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Highways 40 through 49

M-40 | US-41 | M-42 | M-43 | M-44 | US-45 | M-45 | M-46 | M-47 | M-48 | M-49 | Jump to Bottom
M-40 Southern Terminus: US-12, three miles west of Mottville in southeastern Cass Co
Northern Terminus: US-31 in the southeastern portion of Holland
Length: 74.22 miles
Map: Route Map of M-40
Notes: Prior to 1971, M-40 ran southwesterly from Paw Paw along the route of present-day M-51 to Niles, while M-119 ran southerly from Paw Paw along present-day M-40 to US-12. The odd jog in M-40 at Paw Paw dates back to the 1920s when M-40 only occupied the Paw Paw-to-Niles routing. In later years, as M-40 was extended to the north and M-119 was extended south of Paw Paw, the portion of highway through Decatur and Dowagiac to Niles came to be a less-than-logical routing for M-40.
Until more recent times, M-40 continued northerly from its northern terminus at Holland via Lincoln Ave and State St to end at BUS US-31/BL I-196 just south of downtown, but was scaled back to end at US-31 for some reason.
History: c.1920 - M-40 begins at the Indiana state line south of Niles and runs northerly along present-day M-51 through Niles, Dowagiac and Decatur. North of Decatur, M-40 turns northeasterly via Paw Paw Rd into Paw Paw, where it ends at M-17 (later to become US-12).
1923 - M-40 is shortened by 4 miles when M-58 (later US-31) replaces it from downtown Niles to the Indiana state line. Also, M-40 is lengthened on the other end by 18 miles when the route is extended northerly from Paw Paw through Gobleville (present-day Gobles) to end at M-89 in Allegan.
1925 - M-40 is realigned between Decatur and Paw Paw to run due northerly from Decatur to M-17 (soon to become US-12), then easterly via M-17 back to its former alignment in Paw Paw. The former route of M-40 along Paw Paw Rd is turned back to local control.
1926 - By 1928, M-40 is extended easterly along the former route of M-89 between Allegan and US-131 at Martin (the routing of present-day M-222). M-89 is realigned to run southeasterly from Allegan to Plainwell.
1929 - M-40 is removed from the Allegan-to-Martin route (replaced by M-118) and realigned onto a new routing running northwesterly from Allegan, ending in Holland at US-31—its present-day alignment.
1933 - M-40 is extended southwesterly from downtown Niles via M-60 (soon to be co-signed with US-112) for 4 miles, then southwesterly via Chicago Rd to end at the Indiana state line. The last 6 miles along Chicago Rd are shown as "graded-earth surface" on maps.
1934 - The route extension in 1933, as noted above, lasted only one year since the 1935 Official Highway Map does not show the extension.
1946 - The final 6 miles of gravel-surfaced M-40 are paved, between Dunningville and Hamilton in central Allegan Co.
1952 - In mid-1952, M-89 is realigned in central Alleagan Co and its concurrent designation with M-40 is extended by 7 miles.
1954 - A new alignment of M-40 opens, eliminating two 90-degree curves, approximately 6 miles west of Decatur.
1960 - With the completion of the I-94/US-12 freeway in Van Buren Co, M-40 is routed via the new freeway for 4 miles west of Paw Paw while the former route is turned back to local control.
1971 - The alignment of M-40 is drastically altered south of Paw Paw. Beginning at I-94 at Paw Paw, M-40 is rerouted southerly via M-119 through Marcellus to end at US-12 west of Mottville. The former route of M-40 between I-94 and downtown Niles is redesignated as M-51, with the concurrent segment along I-94 becoming solely I-94. The net loss in mileage with the realignment is 10 miles.
1994 (June 20) - M-40 is scaled back from its northern terminus at BUS US-31/BL I-196 in Holland to end at US-31 on the south side of Holland. The former route via Lincoln Ave and State St is turned back to municipal control.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-40 is freeway or expressway.
NHS: From I-196 at Exit 49 to US-31 in Holland.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-40 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-40 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
US-41 Southern Entrance: From Wisconsin in the city of Menominee
Northern Terminus: 2.5 miles east of Copper Harbor at the Horseshoe Harbor Rd turnaround
Length: 279.22 miles
Map: Route Map of US-41
Notes: The northern terminus of US-41 is not at another highway or in a city or town, but at a cul-de-sac 2.5 miles east of Copper Harbor in remote Keewenaw County. A gravel logging/forest access road leads away from the end of the highway, which has a monument and sign signifying the northern end of a highway which begins in Miami, Florida.
US-41 follows a somewhat convoluted routing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, first running northerly, then easterly to Escanaba, then northerly again to Marquette. From there US-41 runs westerly for 56 miles, until heading northerly again toward Houghton and Hancock. On the Keweenaw Peninsula, US-41 slowly bends to the east before ending east of Copper Harbor. Also, the shortest and quickest route between Menominee and Escanaba is not US-41, rather M-35 follows the more direct route along the Green Bay shoreline.
When examining a highway map of the Upper Peninsula, one might wonder just why US-41 "tees" into US-2 from the south at Powers instead of running directly between Menominee and Escanaba. In the 1920s and even into the 1930s, the State Highway Department had long-range plans to continue US-41 directly north of US-2 at Powers on new alignment through northern Menominee and southern Marquette Cos to the Gwinn area, then northerly via the present-day M-553 corridor into Marquette. Thus, the "eastern detour" through Escanaba, Gladstone and Rapid River was intended as a temporary routing which became the permanent route when the Powers-to-Marquette route was never built.
  Marquette's BUS US-41 routing is no longer. Since the designation of M-553 along what had been Co Rd 553 from the southern portion of Marquette to Gwinn in 1998, MDOT had been attempting to negotiate with the City of Marquette to transfer the last "missing link" portion of McClellan Ave in order to bring M-553 to a logical northern terminus at US-41/M-28 west of downtown. Until 2005 the City seemed unwilling to negotiate when WLUC-TV 6 reported the City was in talks with MDOT to trade McClellan from the northern end of M-553 to US-41/M-28 in exchange for the state turning over jurisdiction of all of BUS US-41 through downtown as well as M-554 over to the City along with a $2.5 million lump sum. These jurisdictional transfers became official on October 10, 2005 and BUS US-41 ceased to be a state trunkline highway, ending a 42-year existence.
History: 1918-1925 - During the first half of the 1920s, prior to the creation of the U.S. Highway System, the route of US-41 in Michigan is desginated M-15 in its entirety, from Menominee via Powers, Escanaba, Rapid River, Marquette, L'Anse, Houghton, Hancock to Copper Harbor. Interestingly, the southerly continuation of M-15 into Wisconsin at Menominee-Marinette is designated STH-15 (Wisconsin State Trunk Highway 15). It is unclear if one of the states designated their "15" first, or if the joint designation was planned.
1926 - With the debut of the U.S. Highway System, all of M-15 in Michigan is redesignated as US-41 from Wisconsin at Menominee to its terminus at Copper Harbor.
c.1930 - US-41 is extended easterly from Copper Harbor to Fort Wilkins State Park and possibly past that to its present-day northern terminus.
1932 - A new US-2/US-41 bypass of the community of Wells and much of Escanaba opens. Official maps of the time, however, show the old route being retained as a state highway until 1935. It is unclear whether the old route continued on with the M-35 designation or was an unsigned state highway. By 1935, however, the former route is turned back to local control.
1932 (Oct 29) - US-41 is rerouted in Houghton County's Franklin Twp onto new alignment. The former routing from Lower Pewabic through the community of Boston via present-day Boston Rd is turned back to local control.
