M-119 Tunnel of Trees
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.
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.
Guides, Plans and 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.
Tunnel of Trees Guidebook
Share the Road: Bike Etiquette and Common Sense Travel on M-119
Overview of M-119 Tunnel of Trees Heritage Route
Management Plan (with maps)
Management Plan (no maps)
Maps Only
Survey Results
Meeting Minutes
2011: January; March; May; June; July; August; September; October
Committee
Mission Statement: Recognizing the unique value of M-119 and the area surrounding the roadway, the M-119 Heritage Route Management Plan will strive to protect, preserve, and enhance the natural, scenic, and cultural character of the M-119 Heritage Route.
