River Road named National Scenic Byway

The Oscoda Press has this article on River Roads designation as a national scenic byway:

River Road in Oscoda Township was officially designated a National Scenic Byway last week by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. With the designation, River Road becomes one of only 170 roads in the nation which can be called National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads. The route, which has been a U.S. Forest Service Scenic Byway since 1989, was nominated as one of the nation's national treasures by the Forest Service and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

The River Road National Scenic Byway begins just east of the Oscoda Area Schools' complex and continues for 22 miles along the AuSable River and through the Huron National Forest.

Forest Service staffers are now working on a dedication ceremony, which will probably be held next May.

Grants will certainly be sought for a bike path the full length of the byway and for expansion of the Lumbermen's Monument Visitor Center, according to Schmelter. Other possibilities include improvements to Canoers Monument and the Iargo Springs overlook.