1934 - Previously, M-28 and US-41 used on separate alignments from a point three miles west of downtown Marquette into Negaunee. The M-28 designation is transferred from present-day Co Rd 492 to run concurrently with US-41. The former M-28 is turned back to local control.
1936-37 - Several changes to US-41 in this timeframe, specifically:
  • A new US-41/M-28 "bypass" around the north side of Negaunee and Ishpeming is opened.
  • A slight realignment at Trenary also opens to traffic with the former route being turned back to local control.
  • The route of US-41 is realigned for seven miles beginning at Rapid River and heading northerly onto a new, more-direct alignment. The former route is turned back to local control.
  • Finally, a short realignment near Alberta in central Baraga Co shaves a mile from the route with the former route being relinquished to the county.
1938 - An additional four miles of US-41 are realigned north of the seven miles re-routed in 1937 north of Rapid River. US-41 now runs due northerly from Rapid River to Trenary.
1940 - A realignment of US-41 bypasses the community of Carlshend in Marquette Co., subtracting three miles from the route with the former alignment turned back to local control.
1948 - US-41/M-28 is realigned from Nestoria westerly to jct US-141/M-28 in central Baraga Co onto a more direct routing.
1949 - The realignment completed in 1948 (see above) is extended with new roadway from jct US-141/M-28 northerly to Alberta completed. The former route is turned back to county control.
1952 - The final two short gravel-surfaced segments of US-41 are paved in Baraga Co, as is a several mile stretch in central Keweenaw Co. US-41 in Michigan is now completely hard-surfaced.
1953 - The M-35 designation is routed concurrently with US-41/M-28 from Negaunee westerly to Baraga, forming a three-way concurrency, to connect the two previously discontinuous portions of M-35. See the article "M-35: The Highway Henry Ford Stopped" for more information.
1957 (June 17) - A slight realignment on the south side of Chassell 'smoothes out' a sharp turn in the highway. The segment of former US-41 bypassed by the new alignment is largely turned over to local control on this date.
1959 - The Houghton-Hancock Lift Bridge opens to traffic, replacing the old swing bridge completed in 1905. The following taken from "Historic Highway Bridges of Michigan" by Charles K Hyde (1993, Wayne State University Press, ISBN 0-8143-2448-7):

The state of Michigan completed the present bridge in 1959 at a cost of $13 million... The Houghton-Hancock Bridge is a double-deck structure, with a fout-lane roadway on the upper deck and railroad tracks on the lower deck. The bridge has a total lengh of 1,310 feet, with a lift span 268 feet long, supported by twin steel towers 180 feet tall. When trains use the bridge [which hasn't happened since the 1980s- CJB], it remains in its lowest position, and highway traffic uses the automobile level. When the railroads are not using the bridge, the operator leaves the structure in an intermediate position, with vehicular traffic using the railroad deck, allowing small boats to pass underneath. For the passage of large ships, the main span can be raised to provide clearance of 104 feet. Portage Lake is part of the Keweenaw Waterway, which bisects the Keweenaw Peninsula and offers Great Lakes vessels a sheltered passage from storms, especially the gales of November.

1963 - A new US-41/M-28 bypass of downtown Marquette is completed. The route is a partially-limited access expressway, with access only at select crossroads. (Other intersecting roads are either closed off or are grade-separated via overpasses.) The former route of US-41/M-28 through downtown along Front St & Washington St becomes BUS US-41/BUS M-28.
1968 - With the redesignation of M-35 as M-38 between Baraga and Greenland, the concurrent M-35 designation along US-41/M-28 in Baraga and Marquette Counties is removed.
1970 (July 1) - US-41 is realigned on the east side of the City of Houghton to bypass the central portion of the campus of Michigan Technological University to the south. The former route of US-41 along College Ave through the heart of the Michigan Tech campus is transferred to local control on this date. (The July 1, 1970 date comes from MDSH Trunkline Establishment Maps, while MDOT Right-of-Way maps indicate the abandonment date for Old US-41 to be two years earlier on Mar 18, 1968. The reason for the discrepancies in the date is yet unclear.)
1971 - A new limited-access "expressway" routing of US-2/US-41 opens between Gladstone and Rapid River. The new highway has access only at key intersections, no driveways or intersections with lesser roads. In fact, this "expressway" had originally been intended to be a full freeway, according to State Highway Department sources.
1977-81 - Concerning the BUS US-41/M-28 routing through downtown Marquette: According to the 1978-79 Official Highway Map, the business route designations through downtown (both BUS US-41 and BUS M-28) were completely removed. On the 1980 Official Highway Map, though, the former routing was again displayed as it had been on before 1978. On the 1981 map, the concurrent BUS M-28 designation was shown removed and only the BUS US-41 designation remaining. Whether some of these changes were mapmaking errors or actual changes to the state highway system is unclear. Regardless, it can be assumed the route remained a state trunkline even if signage was removed for a short period.
1994 New! - The 18-mile stretch of US-41 from Central to Copper Harbor is designated as the state's first Scenic Heritage Route.
2002, 2004 New! - Much of the remainder of US-41 in Keweenaw Co, from Mohawk to Central, is also designated as part of the Scenic Heritage Route in 2002. The portion of the route from Houghton northerly to Mohawk was tacked onto to the Scenic Heritage Route in the spring of 2004.
2004 (Nov 1) - The Interstate Bridge spanning the Menominee River and carrying US-41 from Marinette, Wisc into Menominee, Mich is closed and demolition begins. This 75-year-old structure is being completely removed and replaced with a brand new bridge on the same location. The new bridge is scheduled to open to traffic by December 1, 2005. [MDOT Press Release]
  2005 (Sept 22) New! - The route of US-41 from Houghton to its northern terminus at Copper Harbor is designated as a National Scenic Byway.
  2005 (Oct 10) - Negotiations between MDOT and the City of Marquette result in several jurisdictional transfers today, including the transfer of the route of BUS US-41 through downtown to local control. Also transferred on this date are all of unsigned M-554 to the City of Marquette and McClellan Ave from (former) M-554 northerly to US-41/M-28 west of downtown to MDOT as part of M-553.
  2005 (Nov 22) - The US-41 Interstate Bridge connecting Menominee with Marinette, Wisc is opened to traffic today, having been closed for nearly 13 months. The final details will be complete in the next few weeks and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is to be held in early December.
  2005 (Dec 3, 3:30pm) - The US-41 Interstate Bridge connecting Menominee with Marinette, Wisc is officially completed today with a ribbon-cutting held at the center of the bridge. This wraps up a 16-month project which saw the complete removal of the 1929 structure and the construction of a brand new bridge from the ground (er, water) up. Additional work was performed along US-41 through downtown Marinette, Wisconsin. According to Dick Lund's excellent photo-essay of the construction, the Honorary Ribbon-Cutter at the ceremony was Mrs. Catherine (VanCamp) Anderson, "who, as a girl of 12 was a holder of the ribbon which was cut to open the previous Interstate Bridge in a 1930 ceremony."
Freeway: No portion of US-41 is freeway.
Expressway: 1. From the south side of Gladstone to the jct of US-2 & US-41 at Rapid River.
2. In Marquette from the eastern jct of Former BUS US-41 at Front St to the western jct of Former BUS US-41 at Washington St.
NHS: From southern entrance (Wisconsin) at Menominee to downtown Houghton.
