It is the most direct route from southeast Michigan to and from Alpena, Michigan and Rogers City, Michigan; it also avoids the slow downs inherent in driving through the towns and villages along the Lake Huron coastline on US-23.
It is the most direct route from southeast Michigan to and from Alpena, Michigan and Rogers City, Michigan. If speed is the overriding consideration, it also avoids the slow downs inherent in driving through the towns and villages along the Lake Huron coastline on US-23.