. US 23 ends at a directional interchange with I-75 in [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City]], just south of the approach to the [[Mackinac Bridge]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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{{ |
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2010}} |
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⚫ | Originally known as the Columbus–Sandusky Turnpike, the road was laid out about 1820. Within four years, it was noted as having frequent use, although it was in poor condition. As a result, on February 10, 1824, [[James Kilbourne]] of the [[Ohio House of Representatives]] introduced a [[petition]] to revise and correct the state road leading from Columbus and [[Worthington, Ohio|Worthington]] to [[Delaware, Ohio|Delaware]], [[Norton, Ohio|Norton]], and further north. Kilbourne believed that the [[Sandusky Bay]] was the perfect place for a harbor to open up the Ohio marketplace to [[New England]]. He fought relentlessly to establish roads from the capital to [[Sandusky, Ohio|Sandusky]]. He laid out a southern extension of the road to tie [[Portsmouth, Ohio|Portsmouth]] on the Ohio River to the central and northern parts of the state. As a result of Kilbourne's efforts, the state of Ohio chartered the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike Company on January 31, 1826. The following year, the federal government gave {{convert|31840|acre|ha}} in trust to the state of Ohio for the turnpike company to finance road improvements and development. |
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⚫ | An 1820 map of Ohio shows the turnpike leading from Columbus to Worthington, through Delaware into [[Marion County, Ohio|Marion County]]. The southern portion of the improved road was built and in use by 1828. The Columbus–Sandusky Turnpike, also sometimes known as Kilbourne Highway, was completed to Sandusky in 1834. Although the Turnpike was much needed and well traveled, the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike Company did not have the funds to maintain the road. Early maps show the route as "Mud Pike". Angry at the poor, muddy condition of the road, particularly in the rainiest seasons, travelers occasionally destroyed tollgates. The Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike Company was disbanded February 28, 1843, when the Ohio legislature repealed the act that incorporated it. Two years later, an act was passed that established the road as a public [[highway]].<ref>The New Eden, p. 197{{full citation needed|date=August 2012}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Originally known as the Columbus–Sandusky Turnpike, the road was laid out about 1820. |
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⚫ | US 23 was established in 1926 as part of the original [[U.S. Numbered Highway System]]. The original route began at [[U.S. Route 52|US 52]] in Portsmouth, Ohio, and followed the old turnpike north to Sandusky, where it continued north to end at [[U.S. Route 31|US 31]] in Mackinaw City, Michigan. |
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⚫ | An 1820 map of Ohio shows the turnpike leading from Columbus to Worthington, through Delaware into [[Marion County, Ohio|Marion County]]. |
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⚫ | In 1929, US 23 was extended from Portsmouth, Ohio, into Kentucky, ending at Pikeville. The following highways form the original route of US 23:<ref>{{cite map |author= US Geological Survey |map= 3 km S of Jenkins, Kentucky, United States |date= July 1, 1972 |map-url=http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=15&Z=17&X=55&Y=642&W=3&qs=%7ckingsport%7ctn%7c |title= [[Microsoft Research Maps]] |publisher= [[Microsoft]] }}</ref> |
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⚫ | * [[Kentucky Route 3294|KY 3294]], Catlettsburg<ref>{{cite map |author= Ohio Department of Highways |url= http://www.dot.state.oh.us/techservsite/availpro/GIS_Mapping/mrsid/Sids/otm1931a.sid |year=1931 |title= Map of Ohio Showing State Highway System |format= [[MrSID]] |scale= 1 in:12 mi |location= Columbus |publisher= Ohio Department of Highways}}</ref> |
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⚫ | In 1929, US |
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⚫ | *[[Kentucky Route 3294]], Catlettsburg<ref>{{cite map |author= Ohio Department of Highways |url= http://www.dot.state.oh.us/techservsite/availpro/GIS_Mapping/mrsid/Sids/otm1931a.sid |year=1931 |title= Map of Ohio Showing State Highway System |format= [[MrSID]] |scale= 1 in:12 mi |location= Columbus |publisher= Ohio Department of Highways}}</ref> |
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[[File:US 23 (FL).svg|70px|right|A US 23 shield used in Florida prior to 1993]] |
[[File:US 23 (FL).svg|70px|right|A US 23 shield used in Florida prior to 1993]] |
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US |
US 23 was extended into Florida along [[U.S. Route 1|US 1]] in 1951. When the [[20th Street Expressway]] was built around downtown [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], US 1 was moved but US 23 remained. It has never changed its route in Florida, though, at one time, it was planned to extend south, maybe to [[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]] via [[U.S. Route 17|US 17]], [[Florida State Road 19|SR 19]], [[Florida State Road 33|SR 33]], [[U.S. Route 98|US 98]], and [[Florida State Road 31|SR 31]]. |