Circle Tours: Lake Michigan Circle Tour: Two segments:
  1. From southern entrance in Menominee to jct M-35 on the north side of Menominee.
  2. From the southern jct of US-2/US-41 & M-35 at Escanaba to the northern jct of US-2 & US-41 at Rapid River.
Lake Superior Circle Tour: Two segments:
  1. From the eastern jct of M-28 at Harvey (near Marquette) to southern jct of M-203 in Hancock.
  2. From jct M-26 in Laurium to northernmost jct of M-26 in Copper Harbor.
Business Connection: FORMER BUS US-41 - Marquette. Formerly from east jct US-41/M-28 on the south side of downtown to west jct US-41/M-28 on the west edge of the city.
Continue on: US-41 into Wisconsin
Photographs:
Weblinks: • US-41 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of US-41 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
• Copper Country Trail from Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce: "Traversing the Keweenaw Peninsula, The Copper Country Trail follows the path of our prehistoric ancestors, captures the story of immigration in America, and tells of fabulous riches won and lost. Copper mines, ghost towns, rare flora and historic and cultural icons are readily found in this isolated region of unique geologic history that is home to the Keweenaw National Historic Park."
• Copper Country Trail from America's Byways: "The Copper Country Trail tells the story of a society that rose up out of the rock and forest as people of different cultures came together for a shared purpose."
• Copper Country's U.S. 41 named National Scenic Byway from Keweenaw Now, a September 23, 2005 article regarding the designation of this route.
• [Former] US-41/Menominee River Bridge from MDOT: "The Menominee-Marinette Bridge carries US-41 between Menominee, in Michigan, and Marinette, in Wisconsin, on the line between the two states."
• Replacement of interstate bridge between Menominee, Mich., and Marinette, Wis., to begin - press release from MDOT, November 1, 2004.
• Interstate Bridge (US-41) Project - an excellent site from amateur photographer Dick Lund who is documenting the entire Interstate Bridge project in Menominee/Marinette through his camera lens.
• [Houghton-Hancock Bridge] Three Spans over the Portage - "The history of the three bridges to span the canal between Houghton and Hancock" from Kevin E. Musser's excellent Copper Range Railroad historical website.
• US-41 (Abandoned)/Peshkee River Bridge from MDOT: "This multiple-span concrete bridge is located in the Champion Beach County Park, about five miles east of the village of Michigamme. The structure carries an abandoned segment of US-41 over the Peshekee River."
• US-41 (Abandoned)/Blackwater Creek Bridge from MDOT: "The Backwater Creek Bridge carries an abandoned segment of US-41 (now a privately owned road) immediately above the creek's mouth at L'Anse Bay."
• US-41/Sturgeon River Bridge from MDOT: "Located on US-41, 1.4 miles south of Alberta, this long-span steel bridge crosses the Sturgeon River in L'Anse Township. Known locally as the Canyon Falls Bridge for its proximity to this natural feature..."
• US-41/Portage Lake Bridge from MDOT: "This monumental double-deck, vertical lift bridge is the only one of its type in Michigan. It replaced a 1905 steel swing bridge which had in turn replaced an earlier wooden swing bridge."
M-42 Western Terminus: Updated Cnr Michigan Ave (BUS US-131 northerly) & 7th St (BUS US-131/M-42 easterly) on the south side of Manton.
Eastern Terminus: M-66, two miles north of Lake City
Length: Updated 10.34 miles
Map: Route Map of M-42
Notes: Before M-37 was completed north of Wolf Lake, M-42 ran along the present-day alignment of M-37 between Mesick and Old Mission.
  Updated All of M-42 from Manton westerly to its former western terminus at M-37 was transferred to county control in June 2007. After more than 85 years as a state trunkline highway, the 14.39 miles of 16 Rd from the west city limit of Manton westerly to M-37 was be turned back to the Wexford Co Road Commission. The 0.497-mile portion of W Main St from BUS US-131/Michigan Ave to the west city limit has not been transferred, however, and will become an unsigned state trunkline highway as OLD M-42. While it would seem logical for the western terminus of M-42 to be situated at the US-131 freeway interchange with the 1.32 mile long remainder of what is now M-42/BUS US-131 signed solely as BUS US-131 in Manton, MDOT has chosen to end M-42 at the Michigan Ave & 7th St intersection (what had been the southern M-42 & US-131 junction for many years). As currently signed, M-42 and BUS US-131 run concurrently for the short stretch between US-131 and Old US-131/Michigan Ave, where M-42 terminates and BUS US-131 continues northerly through Manton. Prior to the transfer, M-42 was 25.72 miles in length.
  Updated One source notes the reason for the recent transfer of M-42 from Manton westerly lied mostly with seasonal weight and load restrictions. The 15 miles of M-42 along 16 Rd between M-37 and Manton were classified as "flexible pavements" on the 2006 MDOT "Truck Operator's Map" and, therefore, subject to restrictions on the weight and types of trucks that can use the highway during the springtime (all other state trunklines in Wexford Co—and all surrounding counties—are of the "all-weather" type). Reportedly, the Wexford Co Road Commission, after finding that upgrading M-42 west of Manton to all-weather standards was too cost prohibitive, proposed that MDOT transfer the segment to the county so the county could set less-restrictive load levels, to which MDOT agreed.
History: c.1920 - In the early 1920s, M-42 is an "L-shaped" highway: it begins at M-13 (later US-131) in Manton and heads due westerly to Mesick, then turns 90 degrees and heads northerly through Buckley to Chums Corners where it meets M-11 (just east of Grawn). From that point, M-11 and M-42 travel together into downtown Traverse City, where M-42 ends and M-11 continues toward Petoskey.
c.1930 - By 1931, M-42 is extended easterly from Manton, roughly along its present routing, to end at M-66 north of Lake City.
1934 - M-42 is extended northerly from downtown Traverse City up the Old Mission Peninsula to end in the community of Old Mission near the northern tip of the peninsula.
c.1936-37 - The route of M-42 is scaled back by about 1.5 miles to end at the present-day intersection of Center Rd & Old Mission Rd, about 1.5 miles west of the community of Old Mission.
1939 - M-42 is extended on the Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City from its former terminus at Old Mission Rd to end at present-day Peninsula (Lighthouse) Park at the very tip of the peninsula.
1940 - In anticipation of eventually bridging the gap in M-37 between north-central Lake County and Mesick in Wexford County, all of M-42 north of the M-42/M-115 intersection at Mesick is redesignated as M-37 northerly through Traverse City to the Old Mission area. This creates a two-segment, discontinuous M-37 routing between M-63 in Lake County and M-115 at Mesick. This new western terminus near Mesick was M-42's western end until 2007.
1951 - The last 11 miles of gravel-surfaced M-42 are paved, from Manton to M-66.
2007 (June 6) Updated - As noted in the "Notes" section above, the 14.39 miles of M-42 from M-37 at Mesick easterly to the western Manton city limit are transferred to county control. The 0.497 miles of M-42 along W Main St from the west Manton city limit easterly to BUS US-131/Michigan Ave becomes unsigned as OLD M-42, while the 0.494 miles of what had been concurrently designated M-42 and BUS US-131 along Michigan Ave retaining just the latter designation. The western terminus for M-42 is now at the Michigan Ave (BUS US-131 northerly) & 7th St (BUS US-131/M-42 easterly) intersection on the south side of Manton.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-42 is freeway or expressway.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-42 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-42 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-43 Western Terminus: BL I-196/LaGrange Ave in South Haven
Eastern Terminus: I-96 at Exit 122 near Webberville
Length: 136.13 miles
Map: Route Map of M-43
Notes: With the exception of the first, short-lived iteration of M-43, this highway has always taken a rather circuitous path throughout its history as a marked route. Over the past 75-plus years, M-43 has been gradually extended, contracted and realigned so that its 1924 and present-day routings merely touch at one point at Woodbury. See the history section below for details on the many changes this highway has undergone.
