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M-65
Maintained by MDOT
M-65 highlighted in red
Length:	103.55 mi[1] (166.65 km)
Formed:	1932
South end:	US 23 near Omer
Major junctions:	M-55 near Whittemore M-72 near Curran M-32 near Lachine
North end:	US 23 near Rogers City
Counties:	Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Iosco, Presque Isle
Michigan highways < M-64 M-66 >

M-65 North just north of the Au Sable River

M-65 is a state trunkline route in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. M-65 runs, essentially, parallel to US 23 between Omer and downtown Rogers City except it is further inland than the coast-hugging US 23. Between Hale and Curran, M-65 travels through Huron National Forest passing near Lumberman's Monument which is close to Cooke Dam on the Au Sable River in Iosco County. It is the most direct route from southeast Michigan to and from Alpena and Rogers City. It also avoids the slow downs inherent in driving through the many towns and villages along the Lake Huron coastline on US 23.

Route description

M-65 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 23 near the town of Omer near Saginaw Bay. The road then continues north, through mostly agricultural areas, through the communities of Twining and Whittemore before intersecting M-55 15 miles (24 km) west of Tawas City. From there, the road continues due north through fields until reaching the edge of Huron National Forest in the northern parts of Iosco County.

Just north of the community of Hale the road take a turn to the east as it passes along the Au Sable River where it generally follows the river as it passes by a former logging community which is commemorated by Lumberman's Monument. From there the road swings back to the north, crossing the Au Sable River just downstream of the Cooke Dam. It continues north until past Glennie where it meets up with M-72 until exiting the forest near Curran. After leaving the co-signed route with M-72, M-65 continues north through Alcona County into Alpena County where it intersects M-32 near Lachine. From here, it continues on north through Alpena County into Presque Isle County before terminating at US 23 southeast of Rogers City.

History

M-65 has been relatively slowly developed, and it was one of the last Michigan state highways to be completely paved. A stretch in Alcona County and Alpena County was gravel until 1961.^[2]

Beginning in 1999, the Michigan Department of Transportation spent substantial sums of money over a five year program to upgrade M-65 and US-23, refurbishing and replacing bridges, and adding more passing lanes.^[3][4] In particular, MDOT restored the old truss bridge over the Au Sable River in Iosco County, and then built a new parallel and upgraded slab bridge next to it. The latter straightened and leveled the roadway, so that it no longer dips deep into the river valley.^[5]

Major intersections

County	Location	Mile[1]	Roads intersected	Notes
Arenac	Omer	0.00	US 23 – Tawas City	Southern terminus
Iosco	Reno Township	15.87	M-55 – Tawas City
Alcona	Glennie		F-30 east – Greenbush
	Millen Township	49.66	M-72 east – Harrisville	Southern end of M-72 concurrency
	Mitchell Township		F-32 west – Mio
		56.67	M-72 west – Grayling	Northern end of M-72 concurrency
Alpena	Green Township	82.21	M-32 west – Gaylord	Western end of M-32 concurrency
		84.21	M-32 east , Alpena	Eastern end of M-32 concurrency
Presque Isle	Pulawski Township	103.55	US 23 – Rogers City, Alpena	Northern terminus

External links

• Historic M-65 truss bridge pictures and commentary
• Michigan Highways History of M-65.
• M-65 @ Michigan Highway Ends.
• M-65/AuSable River Bridge.

References