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⚫ | In the mid to late 20th century when the coal industry declined in the [[Appalachian Mountains]], US |
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⚫ | In the mid- to late 20th century when the coal industry declined in the [[Appalachian Mountains]], US 23 was often dubbed the [[Hillbilly Highway]],<ref>{{cite book |first= Howard |last= Dorgan |title= In the Hands of a Happy God: the 'No-Hellers' of Central Appalachia |publisher= University of Tennessee Press |edition= 1st |year= 1997 |page= 164}}</ref> and it was said the three "R's" of the region were "reading, writing and Route 23",<ref>{{cite book |first= Richard A. |last= Straw |title= High Mountains Rising: Appalachia in Time and Place |publisher= University of Illinois Press |year= 2004 |page= 92}}</ref> as workers migrated to northern industrial cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, or Chicago. The [[Dwight Yoakam]] song "Readin', Rightin', RT.23" and the [[Steve Earle]] song "[[Hillbilly Highway (song)|Hillbilly Highway]]" in particular reflect this heritage. |
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⚫ | In 1985, US |
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⚫ | In 1985, US 23 was upgraded to [[Interstate standards]] on the initiative of Eddie Williams, chief executive officer of economic development for [[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]], [[Jonesborough, Tennessee|Jonesborough]], and [[Washington County, Tennessee|Washington County]], Tennessee. "The original idea for that project happened in 1985, when two young men [later named as Don Kiel and Alan Bridwell] walked into my office with a plan to upgrade Highway 23 to interstate standards", Williams said. "And all it cost us was to change the signs." Later that year, a section of US 23 near Johnson City was designated as [[Interstate 181|I-181]], the first section of US 23 to be designated as an Interstate in either Tennessee or North Carolina. Williams claims that this project was a catalyst for the five-state [[Interstate 26|I-26]] extension project.<ref>{{cite news |last= Allen |first= Calvin |url= http://www.mountainx.com/news/2003/0716tennessee.php |title= The political history of I-26 |work= Mountain Xpress |location= Asheville, NC |date= December 22, 2008 |access-date= August 17, 2012}}</ref> |
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[[File:U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum.jpg|thumb|left|220px|The [[U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum]] in [[Paintsville, Kentucky|Paintsville]] is dedicated to the country musicians who grew up near US 23]] |
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On March 1, 1994, a bill sponsored by State Representative Hubert Collins was passed by the Kentucky |
[[File:U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum.jpg|thumb|left|220px|The [[U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum]] in [[Paintsville, Kentucky]] is dedicated to the country musicians who grew up near US 23]] |
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On March 1, 1994, a bill sponsored by State Representative Hubert Collins was passed by the [[Kentucky General Assembly]]. This bill allowed US 23 to become known as "The Country Music Highway" in order to recognize all the country music stars that had come from the counties the highway passed through.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.countrymusichighway.com/about.html |title= About |publisher= Countrymusichighway.com |date= March 1, 1994 |access-date= August 17, 2012}}</ref> At every county line, there is a sign that lists the country music star or stars from that county. Also, in the early 2000s, the [[U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum]] opened in [[Paintsville, Kentucky|Paintsville]] to further commemorate these legendary people. |
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Law enforcement officials from Ohio and Kentucky set up the "US Route 23 Drug Taskforce" in 1996 to patrol the highway for drug trafficking, attempting to halt a major artery of drug networks bringing high-quality [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] grown in Kentucky north for distribution in Ohio and elsewhere. Lately, it has been primarily used to stop the flow of narcotics from large cities like Columbus |
Law enforcement officials from Ohio and Kentucky set up the "US Route 23 Drug Taskforce" in 1996 to patrol the highway for drug trafficking, attempting to halt a major artery of drug networks bringing high-quality [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] grown in Kentucky north for distribution in Ohio and elsewhere. Lately, it has been primarily used to stop the flow of narcotics from large Ohio cities like Columbus, Dayton, and Cleveland into Portsmouth, all of which have to pass through US 23 to reach Portsmouth. Signs can be spotted along US 23 in Ohio from Portsmouth to Columbus warning traffickers that efforts have been taken to prevent their actions. Some random [[police sting]]s have been set up at portions of the highway. |
