Wikipedia:WikiProject U.S. Roads/Michigan/M-00 (Michigan highway)

M-00 is a state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Running up the center of the state corresponding to the middle finger of the mitten, the highway has been nicknamed The Bird after the finger gesture. The trunkline starts at the Ohio state line near Austin and meanders north to the Straits area before turning south to end in Petoskey. Created after World War II, the highway was supported by state politicians and business leaders. Construction started along the central section before it was extended to its full length. An extension from Petoskey to Manistee was previously included before it was removed from the routing of M-00.

History
The highway was created after World War II. Construction of the roadway was promoted by the Dodge Brothers, and design assistance was supplied by a coalition of state senators. The Michigan State Highway Department started building the road in Roscommon, Clare and Isabella counties before extending it to run from the Ohio border north to the Straits of Mackinac and Petoskey. Previously, an extension from Petoskey to Manistee was included in the routing, but that section has since been transferred to other state highways, or turned back to local control.