u.s. highway 45

United States Highway 45 is a north-south United States highway. As the "5" in its route number suggests, US 45 is a border-to-border route, from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. A sign at the highway's northern terminus notes the total distance as 1,300 miles (2,092 km). US 45 is the primary route through the real-life Metropolis, Illinois, a town of about 6,000 population that calls itself "Superman's Hometown" in reference to the fictional comic book town of Metropolis.

Termini

As of 2004, the highway's northern terminus is in Ontonagon, Michigan at an intersection with Michigan State Routes 38 and 64, a few blocks from Lake Superior. Its southern terminus is in Mobile, Alabama at an intersection with U.S. Highway 98.

Historic termini

Until 1934, US 45's northern terminus was in the Chicago, Illinois area.

Alternate routes

As of 2004, US 45 has two alternate routings. US 45 splits into US 45E and US 45W in South Fulton, Tennessee, just across the state line from Fulton, Kentucky. The two routes follow parallel paths 10 miles (16 km) apart, then rejoin just north of Interstate 40 in Jackson, Tennessee. The route splits again south of Tupelo, Mississippi. Alternate US 45 takes a direct route to the south through West Point, while the main line of US 45 bears east through Aberdeen and Columbus. The routes rejoin in Brooksville, in rural Noxubee County.