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During the past few years the highway has been widened to four or more lanes through its entire length within Kentucky and is one of the more scenic routes in Kentucky. |
During the past few years, the highway has been widened to four or more lanes through its entire length within Kentucky and is one of the more scenic routes in Kentucky. It is six lanes in parts of the city of [[Pikeville, Kentucky|Pikeville]]. In 2002, it was officially named a [[National Scenic Byway]]. |
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US |
US 23 also gains attention during college football season as it holds a direct connection between [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]] (home of the [[University of Michigan]]) and Columbus, Ohio (site of [[Ohio State University]]<!--Wikipedians do not use "The" as part of Ohio State's name; it is considered a marketing gimmick, and routinely deleted.-->) and the [[Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry]]. Each year at the end of November, a convoy of fans travels either north or south depending on where that year's game is being held. Unsubstantiated rumors that the host state of that year's game has their [[Highway patrol|state police]] (either the [[Michigan State Police]] or [[Ohio State Highway Patrol]]) force an increase enforcement of traffic laws along the route in their respective states to cite opposing fans adds to the rivalry. |
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==Major intersections== |
==Major intersections== |
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Line 265: | Line 251: | ||
: {{jct|country=USA|US|10}} in [[Monitor Township, Michigan|Monitor Township]] |
: {{jct|country=USA|US|10}} in [[Monitor Township, Michigan|Monitor Township]] |
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: {{jct|country=USA|I|75}} in [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City]] |
: {{jct|country=USA|I|75}} in [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City]] |
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<ref name=randmcnally>{{cite book |author = Rand McNally |year = 2014 |title = The Road Atlas |edition = Walmart |location = Chicago |publisher = Rand McNally |pages = 26, 28–29, 43, 50–51, 74, 78, 80, 95, 106|isbn = 978-0-528-00771-2}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Portal|U.S. Roads}} |
{{Portal|U.S. Roads}} |
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*[[U.S. Route 123]] |
* [[U.S. Route 123]] |
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*[[U.S. Route 223]] |
* [[U.S. Route 223]] |
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*[[Special routes of U.S. Route 23]] |
* [[Special routes of U.S. Route 23]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
Latest revision as of 07:06, 15 March 2024
Route information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Length | 1,435.17 mi[1] (2,309.68 km) | |||
Existed | 1926[2]–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
South end | US 1 / US 17 in Jacksonville, FL | |||
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North end | I-75 at Mackinaw City, MI | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
States | Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan | |||
Highway system | ||||
|
U.S. Route 23 or U.S. Highway 23 (US 23) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway between Jacksonville, Florida, and Mackinaw City, Michigan. It is an original 1926 route which originally reached only as far south as Portsmouth, Ohio, and has since been extended. It was formerly part of the major highway known as the Dixie Highway. The highway's southern terminus is in Jacksonville, Florida, at US 1/US 17. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 (I-75) in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
Route description[edit]
mi[1] | km | |
---|---|---|
FL | 37.67 | 60.62 |
GA | 391.69 | 630.36 |
NC | 109.22 | 175.77 |
TN | 57.48 | 92.51 |
VA | 60.91 | 98.03 |
KY | 157.76 | 253.89 |
OH | 234.86 | 377.97[3] |
MI | 364.92 | 587.28 |
Total | 1,435.17 | 2,309.68 |
Florida[edit]
US 23 begins at US 1 (Main Street) at the northern end of downtown Jacksonville, starting as a one-way pair, with the northbound lanes meeting with Florida State College at Jacksonville. It is also unsigned State Road 139 (SR 139) from its southern terminus to its interchange with US 1 in northwestern Jacksonville (SR 139 continues east along SR 10A from the end of US 23 to SR 115). West of I-95, US 23 ends the one-way pair, continuing as Kings Road through northwestern Jacksonville, as an off-grid road. A few miles to the west, US 23 meets with US 1/SR 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway), becoming concurrent with the highway through the rest of its journey through Florida. The road continues northwest, intersecting with I-295 and eventually makes its way out of Jacksonville. At Callahan, US 1/US 23 meets with US 301, beginning a three-way concurrency as the road continues northward toward the St. Marys River, leaving Florida and entering Georgia.
