Back to Previous Route: M-20

On to Next Route: M-22

Western Terminus:	M-37 (cnr East Beltline Ave & Fulton St) on the east side of Grand Rapids
Eastern Terminus:	I-475/UAW Frwy at Exit 7 in downtown Flint
Length:	99.967 miles
Map:	Route Map of M-21
Notes:	Prior to the coming of the Interstates, M-21 was a key "Coast-to-Coast" highway in the Lower Peninsula, stretching from Holland on Lake Michigan to Port Huron on Lake Huron, passing through Grand Rapids and Flint en route. After the main north-south "Grand Rapids Expwy" (US-131) was nearing completion through that city, an east-west freeway was proposed with the designation M-21. While the M-21 designation did grace that freeway for a time, it was—and is—more principally known as I-196. The first leg of M-21 to be severed was the Holland-to-Grand Rapids portion, replaced by a completed I-196 freeway in the mid-1970s (with much of the former route re-designated as M-121 in 2007). The next, and bigger, leg to be severed was the Flint-to-Port Huron segment, replaced by I-69 a decade later. Since that time, no major changes to this once-key route have taken place.
	In "State Trunkline Needs, 1960–1980," a set of maps prepared by the State Highway Dept's Office of Planning, Programming Division in 1960 showing possible additions, upgrades and improvements to the state trunkline system over the ensuing twenty years, MSHD staff recommended a massive upgrade to the route of M-21 during that timeframe. While looking back, it's clear the planners were overly ambitious, at the time freeway-building had yet to reach its zenith. In these maps, M-21 was reccommended to be upgraded to a full freeway beginning at the I-96 & I-196 junction east of Grand Rapids, continuing easterly bypass Ada, Lowell, and Saranac to the north, and Ionia, Lyons, Muir, Pewamo, Fowler, St. Johns, Ovid, Owosso, and Corunna to the south, before merging back into its existing alignment at M-13. The existing M-21 along Corunna Rd between M-13 and Linden Rd would be converted to freeway, with the freeway then angling southeasterly to an interchange with I-75/US-10/US-23 in the vicinity of the Miller Rd interchange. Under these planas, M-21 would then transition to what is now I-69 (which was largely built as the M-21 freeway from the 1960s to the 1980s) from Flint to Port Huron, featuring proposed BUS M-21 routings at Flint, Lapeer and Imlay City (none of which were ever designated).
History:	1920 – M-21 begins at the jct of M-16 & M-44 in South Ionia (present-day cnr of M-66/State Rd & Riverside Dr) and continues easterly along the south side of the Grand River through Lyons to Pewamo. From there, M-21 continues along its present-day route through St Johns to Ovid, where it diverges slightly from its present alignment to travel along Simpson Rd to Five Points, then continues easterly into Owosso. There, M-21 bends southerly travelling through downtown Corunna and continues into Lennon along Lytle Rd. From Lennon, M-21 then continues easterly along its present route into downtown Flint. Between Flint and Goodells, M-21 travels roughly along its pre-1980s routing through Lapeer, Imlay City and Emmett. M-21 ends at M-19 in Goodells.
	1922 – By 1922, M-21 is extended easterly concurrently with M-19 from Goodells into downtown Port Huron.
	1926 – With the debut of the US Highway system, M-21 is extended on the west concurrently with US-16 (formerly M-16) into downtown Grand Rapids, then southwesterly via Hudsonville to Holland, replacing the M-51 designation along Chicago Dr. This adds about 33 miles to the length of M-21. Also, on the east, the concurrent M-19/M-21 designation becomes just M-21 from Goodells into Port Huron when M-19 is realigned to run south from Yale to Richmond.
	c.1927–28 – In this timeframe, M-21 is realigned between Grand Rapids and Ada, running along Fulton Ave between those communities, north of its previous alignment. The portion of the former M-21 between US-16 and Ada is turned back to local control. M-21 is also realigned to run along the north side of the Grand River between Lowell and Saranac, with the former route along the south side of the river being turned back to local control. In addition, the routing of M-21 between Ovid and Five Points (west of Owosso) is straightened and placed onto its modern-day alignment. The former route is, again, turned back to local control.
	1929 – M-21 is realigned between Flint and Lapeer. Beginning at the cnr of Court St & Lapeer Rd in Flint, M-21 now continues easterly along Court St to US-10/Dort Hwy, jogging northerly with US-10 to Davison Rd, then easterly along Davison Rd through Davison, merging with the old route just west of Lapeer. The former route along Lapeer Rd from Court St in Flint to M-15/State Rd south of Davison was redesignated as M-21A. From M-15 easterly to Davison Rd at Lapeer, the former route is turned back to local control.
