US 12US 12 connects Illinois with Michigan. It starts on the southeast side of Chicago and ends just past Michigan City. Except for an area in Hammond and East Chicago, it runs very close to the Lake Michigan shore. Much of the route is urban, but it also serves as the primary access to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.US 12 was originally to be US 10, but Michigan already had an M-10 over where US 12 was planned to go (and an M-16 on a road originally planned to be given the name "US-18," so it happened). Add into that Kentucky's complaints about a Chicago Bias in the numbering of the US Routes (US 66 was supposed to be US 60), and the route numbering was changed to US 12. In 2004, a section of US 12 in Gary along Industrial Highway was transferred to Gary, and US 12 was rerouted along US 20 and SR 912 to Columbus Avenue. |
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| US 12: | Illinois State Line - Hammond | < 45.2 miles > | Michigan State Line - Michigan City |
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Google Map of US 12 |
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| Cities Served: | Burns Harbor, East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana Dunes State Park, Long Beach, Michigan City, Pines, Portage, Porter, Whiting | ||
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| Counties Served: | |||
| INDOT County Flow Maps (AADT): | SELECT distinct c.county_name, aadt_year, aadt_document FROM county c, highway_county h WHERE h.county_id=c.county_id and highway_id=2012 ORDER BY county_name | ||
| Related Highway: | Old SR 43 |
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| Highway Name(s): | Iron Brigade Highway, Dunes Highway | ||
| Branches: | SR 112, US 112, SR 212, SR 312, SR 912 | ||
| Multiplexes: | US 20, US 41, SR 912 | ||
| Ending at US 12: | SR 49, SR 149, SR 212, SR 249, SR 520 | ||
| NHS: | Only small portion of Indianapolis Blvd at extreme NW corner of Lake County | ||
| Related Links: | » Illinois Highway Ends - US 12 Page | ||
| » Michigan Highways - US 12 | |||
| » U.S. 12 - Michigan-Washington | |||
| » US 12 from Wikipedia | |||
| » US Ends .com - US 12 | |||
| » usroadman.com US 12 Page | |||
| Eastern Terminus:
End Photographs |
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This is the view looking up US 12 into Michigan. |
A view of the newer style sign in the winter |
This is a view of the old signage at where US 12 enters Indiana from Michigan. First the Welcome to Indiana Sign (now replaced by the modern design), then an adopt-a-highway sign, then the signage sho |
This is a view looking down US 12. The "Welcome" sign has been recently replaced with the newer sign, otherwise the rest of the scene is accurate for summer. |
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A closeup of the sign in the above picture. Not only is this road (at least this section) known as the Iron Brigade Highway, but this section of US 12 is part of the "Lake Michigan Circle Tour,". |
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| Western Terminus: End Photographs |
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This is looking westbound down US 12 (along with US 20 and US 41) as it enters into Indiana from Illinois. |
This is looking northeast along US 20 (along with US 20 and US 41) into Chicago. US 12 goes around Chicago along with US 20, then veers northwest to Madison and points west. |
Looking northwest at the Illinois state line |
Looking northwest close to the Illinois line |
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| Multiplex Photographs: |
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US 12/US 20: Looking north on Cline Avenue |
US 12/US 20/US 41: Looking southeast from the Indiana Toll Road approaching the multiplex |
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| Other Photographs: |
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US 12 goes by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore |
Looking west on US 12 at the South Shore station at Ogden Dunes |
The Mittal (formerly Bethlehem) integrated steel mill on US 12 |
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Modern Indiana Highway Shields are courtesy of Barry Camp
Modern Indiana Highway Shields are courtesy of Barry Camp