Georgia[edit]
In Georgia, US 23 enters from Florida running concurrently with US 1 and US 301 just south of Folkston. Within Homeland, US 301 branches off and US 23 continues northwesterly with US 1 as a divided four-lane highway toward Waycross where it intersects US 82. US 23 splits from US 1 seven miles (11 km) north of Alma and continues to Hazlehurst as a two-lane highway.
In Hazlehurst, US 23 intersects US 221 and begins running concurrently with US 341, a divided four-lane highway designated the Golden Isles Parkway. Continuing into McRae the highway intersects US 280, US 319, and US 441. In Eastman, US 23 leaves US 341 to intersect I-16 near Macon.
US 23 is two lanes from Eastman to the community of Empire, then five lanes with a center turning lane to the Cochran bypass, which is two lanes. In Cochran, US 23 runs concurrently with US 129 Alternate (US 129 Alt.). North of Cochran, it is undivided four lanes for 13 miles (21 km) to the junction with State Route 96 (SR 96) in Tarversville, then two lanes for the next 24 miles (39 km) to the junction with I-16 near Macon near old Camp Wheeler. North of I-16, US 23, known as Ocmulgee East Boulevard, turns on Emery Highway and then turns onto Spring Street before crossing under I-75 and the Ocmulgee River. After the river, US 23 turns onto Riverside Drive, then parallels the Ocmulgee River and I-75, US 41, and US 80, and leaves US 129 Alt. US 23 then crosses I-75 again and continues to Jackson.
In Henry County, US 23 continues north concurrently with SR 42. US 23 follows Moreland Avenue concurrently with SR 42 in Clayton County and Metro Atlanta, running for several miles in a perfectly straight and due north–south line, which is also the Fulton–DeKalb county line. The highway then turns onto Ponce de Leon Avenue, splitting from SR 42, to follow US 29, US 78, and US 278. Farther along, US 23 turns onto Clairemont Avenue and onto Buford Highway to leave Metro Atlanta. In Buford, US 23 turns right onto SR 20, then onto I-985. The highway intersects US 129 in Gainesville. At the end of I-985, US 23 then continues concurrently with SR 365 north.
US 23 intersects US 123 in Cornelia and begins following US 441. In Clayton, the highway then intersects US 76.
Though US 23 roughly parallels I-75 from Macon to Atlanta, and the two routes come within a few miles in Atlanta, US 23 only intersects with I-75 at the Riverside Drive exit in Macon. It crosses back over I-75 a few miles south. This is the only place that US 23 runs west of I-75 until many miles to the north, in Perrysburg, Ohio, (near Toledo).
North Carolina[edit]
The highway runs concurrent with US 441 between the Georgia state line and Dillsboro, then with US 74 through Waynesville as the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway, followed by US 19 through Canton and Enka–Candler. West of Asheville, the highway follows I-26 to the Tennessee state line.
Tennessee[edit]
US 23 runs concurrently with the newly upgraded I-26 from the North Carolina state line past Johnson City and Kingsport. Just west of Kingsport, I-26 stops at the junction with US 11W, and US 23 continues to run north to the Virginia state line.
Virginia[edit]
US 23 extends for 61 miles (98 km) through far Southwest Virginia with the southern point beginning at Weber City and the northern point ending at Pound. It runs concurrent with US 58 and US 421 from Gate City to Duffield. It crosses the Clinch River near Clinchport. From Duffield to Big Stone Gap, it passes through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The entire route is a four-lane divided highway. The stretch of highway is known as The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail and is a symbol of the highway's importance to country music.
