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| US 23 | |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Type | US |
| Route | 23 |
| Length mi | 1435 |
| Established | 1926 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Jacksonville |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | near Mackinac |
| States | Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan |
US 23
US 23 is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway linking the Atlantic coastal region of Jacksonville to the shores of northern Michigan near the Straits of Mackinac. The route traverses eight states and connects metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Lexington, Cincinnati, and Detroit. Historically significant for commerce and migration, the corridor overlaps with interstates and regional highways including Interstate 75, Interstate 85, and Interstate 77 at various points.
US 23 begins in Jacksonville and proceeds north through Duval County into Georgia, passing near Gainesville and through the Blue Ridge Mountains approaching Cherry Log. The highway enters North Carolina, traversing the foothills around Asheville and connecting to Interstate 26 before reaching Johnson City, where it intersects Appalachian State-region routes. Through Tennessee, US 23 turns northwest toward Kingsport and Bristol, adjacent to landmarks like Bristol Motor Speedway.
In Virginia, the highway serves the southwestern coalfield region near Big Stone Gap and links to Interstate 81 corridors toward Roanoke. Entering Kentucky, US 23 connects the Coalfields Parkway and passes near Pikeville before merging with U.S. Route 119 and approaching the Ohio River cities near Ashland. Across the river in Ohio, it runs through Portsmouth, Chillicothe, and Cleveland, sharing segments with U.S. Route 52 and Interstate 71 in places. In Michigan, the corridor continues north through Ann Arbor and Flint to the Upper Peninsula vicinity near Mackinac Island and terminates near the Straits of Mackinac.
Designated in 1926 during the original U.S. Highway System creation overseen by the AASHO, the route evolved from earlier auto trails and regional turnpikes dating to the Good Roads Movement. Early routing linked industrial centers during the Great Migration era, facilitating movement between Appalachian Mountains communities and northern manufacturing hubs like Toledo and Detroit. During the New Deal era, portions received federal improvements through programs associated with the Public Works Administration.
Mid-20th century developments included realignments when the Interstate Highway System projects, notably Interstate 75 and Interstate 71, altered long-distance traffic patterns. Urban bypass projects in Cincinnati, Lexington, and Ann Arbor reflected trends seen in 1956 legislation. Preservation and commemoration efforts have tied sections to cultural heritage initiatives such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum-adjacent memorials and Appalachian tourism programs.
Key junctions include connections with Interstate 10 near Jacksonville, Interstate 85 near the Atlanta metropolitan area, Interstate 26 in North Carolina, Interstate 40 proximate to Asheville, Interstate 81 in Virginia, Interstate 64 near Huntington-area corridors, Interstate 75 through Cincinnati-Detroit corridors, and Interstate 96 near Detroit. Other major intersections link to U.S. Route 60 in Kentucky, U.S. Route 52 in Ohio, and regional arterials serving Ann Arbor and Flint.
Several business loops, bypasses, and alternates have been established to serve downtowns and industrial districts. Notable special routes include a business route through Mullins-area towns, a bypass in Ironton and business alignments serving Pikeville and Ashland. Historical alternates once connected to coal towns near Appalachia and tourist corridors approaching Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Several segments are co-signed with other U.S. routes such as U.S. Route 58 and U.S. Route 119, reflecting layered routing strategies used in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Traffic volumes vary dramatically: southern segments near Jacksonville carry commuter and freight volumes linked to JAXPORT operations, while Appalachian stretches serve local traffic, logging, and coal transport near Pike County. Urbanized corridors in Cleveland and Detroit experience high daily vehicle miles traveled, freight distribution to facilities like Detroit Metropolitan Airport and industrial parks, and passenger commuting to institutions such as University of Michigan. Seasonal tourism peaks occur near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Mackinac Island, influencing peak-period congestion.
Planned improvements include pavement rehabilitation funded through state DOT programs in Ohio DOT and MDOT initiatives, interchange modernization projects near Cincinnati and Lexington, and rural safety upgrades through federal Highway Safety Improvement Program allocations. Long-range proposals consider capacity enhancements where US 23 parallels Interstate 75 corridors and multimodal freight integration at ports like Port of Toledo. Preservation projects aim to balance historic community access in Appalachian towns tied to Appalachian Regional Commission economic development grants.