With the completion of I-96 between Brighton and Eagle, bypassing Lansing, in late 1962, US-16 was decommissioned in the state of Michigan. At Lansing, the M-43 designation was extended easterly via then-BUS M-78/Saginaw and Oakland Sts (former US-16), then southeasterly along Grand River Ave (former US-16) through downtown East Lansing and Williamston to end at I-96 near Webberville (running concurrently with then-M-47 for the last two miles). The former route of M-43 along Michigan Ave between downtown Lansing and downtown East Lansing was redesignated as M-143.
History: c.1920 - In the early 1920s, the first iteration of M-43 in Michigan is a 23-mile long highway beginning at M-11 (later US-31, now BUS US-31) in downtown Muskegon and running due easterly, ending at M-54 (now M-37) in Casnovia on the Muskegon/Kent Co line.
1924 - This first iteration of M-43 (Muskegon-to-Casnovia) is completely assumed into a westerly extension of M-46. However, the M-43 designation is immediately applied to another route, beginning atWoodbury at jct M-39 (present-day M-50), the new M-43 runs due northerly through Ionia and Sheridan to Stanton (via present-day M-66), where it turns 90-degrees to the east to run via Ithaca to downtown St Charles in Saginaw Co, terminating at M-47.
1926 - By 1926, M-43 has been extended southwesterly and now begins in downtown Kalamazoo and runs northeasterly, roughly along its present-day alignmnent through Hastings and Woodland to join up with the rest of M-43 at Woodbury.
c.1930 - About 1930, the route of M-43 is both extended and scaled back. Beginning at Woodbury northerly through Ionia and Sheridan to Stanton, M-43 is replaced by M-14, and M-43 east of Stanton through Ithaca to St Charles becomes a portion of the new M-57 for a loss of 86 miles. On the other end of the highway, M-43 is extended westerly from downtown Kalamazoo via its present-day routing through Bangor to end at US-31 in South Haven for a gain of 40 miles. In all, M-43 experiences a net loss of 46 miles.
c.1936-37 - M-43 is extended easterly from its eastern terminus at Woodbury to replace the M-39 designation through Sunfield, Mulliken, Grand Ledge and Lansing, ending at US-16/Grand River Ave in downtown East Lansing.
1939 - In mid-1939, a new alignment of M-37 opens between Middleville and Hastings at M-43, creating a 4 mile concurrent M-37/M-43 stretch at Hastings.
1950 - The portion of Larch St in Lansing formerly designated TRUCK US-27/TRUCK M-78/M-43 between Saginaw St and Michigan Ave becomes just US-27/M-78/M-43 with the "decommissioning" of the "PASSENGER CAR ROUTE US-27 & M-78" via Capitol Ave through downtown.
1954 - M-43 is realigned in northeastern Barry Co. Instead of heading northerly from Woodland to meet M-50, M-43 is routed easterly via Carleton Center Rd to meet M-66 two miles east of town. M-43 and M-66 now run concurrently for two miles (one mile of which is brand new highway) to meet M-50 at Woodbury.
1955 - M-43 is realigned in Barry Co for a second time in the 1950s when it is transferred from Coats Grove and Woodland Rds to Barber and Carleton Center Rds, eliminating two 90-degree turns. The former route is turned back to county control. Also, with this realignment, the final gravel-surfaced segments of M-43 are bypassed (the new segments are hard-surfaced) and all of M-43 (South Haven to East Lansing) is paved.
1957 - M-43 is realigned for a third time in Barry Co, this time moving the route onto Broadway due northerly out of downtown Hasting for 6 miles, then due easterly on Carleton Center Rd for 1.5 miles back to its former alignment. The former route is turned back to local control.
1959 - A new bypass is completed on the southwest side of Grand Ledge. The former M-43 through downtown Grand Ledge becomes BUS M-43.
1962 - With the completion of I-96 between Brighton and Eagle, bypassing Lansing, US-16 is decommissioned in Michigan. In Lansing (from the jct of US-27/M-78/BL I-96), the M-43 designation in Lansing now continues easterly from US-27/BL I-96/Cedar-Larch Sts concurrently with M-78/Saginaw-Oakland Sts (former US-16), then southeasterly via Grand River Ave (former US-16) through downtown East Lansing and Williamston to end at I-96 near Webberville, running concurrently with M-47 for the last two miles. The former route of M-43 via Michigan Ave between downtown Lansing and downtown East Lansing is redesignated as M-143. Also, for approximately one year, US-131 runs concurrently with M-43/West Main St from present day US-131 Exit 39 into downtown Kalamazoo while the US-131 freeway south of M-43 was under construction.
1963 - With the completion of the first segment of I-496 southeast of Lansing, the concurrent portion of M-43/M-78 via Saginaw-Oakland Sts and Grand River Ave becomes BL I-96/M-43/BUS M-78.
1964 - With both directions of traffic formerly using Saginaw St between Logan St and US-27/BL I-96/Larch-Cedar Sts in Lansing, westbound M-43 traffic is moved onto the parallel Oakland St while eastbound M-43 traffic is maintained on Saginaw St.
1965 - To facilitate increased traffic, M-43 (as well as BL I-94 and BUS US-131) is split onto two parallel streets through downtown Kalamazoo: eastbound M-43 runs along its original Michigan Ave routing, while westbound traffic is moved onto Kalamazoo and Douglas Sts.
1966 - With the completion of the US-127 freeway from Mason to I-96, the BL I-96/M-43/BUS M-78 designation along Saginaw St, Oakland St and Grand River Ave in Lansing becomes US-127/M-43/BUS M-78.
c.1968 - By 1968, BUS M-43 through downtown Grand Ledge is decommissioned. Also in 1968, the remaining westbound M-43 traffic in Lansing on Saginaw St (Logan St west to the western Lansing city limit) is transferred onto Oakland St. Eastbound M-43 traffic is maintained on Saginaw St.
1969 - M-47 from Webberville northerly becomes a part of M-52, and the concurrent segment with M-43 becomes M-43/M-52.
1972 (Dec 29) - In conjunction with the proposed M-37 Hastings-Battle Creek Expressway, the route of M-37/M-43 from downtown Hastings westerly to the western jct of M-37 & M-43 is moved to its present-day alignment. The former route of M-37/M-43 via Green St will be turned back to local control the next year.
1973 (Mar 30, Jun 29) - The former route of M-37/M-43 from downtown Hastings westerly superceeded by the present-day alignment (see above) is turned back to local control. Green St from downtown Hastings (at Broadway St) westerly to the west city limit is turned back to city control on March 30th, while the portion in Rutland Twp from the west limit of Hastings westerly to the new alignment is turned back to the county on June 29th.
2004 (Nov 2) - The route of OLD M-43 in eastern Van Buren Co's Alamena Twp, from M-43 west of 29th St to M-43 west of Co Rd 653, is turned back to county control in its entirety. This portion of highway had been bypassed by the present-day route of M-43 many years earlier and the old, unsigned trunkline route is finally returned to the county.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-43 is freeway or expressway.
NHS: 1. From US-131 at Exit 38 on the west side of Kalamazoo to Sprinkle Rd northeast of Kalamazoo.