US 23 passes by the following towns, cities, and counties in Virginia as well: Gate City in Scott County; Norton (an independent city); and Big Stone Gap and Pound in Wise County.
Kentucky[edit]
US 23 is known as the "Country Music Highway" as it enters Kentucky from Virginia after crossing Pound Gap near Whitesburg. Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam, Billy Ray Cyrus, Patty Loveless, Crystal Gayle, Chris Stapleton, Hylo Brown, and more are all noted along US 23's path through Kentucky.[4] US 23 combines with US 119 near Pikeville and continues northward. Just south of Pikeville, it joins US 460 and Kentucky Route 80 (KY 80). It then passes through the Pikeville Cut-Through and US 119 diverges from the route near Coal Run Village. KY 80 splits to the south from US 23 near Prestonsburg, and US 460 splits to the west in Paintsville. US 23 then passes through the outer edge of Louisa and intersects I-64 in Catlettsburg. The highway also begins to run concurrently with US 60 from Catlettsburg to Ashland.
In Ashland, US 23 follows Winchester Avenue and then Greenup Avenue through downtown. Winchester Avenue continues north from 33rd Street as US 23 Business (US 23 Bus.) until rejoining US 23 at 6th Street. From here, US 23 passes the Ashland Town Center Mall and the Melody Mountain shopping district before exiting the city limits. Continuing north near Bellefonte, the highway passes AK Steel's Ashland Works then enters Greenup County. It passes several shopping centers and downtown Russell and then briefly enters Flatwoods before entering Raceland along the southern banks of the Ohio River. After passing through the cities of Wurtland, Greenup, and South Shore, the highway crosses the Ohio River at South Portsmouth and enters Ohio at Portsmouth.
Since 1999, the entire Kentucky portion is a four-lane divided highway; in some of the larger cities, there are additional traffic lanes present in both directions. In northeastern Kentucky, from the I-64 junction north into Ohio, some sections are four-lanes undivided, with a double yellow line instead of a median. These are the oldest four-lane sections of US 23 in Kentucky which were upgraded in 1950s and 1960s before divided highways became the design standard. They can be found on US 23 in the cities of Catlettsburg, Ashland, and Russell.
Ohio[edit]
The majority of US 23 in Ohio is a divided expressway, with the exception of downtown Columbus and the portion of the route between Carey and US 20 east of Perrysburg.
US 23 crosses the Ohio River from Kentucky, enters Portsmouth, and passes through the towns of Lucasville, Piketon, Waverly, Chillicothe, and Circleville, before reaching Columbus. The highway then mostly follows High Street in Columbus, which was the original route. However, it now bypasses the central business district and northern Columbus neighborhoods by following the one-way pairing of 4th Street (northbound) and 3rd/Summit Street (southbound) between the downtown area and Hudson Street, and Indianola Avenue north before returning to its original course on High Street at Morse Road. US 23 then follows High Street northbound from Columbus, going through Worthington, passing the village of Lewis Center, entering Delaware at the Cheshire Road intersection. After US 23 intersects the northern terminus of State Route 315 (SR 315) and passes a retail district, it becomes a limited-access freeway, bypassing downtown Delaware, before resuming as an expressway with at-grade crossings north of the city.[5]
At Waldo, US 23 again becomes a freeway. It continues as a freeway throughout most of Marion County, then resumes at-grade crossings with a mix of some freeway-style junctions which are otherwise signalized after the Morral interchange.[5] US 23 runs concurrently with divided SR 15 until it takes a different route at the Carey exit. SR 15 continues on to Findlay and is designed to allow most traffic to bypass the northern stretch of US 23 by offering a fast connection to I-75. US 23 continues north through Carey, Fostoria, and Risingsun.
West of Woodville, US 23 intersects US 20, where it has an overlap for several miles. US 23 then joins I-75 near Perrysburg, then follows I-475 around the west side of Toledo, passing through Sylvania before entering Michigan. In the portion where I-75 and US 23 overlap, this is a wrong-way concurrency, with southbound I-75 concurrent with northbound US 23, and northbound I-75 concurrent with southbound US 23 in this stretch.
US 23 passes near the birthplace of President Rutherford B. Hayes in Delaware, as well as near the home of President Warren G. Harding in Marion.
