M-125 @ Michigan Highway Ends

Michigan Route 125

Length: 19.4 miles | Southern Terminus: Ohio State Line, 5 miles southwest of Erie | Northern Terminus: US-24, 4 miles northeast of Monroe

M-125 was designated in 1973 when US-25 was decommissioned through Michigan and Ohio. It follows the path of the former US-25 through most of Monroe County, from the Ohio State Line to the junction with US-24 northeast of Monroe. For its entire length, M-125 is situated between US-24 and I-75, where all 3 highways are relatively parallel to each other. US-24 is never more than a mile to the west of M-125, and I-75 never more than 2 miles to the east of M-125.

Southern Terminus

The southern terminus of M-125 is at the Ohio State Line, which also serves as the northern city limits for Toledo. A special state line survey marker stands on the east side of M-125 there. (There are other special markers at this border crossing, but those will be discussed later on.) According to Brian Reynolds, the Michigan - Ohio State Line was originally surveyed in the 1820s, but the marks were becoming difficult to find. The entire state line was then re-surveyed in 1915, with granite survey markers placed at every mile of the state line. It appears that approximately half of these markers remain today, 87 years later. Each face of the marker reads the following in each corresponding direction:

North	MICHIGAN
East	STATE LINE
South	OHIO
West	POST #

The number for the POST # refers to the number of miles from that marker to the zero marker, at the point where the Michigan - Ohio State Line meets the Indiana State Line. In the following photos of the granite surveying marker located just east of the M-125 crossing of the state line, note that this is POST 65, meaning this point is 65 miles east of the Indiana State Line, or approximately 4 miles west of Lake Erie.

This first view shows the north and west faces of the survey marker.

PHOTO # 1: Brian Reynolds - June 8, 2002

Shown here are the west and south faces of the marker.

PHOTO # 2: Brian Reynolds - June 8, 2002

Finally, here are the east and north sides of the granite landmark.

PHOTO # 3: Brian Reynolds - June 8, 2002

Note that a concrete marker stands just a few feet to the east of the granite surveying marker. Brian has provided the following information on the purpose of this concrete marker: "As you can see (from Photo #4 below), it was placed by the Michigan Highway Department as part of a Federal Aid Project. Years ago, it was customary to place these at the beginning and end of all Federal Aid projects, usually on both sides of the road, so every project had four markers. They are triangular in shape, thus quite distinctive. Over the years, most of these have been run over by vehicles, or knocked out by underground utility work, or removed for landscaping, or stolen. Of the markers that remain, the brass plates are usually gone. This one is in remarkably good condition."

Here is a close-up of the brass plate that is attached to the concrete marker.

PHOTO # 4: Brian Reynolds - June 8, 2002

There is yet a third marker at this crossing of the state line, this time on the west side of the roadway.

Here is a view of the top of this round, concrete marker. The inscription on the brass plug says STATE OF OHIO RIGHT OF WAY MARKER.

PHOTO # 5: Brian Reynolds - June 8, 2002

Following are some broader perspectives of the southern terminus of M-125.

This is the M-125 ENDS sign present at the state line. The OHIO WELCOMES YOU sign can be seen in the background. The counterpart to M-125 on the Ohio side is a locally-maintained road, Detroit Street, which ultimately merges in with US-24 2 miles south of this point.

PHOTO # 6: Sean Lyons - May 20, 2002

Here, Brian is standing in Ohio, looking north into Michigan at the beginning of northbound M-125. Note the tiny LEAVING TOLEDO tab beneath the lane distribution sign. The state line markers described above can be seen on the right side.

PHOTO # 7: Brian Reynolds - June 8, 2002

This photo shows a close-up of the signalized intersection that stands less than 500 feet into Michigan along M-125, with the granite surveying marker in the foreground. The side road at this intersection is Benore Road, which promptly heads right back into Ohio.

PHOTO # 8: Brian Reynolds - June 8, 2002

Just northeast of the traffic signal is the WELCOME TO MICHIGAN sign, which is hiding behind a tree in this view. Farther down, in sequence, are the following: a VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY guide sign; a mileage sign for M-125; and the first northbound M-125 marker.

PHOTO # 9: Brian Reynolds - June 8, 2002

Northern Terminus

This JCT US-24 / M-125 assembly can be found on northbound M-125 as it approaches its northern terminus at US-24, northeast of Monroe. There is no M-125 ENDS signage present here. This sort of JCT assembly is on the whole a rare find, but on the other hand used at certain junctions of state highways in the Monroe and Ann Arbor vicinities.

PHOTO # 1: Sean Lyons - May 26, 2002

Here is the first M-125 shield in the southbound direction.

PHOTO # 2: Dan Garnell - December 13, 2002

These TO I-75, US-24, and M-125 shields are located on northbound US-24 as it approaches the northern end of M-125. This is a rare case of a diagonal, downward-right arrow being used in conjunction with a route marker in Michigan.

PHOTO # 3: Dan Garnell - October 30, 2002

Behind the JCT M-125 sign on southbound US-24 are a pair of overhead guide signs denoting the paths of M-125 and US-24, repsectively, beyond the intersection. M-125 heads into downtown Monroe. Meanwhile, US-24 passes through the western part of Monroe. As such, Toledo is used as a control city for southbound US-24.

PHOTO # 4: Dan Garnell - December 13, 2002

An additional assembly featuring US-24, M-125, and TRUCK ROUTE M-50 shields stands on southbound US-24 at the intersection that marks the start of southbound M-125. To divert trucks around downtown Monroe, two special Truck Route M-50s have been established to route trucks from I-75 to M-50. In the southbound direction, Truck Route M-50 follows I-275 and US-24. Meanwhile, the northbound Truck Route M-50 follows Connector M-125, M-125, Old M-151, and US-24.

PHOTO # 5: Dan Garnell - December 13, 2002

Site Navigation and Links

< M-124 | M-129 >
Michigan Ends Home Page
State-Ends.com Home Page
M-125 @ Michigan Highways (Chris Bessert)
Connector M-125 Termini