2. From I-96/I-69 at Exit 93 west of Lansing to jct BL I-69 (cnr Saginaw St & Grand River Ave) on the Lansing/East Lansing city limit.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-43 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-43 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
  • Proposed M-37 Hastings-Battle Creek Expressway - details on a highway proposed in the late-1960s and never built, courtesy Brian Reynolds.
M-44 Western Terminus: Jct M-11 & M-37 (cnr 28th St & East Beltline Ave/Broadmoor Ave) in Kentwood
Eastern Terminus: M-66 at Woods Corners, 6 miles north of Ionia (cnr Belding Rd & State Rd)
Length: 37.4 miles
Map: Route Map of M-44
Notes: M-44 in the Grand Rapids area today occupies what was originally intended to be one of four legs in a complete Grand Rapids "Beltline" highway system, designated M-114. The southern and western legs of the beltline were designated along existing roads, today's 28th St and Wilson Ave, respectively. The eastern leg was built and called, obviously, East Beltline—a name which it retains today. The northern leg, which was to run, in part, via 3 Mile Rd, was never completed. Originally designated M-114, the eastern portion of the Beltline was once designated BYPASS US-131; then as the former routes though Grand Rapids became Business Connections, US-131 itself ran along the route. With the completion of the US-131 freeway through downtownGrand Rapids in the early-1960s, the portion of US-131 along East Beltline was redesignated as an extension of M-44.
With the completion of a segment of US-131 freeway north of Grand Rapids in 1969, the former US-131/M-44 from M-44/Belding Rd south of Rockford to Plainfield Ave northeast of Grand Rapids became just M-44. Old US-131/Plainfield Ave south to I-96 at Exit 33 became CONNECTOR M-44.
While physically running north-south along East Beltline Ave and Northland Dr from its western terminus to the Rockford area, M-44 is an east-west trending highway, and is signed as such. This has created a minor amount of confusion for some, though, since the road is named East Beltline, and the route is signed east-west; many assume the road runs east-west as well.
History: c.1920 - Originally M-44 ran via a portion of its present-day routing, beginning at M-13 (later US-131) just south of Rockford, heading easterly through Belding. Near Orleans, M-44 turns south to follow Orleans, Meade and Haynor Rds, ending at M-21 in Ionia.
c.1930 - M-44 is realigned to run due easterly from the Orleans area via Belding Rd to end at M-14 (present-day M-66) at Woods Corners.
1939 - The final few miles of gravel-surfaced M-44 are paved, from the Kent/Ionia Co line to Belding.
1961 - M-44 is extended southerly from its western terminus concurrently with US-131 along East Beltline Ave to end at jct US-131/M-11/M-21/M-37/M-44 (East Beltline Ave & 28th St) southeast of Grand Rapids.
1962 - US-131 is transferred off East Beltline Ave onto Plainfield Ave (formerly BUS US-131). M-44 continues southerly to M-21 at Fulton St, then concurrently with M-21 to M-11/28th St.
1964 - The concurrent M-21 designation between Fulton St and 28th St is removed when M-21 is rerouted along I-196 through Grand Rapids.
1969 - With the completion of a segment of US-131 freeway north of Grand Rapids, the former US-131/M-44 routing between M-44 south of Rockford and Plainfield Ave northeast of Grand Rapids becomes solely M-44. Old US-131/Plainfield Ave south to I-96 Exit 33 becomes CONNECTOR M-44.
Also in 1969, M-37 is re-routed at Grand Rapids: From M-11/28th St and M-44/East Beltline Ave in Kentwood, M-37 is run concurrently with M-44 up East Beltline Ave to I-96 (at Exit 38), then northwesterly via I-96 to M-37/Alpine Ave (at Exit 30). M-44 is maintained south to M-11/28th St.
1977 - After eight years, the concurrent M-37/M-44 designation is removed when M-44 is scaled back to end at I-96 Exit 38 east of Grand Rapids. Four M-44 route markers still graced junction assemblies at jct M-11/28th St & M-37/East Beltline Ave through the 1990s, however.
1991 - M-44 along East Beltline Ave undergoes a major reconstruction widening the formerly two-lane road to a four-lane divided highway with Michigan Lefts from I-96 northerly to CONN M-44/Plainfield Ave in Grand Rapids & Plainfield Townships. One source notes that money for this project came from the cancellation of the long-proposed "M-37 connector" between US-131 north of Grand Rapids and Alpine Ave southeast of Sparta.
2003 (Aug) - In late-August, as a part of a complete sign rehabilitation along East Beltline Ave in Grand Rapids, the route of M-44 is "re-extended" south from its terminus at I-96 (Exit 38), concurrently with M-37 to end at M-11/28th St, where M-37 continues southerly toward Hastings and Battle Creek. MDOT had seemingly removed this redundant concurrency in 1977, but inexplicably re-adds it in 2003.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-44 is freeway or expressway.
NHS: From western terminus at jct M-11 & M-37 to jct I-96/M-37 (at Exit 38) in Grand Rapids.
Business Connection: CONN M-44 - Grand Rapids. Along Plainfield Ave from I-96/M-37 at Exit 33 in Grand Rapids to M-44 northeast of Grand Rapids (cnr Plainfield Ave & East Beltline Ave-Northland Dr).
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-44 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-44 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
• M-44/Mid. Mich. RR and Flat River Bridge from MDOT: "This multiple-span concrete/steel bridge crosses over the Flat River and the Railroad tracks for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company. Located in the village of Belding, the structure carries Highway M-44."
US-45 Southern Entrance: Wisconsin state line, 8 miles south of Watersmeet
Northern Terminus: Updated Downtown Ontonagon at cnr River St & Ontonagon St
Length: 54.76 miles
Maps: Route Map of US-45
  New! Ontonagon State Trunkline Changes 2006
Notes: US-45 is the youngest of all mainline US Highways in Michigan, added in 1934, seven years after the U.S. Highway System came into existence.
Updated The last remaining swing bridge on the Michigan state trunkline system sat on M-64 a few hundred feet southwest of US-45's northern terminus in Ontonagon until October 2006. A new fixed span across the Ontonagon River was constructed a bit more than 1/2 mile upstream of the current structure. The new highway accessing this new bridge now intersects US-45 several blocks south of its former junction with M-38. The new bridge now carries M-64 from the west across the river to its new junction with US-45 at the relocated M-38, all of US-45 from there northerly is scheduled to remain on the state highway system and remain designated as US-45 to its current terminus. (See the Ontonagon State Trunkline Changes 2006 map.)
History: 1934 - In 1934 (or possibly early 1935), US-45 debuts in Michigan, replacing M-26 from the Wisconsin state line to Rockland, then replacing M-35 from Rockland northwesterly to Ontonagon.
1949 - A new, more direct highway alignment opens just south of Watersmeet. The former route is turned back to county control.
1953 - A new highway alignment opens just north of Watersmeet, bypassing some difficult highway segments, which are turned back to county control.
1971 - US-45 is re-routed via M-26 to Greenland, then northwesterly via the newly rebuilt Ontonagon-Greenland Rd into Ontonagon. As a result, M-26 is scaled back to the new intersection with US-45 one mile east of Greenland. The former US-45 (Rockland Rd) is likely retained as an unsigned, un-numbered state highway. A reason for the routing changes is not known.
1973 - After only two years, MDOT restores US-45 onto to its original, pre-1971 alignment through Rockland to Ontonagon also restoring the M-26 designation back to its former routing, ending at US-45 two miles east of Rockland. M-38 is routed northwesterly via the 1971-73 alignment of US-45 (Ontonagon-Greenland Rd). As with the 1971 changes, a reason is not clear.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of US-45 is freeway or expressway.
