M-26 (MICHIGAN HIGHWAY)

'M-26' is a state highway in the U.S. state of Michigan, running from two miles east of Rockland to its junction with US 41 in Copper Harbor. It generally runs southwest-to-northeast in the western half or Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The northernmost segment, which closely parallels the shore of Lake Superior on the west side of the Keweenaw Peninsula, is highly scenic.
In 1979 Highway M-26 was rerouted through Dakota Heights, bisecting it. Park Avenue had formerly served as the main route from Houghton to Atlantic Mine, but this was replaced by the new route of the highway.^[2]
In September of 2006, the Michigan Department of Transportation opened a bypass around the southwest and southern edge of South Range in order to provide a safer route through the town. ^[3]
As of October 4, 2006, MDOT has transferred jurisdiction of the necessary pieces of roadway to complete the M-26 bypass of South Range.^[4]

Contents

Portage Lake Lift Bridge

Brockway Mountain Drive

External links

References

Portage Lake Lift Bridge

Main articles: Portage Lake Lift Bridge


The Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects the cities of Hancock and Houghton, Michigan by crossing over the Portage Waterway, an arm of Portage Lake which cuts across the Keweenaw Peninsula with a canal linking the final several miles to Lake Superior to the northwest.
As its name states, the bridge is a lift bridge with the middle section capable of being lifted from its low point of four feet clearance over the water to a clearance of thirty two feet to allow boats to pass underneath. The Portage Lake Lift Bridge is the widest and heaviest double decked vertical lift bridge in the world. The lower deck of the bridge was originally open to rail traffic, but this level is now closed to trains and is used in the winter for snowmobile traffic.

Brockway Mountain Drive

Main articles: Brockway Mountain Drive

Brockway Mountain Drive is a scenic route just west of Copper Harbor off M-26. The drive climbs to a height of 1,328 feet above sea level, 726 feet above the surface of Lake Superior.^[5] Several turnouts along the route allow for views of Copper Harbor, Lake Superior and undeveloped woodland.

External links

★ M-26 Endpoint Photos

★ Former M-26 Southern terminus (now US-45)

References

1. Michigan Highways: Highways 20 through 29 Bessert, Christopher J.
2. A Comprehensive Land Use History of the Huron Creek Watershed Gerald Greer
3. M-26 at South Range Map Bessert, Christopher J.
4. M-26 jurisdictional transfer Allen, Patrick.
5. Brockway Mountain Drive Web Tour