Michigan[edit]
In Southeast Michigan, US 23 serves as a north–south bypass to the west of Metro Detroit. US 23 enters Michigan as a full freeway, sharing a brief concurrency with US 223 until that highway splits west toward Adrian. US 23 continues north to Ann Arbor, where it intersects I-94 and bypasses the city to the east and north, before turning northbound once more. US 23 shares an interchange with I-96 at Brighton before continuing north to the Flint area, where it begins a nearly 74-mile (119 km) concurrency with I-75. The combined freeway passes to the west of Flint, sharing an interchange with I-69, before continuing north toward Saginaw and Bay City.
US 23 enters Northern Michigan south of Standish, exiting the I-75 freeway at a trumpet interchange and continuing easterly on a short freeway before intersecting M-13, where US 23 turns northbound along a two-lane road. Beginning here, US 23 follows the shoreline of Lake Huron northerly, passing through cities such as Tawas City, Alpena, and Cheboygan. US 23 ends at a directional interchange with I-75 in Mackinaw City, just south of the approach to the Mackinac Bridge.
History[edit]
This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2010) |
Originally known as the Columbus–Sandusky Turnpike, the road was laid out about 1820. Within four years, it was noted as having frequent use, although it was in poor condition. As a result, on February 10, 1824, James Kilbourne of the Ohio House of Representatives introduced a petition to revise and correct the state road leading from Columbus and Worthington to Delaware, Norton, and further north. Kilbourne believed that the Sandusky Bay was the perfect place for a harbor to open up the Ohio marketplace to New England. He fought relentlessly to establish roads from the capital to Sandusky. He laid out a southern extension of the road to tie Portsmouth on the Ohio River to the central and northern parts of the state. As a result of Kilbourne's efforts, the state of Ohio chartered the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike Company on January 31, 1826. The following year, the federal government gave 31,840 acres (12,890 ha) in trust to the state of Ohio for the turnpike company to finance road improvements and development.
An 1820 map of Ohio shows the turnpike leading from Columbus to Worthington, through Delaware into Marion County. The southern portion of the improved road was built and in use by 1828. The Columbus–Sandusky Turnpike, also sometimes known as Kilbourne Highway, was completed to Sandusky in 1834. Although the Turnpike was much needed and well traveled, the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike Company did not have the funds to maintain the road. Early maps show the route as "Mud Pike". Angry at the poor, muddy condition of the road, particularly in the rainiest seasons, travelers occasionally destroyed tollgates. The Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike Company was disbanded February 28, 1843, when the Ohio legislature repealed the act that incorporated it. Two years later, an act was passed that established the road as a public highway.[6]
US 23 was established in 1926 as part of the original U.S. Numbered Highway System. The original route began at US 52 in Portsmouth, Ohio, and followed the old turnpike north to Sandusky, where it continued north to end at US 31 in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
In 1929, US 23 was extended from Portsmouth, Ohio, into Kentucky, ending at Pikeville. The following highways form the original route of US 23:[7]
- Former US 23 Bus. through Pikeville
- KY 1428, Allen to Prestonsburg
- KY 321, Prestonsburg to north of Paintsville
- KY 2565 into Louisa from the south
- KY 3, Louisa to south of Catlettsburg
- KY 3294, Catlettsburg[8]
The southern terminus remained in Pikeville for only two years. In 1930, US 23 was extended to Atlanta.
US 23 was extended into Florida along US 1 in 1951. When the 20th Street Expressway was built around downtown Jacksonville, US 1 was moved but US 23 remained. It has never changed its route in Florida, though, at one time, it was planned to extend south, maybe to Fort Myers via US 17, SR 19, SR 33, US 98, and SR 31.
In the mid- to late 20th century when the coal industry declined in the Appalachian Mountains, US 23 was often dubbed the Hillbilly Highway,[9] and it was said the three "R's" of the region were "reading, writing and Route 23",[10] as workers migrated to northern industrial cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, or Chicago. The Dwight Yoakam song "Readin', Rightin', RT.23" and the Steve Earle song "Hillbilly Highway" in particular reflect this heritage.