	1929 (Aug 26) – A more direct trunkline alignment between Holland and Zeeland is completed and officially determined as a state trunkline, designated M-21, running via Chicago Dr directly between the two cities. The former route via Eighth St and Holland-Zeeland Rd (present-day Paw Paw Dr) is turned back to local control on this day. Also at this time, a new route for M-21 through Zeeland is put into service with the inclusion of Washington Ave from W Main Ave on the western edge of the city easterly to Colonial St in the state trunkline system. Between Colonial & Carlton Sts, Washington Ave is signed as M-21 but is a locally-maintained street.
	1930 – About 8 miles of M-21 is realigned to the north side of the Grand River in Ionia Co, from Saranac to the east side of Ionia, crossing the Grand at Cleveland St and back to its original route there. The former route between Saranac and Ionia is turned back to local control.
	1931 – The Dykstra Act this year allows the State Highway Dept to actually maintain state trunkline facilities through cities. The portions of M-21 within cities along its route are transferred to state control.
	c.1931-32 – The final 11 miles of M-21 in Ionia Co to be moved to the north side of the Grand River is completed, running along its present-day alignment from Ionia to Pewamo. The former route on the south side of the river is turned back to local control. Also, in Lapeer Co, M-21 is moved onto its "classic" routing between Lapeer and Imlay City along Imlay City Rd. Previously, M-21 ran through downtown Lapeer, then easterly along Bowers Rd to Lake Pleasant Rd, southerly on Lake Pleasant to Attica Rd, then easterly on Attica Rd (4th St in Imlay City) to M-53. This route is turned back to local control. In yet another realignment in St Clair Co, M-21 is transferred onto its "classic" alignment there along Lapeer Rd from near Goodells via Wadhams and into downtown Port Huron. The former route, along Goodells, Sparling and Griswold Rds, is turned back to local control. In all, these changes also signified the completion of hard-surfacing to all of M-21 from coast-to-coast.
	1932 (Oct 29) – Carlton St in Zeeland from Main Ave northerly to M-21/Washington Ave, no longer a signed portion of M-21 since August 1929, is finally transferred to local control.
	1933 – A 3-mile, gravel-surfaced bypass of Pewamo opens (thus reversing the completed paving of M-21 just a year or two earlier!). The bypass is completely hard-surfaced within a year, however. The former route of M-21 through Pewamo is designated M-210. (In more modern times, M-210 would have been designated BUS M-21 instead.)
	1939 – In early-1939, the former M-21 (redesignated as M-210) through Pewamo is removed and turned back to local control.
	1944 – A new BYP (Bypass) M-21 is created in the Grand Rapids area, beginning at jct M-21 & BYP US-16 (cnr 28th St & Chicago Dr) in Grandville, running easterly with BYP US-16 and BYP US-131 along 28th St to East Beltline Ave, then northerly with BYP US-131 along East Beltline Ave back to M-21/E Fulton St east of Grand Rapids.
	1948 – All of M-21A from Flint to Davison is "decommissioned" as a state trunkline and turned back to local control.
	1950 – The highway is realigned at Capac to remove two sharp 90-degree turns.
	1952 – In mid-1952, the highway is realigned at Emmett to remove two more sharp 90-degree turns.
	1953 (Summer) – M-21 is rerouted in the Grand Rapids area to replace the BYP M-21 designation created nearly a decade earlier along 28th St and East Beltline Ave. The former route of M-21 through Grand Rapids (along Chicago Dr, Grandville Ave, Franklin St, Eastern Ave and Fulton Ave) is re-designated as BUS M-21.
	1954 – With the completion of the new US-31 bypass of Holland, M-21 between the new bypass and downtown is co-signed with a new BUS US-31 designation (and is not truncated at the bypass as previously believed). Why M-21 is not truncated at US-31 is not clear.
	1956 (Early Dec) – A southerly, limited-access bypass (access only at intersecting crossroads—no private driveways) of the City of Zeeland is completed and opened to traffic, a few weeks before the projected completion date of December 31. The new bypass begins northeast of downtown and departs the former route of M-21 just west of 80th Ave bending southwesterly (via present-day M-121/Chicago Dr) to Main Ave then bending westerly to bypass the city to the south before merging back into Chicago Dr southwest of the city west of 112th Ave. Although not yet officially determined as a state trunkline route, M-21 is transferred to the new bypass, while the former route through Zeeland via Washington Ave and Chicago Dr is retained as an unsigned state trunkline route for the time being.