Circle Tour: Updated Formerly Lake Superior Circle Tour: In downtown Ontonagon, prior to the removal of the 1939 M-64 swing bridge spanning the Ontonagon River, US-45 was on the LSCT from its northern terminus southeasterly to the former junction with M-38 on the east side of downtown. Now that M-64 and M-38 directly meet each other at US-45 south of downtown, US-45 itself is no longer on the LSCT.
Continue on: US-45 into Wisconsin - Wisconsin Highways Website
STH-32 into Wisconsin - Wisconsin Highways Website
Photographs:
Weblinks: • US-45 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of US-45 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-45 Western Terminus: US-31 at Agnew south of Grand Haven
Eastern Terminus: I-196/Gerald R Ford Frwy at Exit 75 west of downtown Grand Rapids
Length: 24.40 miles
Map: Route Map of M-45
Notes: The entire route of M-45 is also named Lake Michigan Dr.
In 1964, the current iteration of M-45 was created when M-50 was scaled back to end at I-96 (Exit 52) south of Lowell and all portions of the former M-50 west of I-96 at Exit 40 east of East Grand Rapids was redesignated at M-45. The route was later scaled back to end in downtown Grand Rapids. More recently, M-45 was additionally scaled back from downtown to end at I-96.
The first iteration of M-45 ran along present-day M-95 in the central Upper Peninsula. The route designation was changed to M-95 when US-45 was added in the western U.P. in order to minimize confusion.
In the mid-1990s, the portion of the highway from I-196/Gerald R Ford Frwy into downtown Grand Rapids at BUS US-131/Division Ave was removed from the routing of M-45. The 4-1/2 blocks of W Fulton St from BUS US-131/Division Ave to the east abutment of the Grand River bridge were turned back to the City of Grand Rapids, however the remaining portion of W Fulton from the Grand River bridge to I-196 remains within the state trunkline system. MDOT has indicated they would like to transfer control of this portion of W Fulton St to the City of Grand Rapids as well, but the city has not yet expressed interest in this roadway. For the time being, this unsigned portion of the former M-45 is a state highway designated OLD M-45.
History: c.1920 - In the early 1920s, M-45 begins at M-12 (at present-day northern jct of M-69 & M-95) at Sagola and runs northerly via Channing and Republic and ends at M-15 (later US-41/M-28) in Humboldt.
1926 - In 1926, US-2 replaces the M-12 designation in Michigan, with the exception of the Crystal Falls-to-Iron Mountain segment, where US-2 dips into Wisconsin via Florence. With this new highway, M-45 now runs southerly from Sagola via the former M-12 to end at US-2 four miles north of downtown Iron Mountain. M-12 west of M-45 into Crystal Falls is re-designated as a portion of M-69 as is the former M-90 running east of Randville toward Foster City, meaning a 7.5 mile stretch of M-45 is also co-signed with M-69 from Sagola to Randville.
c.1932 - By 1932-33, M-45 is extended southerly via US-2/US-141 into downtown Iron Mountain, then southerly on its own for an additional 2.7 miles through Kingsford to end at the Wisconsin state line.
1934 - A realignment between Witch Lake and Republic in western Marquette Co is completed at the same time the designation of M-45 is changed to M-95 along its entire length. The route number change from "45" to "95" is to minimize confusion with the newly-designated US-45 just 60 miles to the west. This signals an end to the first iteration of M-45 in Michigan. [For continuation of the history of this highway, please see the M-95 listing.]
1964 - M-50 is scaled back to terminate at I-96 (Exit 52) south of Lowell. All of the former route of M-50 west of I-96 at Exit 40 east of East Grand Rapids (via Cascade Rd, Fulton St and Lake Michigan Dr) is redesignated as M-45.
1972 - The route of M-45, formerly beginning at I-96 at Exit 40 east of East Grand Rapids, is scaled back to end at BUS US-131/Division Ave in downtown Grand Rapids. The former route of M-45 along Fulton St and Cascade Rd is turned back to local control.
1994 - The route of M-45 is once again scaled back. This time from downtown Grand Rapids to now terminate at I-196/Gerald R Ford Frwy west of downtown. Although a short portion of the former route from Division Ave to the east abutment of the Grand River bridge is transferred to City of Grand Rapids control, the remainder of the route along W Fulton St remains an unsigned state trunkline. While the M-45 route markers are covered over on the exit signs along US-131 and all M-45 markers are removed from Fulton St, Lane Ave remains signed as the westbound I-196 access to M-45 EAST until 2002 and M-45 EAST is still indicated at the eastbound I-196 off-ramp at Lake Michigan Dr today.
2001-02 - MDOT completes a major upgrade to M-45 from Walker westerly past the Grand Valley State University campus to downtown Allendale, mostly upgrading the route to four-lane divided highway, some on new alignment, including a brand new pair of Grand River bridges. The eastbound lanes open in late 2001 with two-way traffic sharing the roadway, while the westbound lanes are completed in early 2002. The existing Grand River bridge east of the GVSU campus is removed, while the portion of former M-45 west of the river becomes an access road for 40th Ave. The former M-45 east of the river is initally named "Old M-45" but later the name is changed to Riverhill Dr. The former M-45 remains an unsigned state trunkline.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-45 is freeway or expressway.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-45 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-45 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
• M-45 (Fulton St)/Grand River Bridge from MDOT: "This bridge was dedicated to William H. Dean, a citizen of Grand Rapids, on September 29, 1928."
M-46 Western Terminus: Updated Cnr First St (formerly sbd BUS US-31) & Webster Ave in downtown Muskegon
Eastern Terminus: Port Sanilac at M-25 (cnr Main St & Ridge St)
Length: 202.38 miles
Map: Route Map of M-46
Notes: This highway, a major connecting route from Muskegon to Saginaw and into the Thumb, is only one of three cross-peninsular state ("M-numbered") highways in the Lower Peninsula today. The others are M-55 (Manistee-to-Tawas City) and M-72 (Empire-to-Harrisville).
History: c.1920 - At the outset, M-46 runs approximately along its present-day routing from M-13 (later US-131) at Howard City to downtown Saginaw. The two major differences are: 1) the route runs easterly and northerly in a stair-step fashion from downtown Howard City to Amble; and 2) at the Montcalm/Gratiot Co line, M-46 dips south to run through Riverdale and Elwell into downtown Alma, then northeasterly via Michigan Ave into Saint Louis.
1924 - M-46 is extended both easterly and westerly to end at its present-day termini in Muskegon and Port Sanilac. On the western end, M-46 is extended southerly from Howard City via M-13 (later US-131) to Cedar Springs, then due westerly via 17 Mile Rd to meet M-54 (later M-37) at Kent City, jogging northwesterly into Casnovia, then due westerly replacing all of M-43 to end at M-11 (later US-31) in downtown Muskegon, adding 51 miles to the highway's length. On the eastern end, M-46 is extended easterly from Saginaw, via Richville, Kingston, Sandusky and Carsonville to end in Port Sanilac, adding 68 more miles.
1926-30 - From 1926 to 1930, US-131/M-46 is realigned onto a new, more direct alignment between Cedar Rapids and Howard City via Sand Lake and Pierson. The former, stair-step route is turned back to local control.
1934 - The route is realigned between Howard City and Amble to run due westerly from Amble on its present-day alignment along Howard City-Edmore Rd to US-131, then southerly with US-131 to Howard City. The former route is turned back to local control.