In 1985, US 23 was upgraded to Interstate standards on the initiative of Eddie Williams, chief executive officer of economic development for Johnson City, Jonesborough, and Washington County, Tennessee. "The original idea for that project happened in 1985, when two young men [later named as Don Kiel and Alan Bridwell] walked into my office with a plan to upgrade Highway 23 to interstate standards", Williams said. "And all it cost us was to change the signs." Later that year, a section of US 23 near Johnson City was designated as I-181, the first section of US 23 to be designated as an Interstate in either Tennessee or North Carolina. Williams claims that this project was a catalyst for the five-state I-26 extension project.[11]
On March 1, 1994, a bill sponsored by State Representative Hubert Collins was passed by the Kentucky General Assembly. This bill allowed US 23 to become known as "The Country Music Highway" in order to recognize all the country music stars that had come from the counties the highway passed through.[12] At every county line, there is a sign that lists the country music star or stars from that county. Also, in the early 2000s, the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum opened in Paintsville to further commemorate these legendary people.
Law enforcement officials from Ohio and Kentucky set up the "US Route 23 Drug Taskforce" in 1996 to patrol the highway for drug trafficking, attempting to halt a major artery of drug networks bringing high-quality cannabis grown in Kentucky north for distribution in Ohio and elsewhere. Lately, it has been primarily used to stop the flow of narcotics from large Ohio cities like Columbus, Dayton, and Cleveland into Portsmouth, all of which have to pass through US 23 to reach Portsmouth. Signs can be spotted along US 23 in Ohio from Portsmouth to Columbus warning traffickers that efforts have been taken to prevent their actions. Some random police stings have been set up at portions of the highway.
During the past few years, the highway has been widened to four or more lanes through its entire length within Kentucky and is one of the more scenic routes in Kentucky. It is six lanes in parts of the city of Pikeville. In 2002, it was officially named a National Scenic Byway.
US 23 also gains attention during college football season as it holds a direct connection between Ann Arbor, Michigan (home of the University of Michigan) and Columbus, Ohio (site of Ohio State University) and the Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry. Each year at the end of November, a convoy of fans travels either north or south depending on where that year's game is being held. Unsubstantiated rumors that the host state of that year's game has their state police (either the Michigan State Police or Ohio State Highway Patrol) force an increase enforcement of traffic laws along the route in their respective states to cite opposing fans adds to the rivalry.
Major intersections[edit]
- Florida
- US 1 / US 17 in Jacksonville. US 17/US 23 travel concurrently through the city.
- I-95 / US 17 in Jacksonville
- US 1 in Jacksonville. The highways travel concurrently to north of Alma, Georgia.
- I-295 in Jacksonville
- US 301 in Callahan. The highways travel concurrently to Homeland, Georgia.
- Georgia
- US 82 in Waycross. The highways travel concurrently to west of Deenwood.
- US 84 in Waycross. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 341 in Hazlehurst. The highways travel concurrently to Eastman.
- US 221 in Hazlehurst. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 280 / US 319 / US 441 in McRae
- I-16 in Smithsonia
- US 80 east of Macon. The highways travel concurrently to Macon.
- US 129 in Macon. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- I-16 in Macon
- I-75 in Macon
- I-75 in Macon
- I-75 northwest of Macon
- I-675 south-southwest of Rex
- I-285 north of Conley
- I-20 on the East Atlanta–Edgewood neighborhood line
- US 29 / US 78 / US 278 on the Poncey-Highland–Atkins Park neighborhood line. US 23/US 29/US 78 travel concurrently to Decatur. US 23/US 278 travel concurrently to Druid Hills.
- I-85 on the North Druid Hills–Brookhaven city line
- I-285 in Doraville
- I-985 in Buford. The highways travel concurrently to Gainesville.
- US 129 in Gainesville. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 441 northwest of Cornelia. The highways travel concurrently to north-northwest of Dillsboro, North Carolina.
- US 123 east-southeast of Clarkesville
- US 76 in Clayton. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- North Carolina
- US 64 in Franklin. The highways travel concurrently around the southeastern edge of the city.
- US 74 / US 441 north-northwest of Dillsboro. US 23/US 74 travel concurrently to west of Clyde.
- US 276 in Waynesville
- US 19 in Lake Junaluska. The highways travel concurrently to northeast of Mars Hill.
