U.S. Route 223 - Business Loop

Business Loop

U.S. Highway 223 Business Route (BUS US 223) is a business route running through downtown Adrian, Michigan. It is also currently the highest numbered and signed business routing in the state of Michigan. Both Business Spur I-375 (BS I-375) and Capitol Loop currently exist but BS I-375 is not signed and the Capitol Loop, while inventoried as Connector 496 does not use that number on signs.

The current routing of BUS US 223 marks the second time the designation has been used in the Adrian area. The first was created in 1942 when the first bypass of Adrian was constructed. This bypass was built along Cadmus Road at Treat Highway west to M-52 (Adrian Highway). US 223 then ran along M-52 to connect with the previous routing. BUS US 223 was designated along Church, Center, Beecher and Treat streets, the former routing of US 223 through downtown. This incarnation of BUS US 223 would survive until March 26, 1956 when another new bypass of Adrian was built. The first BUS US 223 was deleted to allow the designation to be used on the routing of the first US 223 bypass. This first bypass became the current alignment of BUS US 223.

In the current routing, BUS US 223 follows M-52 (Adrian Highway / Main Street) and a former route of US 223 through downtown. The southern terminus is at US 223 at an intersection with M-52 near downtown Adrian. The business loop follows M-52 north into downtown on Main Street. At Church Street, the BUS US 223 turns northwest and follows that street to Maumee Street. The loop follows Maumee Street west out of the center of town back to the main highway. The northern terminus of BUS US 223 is an intersection with US 223 northwest of downtown Adrian.

Major intersections

The entire highway is in Lenawee County.