1935 - M-46 appears to have become two discontinuous routes in 1935. Until this time, M-46 east of Muskegon follows its present-day route to and with M-37 to Kent City, then easterly via 17 Mile Rd to Cedar Springs, then northerly along with US-131 to Howard City. On the Official 1935 Michigan State Highway Department map, the portion of M-46 between Kent City and Cedar Springs (17 Mile Rd) is shown as not being a marked trunkline and the two portions of M-46 are not connected with each other.
c.1936-37 - Several changes to the route of M-46 occur at this time:
  • M-46 is extended westerly in Muskegon from its terminus at US-31/Peck St via Lakeshore Blvd to end at the Muskegon Lake outlet into Lake Michigan near Pere Marquette Park.
  • M-46 is concurrently designated with M-37 northerly from the Casnovia area to Newaygo, then easterly concurrently with M-82 to US-131 at Howard City, eliminating the discontinuous route.
  • The route of M-46 is also relocated onto a new alignment via Howard City-Edmore Rd (Montcalm Co) and Monroe Rd (Gratiot Co) from the Vestaburg area easterly into downtown Saint Louis. Much of former M-46 is turned back to local control, except for Michigan Ave between the downtowns of Alma and St Louis, which is re-designated as M-177.
1938 - M-46 is realigned onto a more direct route at Six Lakes in north-central Montcalm Co, shaving a mile from the route. The former route is turned back to county control. Also, the concurrent M-46/M-82 designation between Newaygo and Howard City is removed and becomes only M-46. Ironically, this will be redesignated as M-82 when M-46 is rerouted in 1973.
1947 - A minor realigment is completed at Cedar Lake in northeastern Montcalm Co with the former route turned back to local control.
1959 - The western extension of M-46 (c.1936-37 above) is scaled back from the Lake Michigan shoreline at Muskegon. It instead runs concurrently with BUS US-31 through downtown Muskegon, then concurrently with US-16 for approximately 4 blocks to the Lake Michigan ferry docks on Muskegon Lake. Also, a new alignment between Oak Creek and the Newaygo/Montcalm County line is complete, and with the new alignment, the final few miles of gravel-surfaced M-46 are paved.
1961 - With the completion of the US-27 freeway bypassing Alma/St Louis, the concurrent US-27/M-46 designation in St Louis becomes BUS US-27/M-46.
1964 - A new, more direct highway alignment on the south side of Newaygo shaves about 2 miles from the route. A portion of the former route is turned back to local control while other sections are abandoned.
1970 - All of M-47 from M-46 southerly is redesignated as M-52, meaning the former concurrent portion of M-46/M-47 becomes just M-46.
1973 - With the completion of the US-131 freeway northerly past Howard City, M-46 is routed once again into Kent Co. The highway is rerouted concurrently with M-37 easterly from Casnovia to Kent City, then due easterly along the former M-57 routing (which was also the pre-1934 alignment of M-46!) via 17 Mile Rd to US-131 at Cedar Springs, then turns northerly concurrently with US-131 back to the existing M-46 north of Howard City. The formerly concurrent portion of M-37/M-46 (Casnovia to Newaygo via Grant) becomes just M-37, while the former route of M-46 from Newaygo to US-131 at Howard City is redesignated as an extension of M-82 (ironically, this segment had been M-82 prior to 1938).
1984 - The 1959 extension of M-46 through downtown Muskegon and to the (now former) Lake Michigan ferry docks is removed and the western terminus is relocated to its present-day location at Webster-Muskegon Aves (BUS US-31 until 2007) . The concurrent BS I-96/M-46 via Sixth St, Western Ave and Mart St is turned back to local control.
Freeway: Concurrently with US-131 from Cedar Springs at Exit 104 to north of Howard Springs at Exit 120.
Expressway: Concurrently with M-37 from the western limits of Casnovia in far eastern Muskegon Co to the eastern jct of M-37 & M-46 at Kent City.
NHS: Two segments:
  1. From the western terminus at Webster-Muskegon Aves (former BUS US-31) in downtown Muskegon to US-31 on the east side of Muskegon.
  2. From the southern jct of US-131 & M-46 at Exit 104 at Cedar Springs to M-53 north of Marlette.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-46 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-46 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-47 Southern Terminus: M-46/Gratiot Rd near Shields 4 miles west of downtown Saginaw
Northern Terminus: US-10 six miles east of downtown Midland and 2.5 miles west of Auburn
Length: 14.34 miles
Map: Route Map of M-47
Notes: M-47 has had a somewhat interesting history despite it being a rather unremarkable highway. Today, the only portion of this highway following its original path is the short, 1-1/2 mile segment from M-46 to M-58 west of Saginaw. In the past, however, M-47 was once more than 80 miles in length, reaching as far south as US-16 and later I-96 at Williamston and Webberville and as far north as present-day Bay City State Recreation Area north of Bay City. Major truncations and extensions in the 1960s completely change the face of this highway, with all of M-47 south of M-46 becoming part of M-52 and the portion north of M-58 taking of a former routing of US-10.
History: c.1920 - The original routing of M-47 begins at the Shiawassee/Ingham Co line 3.5 miles south of Perry and proceeds northerly through Perry, Owosso, Oakley, Chesaning and Saint Charles to M-46, then turns due easterly via M-46 to end in downtown Saginaw. As for why M-47 begins at the Shiawassee/Ingham Co line and not at another highway is because a connection into Ingham Co had not been transferred to state control at the time.
c.1924-25 - M-47 is extended southerly from its southern terminus at the Shiawassee/Ingham Co line for 4.5 miles via Perry Rd, then westerly via Moyer Rd into Williamston, and southerly for a short distance via Williamston Rd-Putnam St to terminate at M-16/Grand River Ave (later US-16) downtown. The portion along Moyer & Williamston Rds is considered a temporary alignment by the MSHD until a more appropriate permanent routing is built.
c.1930 - M-47 is extended northerly from Saginaw via the former M-10 routing (present-day M-84/Bay Rd) for 17 miles to end in Bay City.
1933 - The route of M-47 is extended northerly from the six-route confluence of US-23, M-15, M-20, M-24, M-25 & M-47 on the west side of Bay City (cnr of Euclid Ave & Midland Rd) northerly via US-23 for two miles, then northerly to end at M-111 at the Bay City State Park (cnr of Beaver Rd & Euclid Ave).
c.1936-37 - The M-47 routing between Oakley and St Charles is transferred to a more direct, and paved, alignment the west of Chesaning, shaving 3 miles from the route with the former route transferred to local control.
1937 - The M-47 designation replaces all of M-111 between Bay City State Park and US-23/Midland St in Bay City, creating a highway which heads northerly from Bay City via Euclid Ave, completes a 1/2-mile long "U-Turn" at Bay City State Park, then heads southerly back into Bay City along State Park Rd. Now, not only does M-47 run concurrently with US-23 for two miles west of Bay City, but it also now terminates at US-23 about a mile east of its first meeting with that highway!
1940 - Just in time for wartime neglect, the final 13 miles of gravel-surfaced M-47, from Perry to Williamston, are paved.
1950 - In 1950, sources indicate all of M-47 south of Perry reverts to gravel-surfaced (it had been paved since 1940). This is likely due to rough use during wartime as well as little maintenance due to construction shortages.
1951-52 - The southern terminus of the highway is moved east four miles to end at US-16/Grand River Ave four miles east of Williamston (two miles west of Webberville). The route of M-47 is shortened by 3 miles and the former (temporary) route is turned back to local control. With the realignment, the highway between Perry and Sherwood Rd east of Williamston is re-paved. The final few miles are hard-surfaced by 1952.
