解:
(1) $△ ACM$是直角三角形,理由如下:
$\because AC=13\ \mathrm{km},$$CM=5\ \mathrm{km},$$AM=12\ \mathrm{km},$
$\therefore CM^2 + AM^2 = 5^2 + 12^2 = 169\ (\mathrm{km}^2),$
$AC^2 = 13^2 = 169\ (\mathrm{km}^2),$
$\therefore CM^2 + AM^2 = AC^2,$
$\therefore △ ACM$是直角三角形,$∠ AMC=90°。$
(2) 设$AB=BC=x\ \mathrm{km},$则$BM=(x-5)\ \mathrm{km}。$
$\because ∠ AMC=90°,$$∠ AMB + ∠ AMC = 180°,$
$\therefore ∠ AMB=90°。$
在$\mathrm{Rt}△ ABM$中,由勾股定理得:
$AM^2 + BM^2 = AB^2,$即$12^2 + (x-5)^2 = x^2,$
解得$x=16.9,$即$AB=16.9\ \mathrm{km}。$
答:公路$AB$的长为$16.9\ \mathrm{km}。$