M-119 Tunnel of Trees Heritage Route

M-119 Tunnel of Trees Management Plan Update

The purpose of the M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route Management Plan Update is to provide a review and revision of the M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route Committee's objectives and actions which incorporated an updated photographic inventory. Official discussion regarding M-119's preservation was initiated in 1990, when a roadside survey was conducted by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to determine the origins and destinations of the travelers using M-119. In 1992, MDOT contracted with the Little Traverse Conservancy, a local land protection agency, to conduct a scenic inventory of the roadway. This information was utilized by local citizens in the early discussions of the roadway's preservation and management as a heritage route. The goal of the M-119 Heritage Route Committee in 2002 was to develop a management plan that best reflected the interests of the community. The M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route was designated in 2003.

The update includes the following:

• Revised map identifying the corridor boundaries
• Maps of road use and crash data
• Map displaying future land use along the corridor
• An updated photographic inventory displaying the location of intrinsic qualities
• Updated objectives and activities that offer insight into new or continued issues with recommendations for attaining identified goals
• Recommendations and strategies for making future management decisions
• Five year Project List

Because of the "Tunnel of Trees" and other scenic attributes and the inherent beauty displayed along the designated highway of M-119, the Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route Committee continues to work to ensure the residents of Emmet County that this Heritage Route will maintain the pastoral character of this region of the County and will be managed in a manner that protects the "Tunnel of Trees". M-119 is the only state highway in Emmet County and the only state road in Michigan without a center line.

The Mission Statement of the M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route Committee is:

The M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route Implementation Committee is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the scenic, cultural, natural, and historic characteristics of the M-119 corridor through Friendship, Readmond, Cross Village, and West Traverse Townships. The Committee mailed out 1,696 Surveys to obtain the opinions on how best to accomplish this goal from the residents of Friendship, Readmond, and Cross Village Townships. The Committee received 570 completed surveys for a 34% return rate. After the responses were compiled, the Committee mailed out the Community Preference Survey results back to the all the three township residents for their review. From the results of this Survey, the Committee will now be working on developing recommendations for the Heritage Route to take to the three Township governments.

Click here to view the results of the survey.

Public Education
The M-119 Tunnel of Trees Corridor is designated a Scenic Heritage Route because of its natural beauty and because of the community's commitment to its integrity. The Implementation Committee seeks to educate the community on how to protect and maintain those characteristics that made it so valuable. Following are resources for anyone who has an interest in the corridor: land owners, transportation officials, and businesses.

Committee meetings are usually held the second Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. Please click here for the Regional Planning calendar that will have the meeting dates, location and agenda posted. The minutes of the meetings are listed below in .pdf format.