1960 - With the opening of the I-75/US-10/US-23 freeway between Saginaw and Bay City, US-10 is rerouted northerly to Bay City, then westerly (via the M-20 freeway) to Midland. The former route of US-10 north of the Midland Rd & State St intersection west of Saginaw is redesignated as an extension of M-47 to north of Freeland. Approximately one mile north of Freeland, a new two-lane, limited-access 'expressway' running due northerly to the US-10 (formerly M-20) freeway is completed and designated M-47. What had been designated US-10/M-47 via State St becomes a westerly extension of M-81, while the former route of M-47 from Saginaw to Bay City is redesignated as M-84. The formerly concurrent US-23/M-47 along the west side of Bay City becomes part of an M-13 extension (US-23 moves to the new freeway to the west), while the portion from M-13 (formerly US-23) to Bay City State Park is redesignated as M-247, in reference to its former designation. What had been part of M-47 from Bay City State Park southerly back into Bay City (the former M-111 from before 1933) is turned back to local control.
1962 - With the completion of I-96 in mid-Michigan, the US-16 designation is replaced east of Lansing by M-43. From the fomer southern terminus of M-47 at M-43/Grand River Ave west of Webberville, both M-43 and M-47 extend easterly via Grand River to Stockbridge Rd approximately one mile west of Webberville, then southerly for less than a mile where both highways terminate at I-96 (Exit 122).
1969 - The majority of the route of M-47 is redesignated as a northerly extension of M-52. From the western junction of M-46 & M-47 five miles east of Hemlock southerly to I-96 near Webberville, M-47 becomes M-52, meeting the newly completed M-46 between Webberville and M-36. The former M-46/M-47 west of Saginaw becomes just M-46.
1970 - The two-lane, limited-access M-47 expressway is upgraded to full freeway standards (four-lane, divided, full access control) from US-10 southerly to Midland Rd north of Freeland, coinciding with the completion of an interchange at Salzburg Rd.
Freeway: From Midland Rd approximately one mile north of Freeland to US-10 between Auburn and Midland.
Expressway: No portion of M-47 is expressway.
NHS: Entire route.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-47 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-47 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-48 Western Terminus: I-75 at Exit 373, 1-1/2 miles east of Rudyard
Eastern Terminus: M-134, 9.9 miles west of DeTour Village and 6 miles south of Goetzville
Length: 43.75 miles
Map: Route Map of M-48
Notes: Until 1949, M-49 continued westerly from Rudyard through Trout Lake and Rexton, then northwesterly to Newberry. Between 1949 and 1960, M-48 ran southerly from east of Rexton to end at US-2 in Epoufette. Then in 1960, all of M-48 west of US-2 (present-day H-63/Mackinac Trail) at Rudyard was removed from the state highway system.
When originally constructed, I-75 did not feature an interchange at M-48. Rather, M-48 passes over I-75 and continues westerly to H-63/Mackinac Trail, then northerly via Mackinac Tr to Rudyard before turning back easterly to meet up with I-75 at Exit 373—resulting in a kind of "U-Turn" routing at its western end. Some discussion of building a full or partial interchange at the M-48 overpass over I-75 has occurred in recent years, however.
History: c.1920 - The original M-48 routing begins at M-12 (later US-2) at "Caffey Corner," four miles east of Rexton (present-day intersection of Hiawatha Tr & Trout Lake Rd) and heads easterly toward Trout Lake. The first three-quarters of the distance from Caffey Corner to Trout Lake runs along a road that is today a minor two-track route through the forest—the last quarter of the distance runs along present-day H-40/Trout Lake Rd. From Trout Lake, M-48 heads easterly through Fibre to Rudyard, then southerly and easterly to meet with M-12 (later US-2, then M-121, now M-129) near Pickford. M-48 continues southerly via M-12 for 4 miles, then "stairsteps" to the southeast through Goetzville to end at Detour Village.
1927 - M-48 is extended by 35 miles to the northwest when it continues westerly from its former western terminus via the newly-designated US-2 (formerly M-12) for 7 miles to Garnet, then northerly through Hendricks Quarry to meet M-28 eleven miles east of Newberry. M-48 then runs westerly via M-28 into Newberry, then northerly for an additional four miles to a "northwestern terminus" at Four Mile Corner (present-day cnr of M-123 & H-37/Deer Park Rd).
1930 - A new highway alignment of M-48 opens beginning at US-2 at Caffey Corner and running northerly then easterly toward Trout Lake, replacing the present-day "two-track" route referred to in the 1920s listing above.
1934 - A new alignment of M-28 opens south of Newberry bypassing the town, and the former route M-28/M-48 becomes, in part, M-48/M-28A through Newberry.
1940 - US-2 is rerouted between the Gould City area and Epoufette to run along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the concurrent US-2/M-48 routing becomes solely M-48. (The former US-2 along Hiawatha Trail west of M-48 at Rexton is turned back to local control.) Also, M-134 is completed through to M-48 west of Detour Village.
1949 - The route of M-48 is shortened by 26 miles on its western end when it is rerouted southerly from the Rexton area via the route of M-117 (replacing it) to end at US-2 at Epoufette. The former M-48 westerly through Rexton and Garnet, then northerly to M-28 at McLeod's Corner is turned back to county control. Old M-48 from Roberts Corner southeast of Newberry through Newberry to Four Mile Corner becomes a portion of the newly relocated M-117. With the displacement of M-117 by the rerouted M-48, M-117 was relocated to run from US-2 at Engadine to Four Mile Corner north of Newberry. Another 9 miles is shaved from M-48 in the Detour area on the route's eastern end. A newly-constucted portion of M-134 opens along the Lake Huron shore into Detour Village, and M-48 is routed southerly via the former M-134 for two miles to end at M-134 six miles south of Goetzville.
1960 - The route of M-48 is shortened by another 42 miles when all portions west of US-2 at Rudyard are turned back to county control, with the exception of one mile of the former M-48 along Tahquamenon Trail, which becomes a portion of the new M-123.
1963 - With the completion of the I-75/US-2 freeway in the eastern U.P. in the Fall of 1963, M-48 is extended for a change. From its 1960-63 western terminus at US-2 three miles south of Rudyard, it is routed north along Old US-2/Mackinac Tr to Rudyard, then east for two miles to end at I-75/US-2 at present-day Exit 373.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-48 is freeway or expressway.
Circle Tour: Lake Huron Circle Tour: From the eastern terminus of M-48 at M-134 to the northern jct of M-48 & M-129 north of Pickford.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-48 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-48 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-49 Southern Terminus: Ohio state line (connection with SR-49) 3.8 miles south of downtown Camden
Northern Terminus: Litchfield at M-99 (cnr Chicago St & Marshall St)
Length: 25.41 miles
Map: Route Map of M-49
Notes: M-49, which has followed the same route for its entire existence, is a "numerical continuation" of Ohio's SR-49. The Ohio route begins in Dayton and continues up the west side of that state before it connects with M-49 at the state line.
History: c.1929-30 - M-49 is added to the state highway system, running from the Ohio state line north to M-9 (present-day M-99) at Litchfield.
1939-46 - M-49 runs concurrently with M-120 for 1/2 mile just north of the Ohio state line.
1946 - The concurrent routing with M-120 is removed when M-49 is slightly realigned south of Camden to smooth out two sharp curves.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-49 is freeway or expressway.
Continue on: SR-49 into Ohio - John Simpson's Ohio Highways Website
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-49 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-49 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
 

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