- I-40 / US 74 in Asheville
- Future I-26 / I-240 in Asheville. I-26/US 23 travel concurrently to northeast of Mars Hill. I-240 travel concurrently through the city.
- I-240 / US 70 in Asheville. US 23/US 70 travel concurrently to Weaverville.
- US 25 in Woodfin. The highways travel concurrently to Weaverville.
- Tennessee
- US 19W northeast of Ernestville. The highways travel concurrently to Johnson City.
- US 321 in Johnson City
- US 11E / US 19W in Johnson City.
- I-81 in Kingsport
- US 11W in Kingsport
- Virginia
- US 58 / US 421 in Weber City. The highways travel concurrently to Duffield.
- Kentucky
- US 119 southeast of Jenkins. The highways travel concurrently to Pikeville.
- US 460 in Pikeville. The highways travel concurrently to Staffordsville.
- I-64 south-southwest of Catlettsburg
- US 60 in Catlettsburg. The highways travel concurrently to Ashland.
- Ohio
- US 52 in Portsmouth
- US 50 in Scioto Township
- US 35 / US 50 in Scioto Township. The highways travel concurrently through the township.
- US 22 in Circleville
- I-270 in Hamilton Township
- US 33 in Columbus. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 62 in Columbus. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 40 / US 62 in Columbus
- I-670 in Columbus
- I-270 in Columbus
- US 42 in Delaware. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 36 / US 42 in Delaware
- US 30 in Crane Township. The highways travel concurrently to Salem Township.
- US 224 in Loudon Township.
- US 6 on the Montgomery–Scott–Freedom–Madison township line
- US 20 on the Troy–Woodville township line. The highways travel concurrently to Perrysburg.
- I-75 / US 20 in Perrysburg. I-75/US 23 travel concurrently through the city.
- I-475 in Perrysburg. The highways travel concurrently to Sylvania Township.
- US 24 in Maumee
- US 20 in Sylvania Township
- US 223 in Sylvania. The highways travel concurrently to Whiteford Township, Michigan.
- Michigan
- US 12 in Pittsfield Charter Township
- I-94 in Ann Arbor
- I-96 in Brighton
- I-75 in Mundy Township. The highways travel concurrently to Lincoln Township.
- I-69 in Flint Township
- I-475 in Mount Morris Township
- I-675 in Buena Vista Charter Township
- I-675 in Zilwaukee Township
- US 10 in Monitor Township
- I-75 in Mackinaw City
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b DeLorme (2007). Street Atlas USA 2007 (Map). DeLorme.
- ^ Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved November 7, 2013 – via Wikimedia Commons.}
- ^ "Technical Services Straight Line Diagrams". Ohio Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 19, 2003. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
- ^ Staff. "Country Music Highway Stars". Kentucky's US 23 Country Music Highway. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
- ^ a b Ohio Department of Transportation (2003). Official Ohio Transportation Map (Map) (2003–04 ed.). Columbus: Ohio Department of Transportation.
- ^ The New Eden, p. 197[full citation needed]
- ^ US Geological Survey (July 1, 1972). "3 km S of Jenkins, Kentucky, United States" (Map). Microsoft Research Maps. Microsoft.
- ^ Ohio Department of Highways (1931). Map of Ohio Showing State Highway System (MrSID) (Map). 1 in:12 mi. Columbus: Ohio Department of Highways.
- ^ Dorgan, Howard (1997). In the Hands of a Happy God: the 'No-Hellers' of Central Appalachia (1st ed.). University of Tennessee Press. p. 164.
- ^ Straw, Richard A. (2004). High Mountains Rising: Appalachia in Time and Place. University of Illinois Press. p. 92.
- ^ Allen, Calvin (December 22, 2008). "The political history of I-26". Mountain Xpress. Asheville, NC. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ "About". Countrymusichighway.com. March 1, 1994. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Rand McNally (2014). The Road Atlas (Walmart ed.). Chicago: Rand McNally. pp. 26, 28–29, 43, 50–51, 74, 78, 80, 95, 106. ISBN 978-0-528-00771-2.
External links[edit]
Browse numbered routes | ||||
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← KY 22 | KY | → KY 28 |