	1957 (Oct 21) – A new $670,000 four-lane bridge spanning the Grand River at Ada in central Kent Co is completed and opened to traffic, just upstream from the existing M-21/Fulton St bridge across the river. The old bridge is to be demolished. The western approach to the former bridge is converted into a boat launch access roadway, while the former route of M-21 from the eastern approach (at Honey Creek Ave) southeasterly to the eastern approach to the new bridge is turned back to county control and becomes an extension of Pettis Ave.
	1958 (Mar 6) – The Zeeland Bypass is officially assumed into the state trunkline system, although it has been open to traffic for approximately 15 months at this point. At this same time, the former route of M-21 through Zeeland via Chicago Dr and Washington Ave is also officially turned back to local control.
	1964 (Dec 14-21) – The 12.5-mile I-196/M-21 freeway through Grand Rapids is opened to traffic on December 14 and is officially assumed into the trunkline system one week later on December 21, from existing M-21/Chicago Dr at Exit 69 in Grandville through downtown Grand Rapids to I-196's terminus at I-96. M-21 is routed onto the new freeway, concurrently with I-196 from Grandville, through Grand Rapids, to the eastern end of I-196, where M-21 now continues the short distance via I-96 easterly to its existing routing along E Fulton St. (The 12.5 miles of freeway through Grand Rapids cost $40 million to construct.) With this change, BUS M-21 is slightly extended at each end: southwesterly from 28th St through downtown Grandville to the new I-196/M-21 interchange; and easterly from East Beltline Ave (M-44) to M-21 at I-96. The former M-21 routing along 28th St becomes a part of M-11, while the routing along East Beltline Ave becomes a part of M-44.
	1967 (Mar 10) – The Dept of State Highways announces that in 1969, the portion of M-21 from M-78 at Flint easterly through Lapeer, and Imlay City to Port Huron will be redesignated as a major easterly extension of M-78 due to the construction of Flint's "East-West Freeway" (present-day I-69/Chevrolet-Buick Frwy) and its easterly extension to Lapeer and proposed future extension to Port Huron. This will unify the route under one route designation instead of M-78 suddenly becoming M-21 at some point in Flint.
	1966 (Oct 19) – M-21 is rerouted onto a newly-constructed freeway from the Wadhams area into downtown Port Huron, which is opened to traffic on this date. The former route of M-21 (Lapeer Rd) is turned back to local control.
	1968 (Oct 18) – The 21.39 miles of the east-west freeway through the Greater Flint area from M-121/Bristol Rd east of Swartz Creek easterly through Flint and past Davison to the Genesee/Lapeer Co line and the 7.16-mile portion from the Genesee/Lapeer Co line easterly to M-24 south of Lapeer is officially determined as a state trunkline route. The western portion of this route is scheduled to be part of M-78 while the eastern portion is to become M-21.
	1969 (Fall) – A 6.2-mile segment of M-21/M-78 freeway, although unsigned as such, is completed and opened to "Local Traffic Only" from Center Rd on the Flint/Burton city limit (present-day I-69 Exit 139) easterly to M-15 south of Davison (present-day I-69 Exit 145). As the segment of the M-78/Chevrolet Frwy through the City of Flint is still under construction, this isolated stretch of freeway is signed as being for "Local Traffic Only" for the time being.
	1971 (Aug 16, 11:30 am) – The 10.2-mile portion of the M-21 freeway from the existing freeway opened to traffic in late 1960 at M-15 south of Davison in Genesee Co easterly to M-24/Lapeer Rd south of Lapeer in Lapeer Co is completed and opened to traffic. The opening ceremonies take place at the Elba Rd interchange, including the cutting of a log with an "old-fashioned crosscut saw" by the mayors of Davison and Lapeer, relfecting the early logging histories of both cities. The former route of M-21 along Davison Rd (Flint St in Davison) remains an unsigned state trunkline route for the time being.
	1971 (Nov 10–12) – In a reversal of their early 1967 annoucement that M-78 will replace the M-21 designation from Flint to Port Huron as the new freeway through Flint and between those cities is opened to traffic, the Dept of State Highways announces M-21 will be rerouted to run along the entirety of the Chevrolet Freeway in Genesee Co and continue east to Port Huron as it has since the early days of the Michigan state trunkline system. M-21 coming easterly from Owosso now turns southerly concurrently with M-13/Sheridan Rd through Lennon to the M-78 freeway (present-day I-69 Exit 123) where it turns easterly, joining the M-78 designation on the Chevrolet Frwy past Swartz Creek into Flint. The former route of M-21 along Corunna Rd between M-13/Sheridan Rd and Court St and on Court St from Corunna Rd to M-54/Dort Hwy is redesignated as M-56. All route markers involved in the route changes are posted by November 12.
	1971 (Dec 1) – The 1.35-mile portion of former M-21 within the City of Lapeer from the west city limit at Millville Rd easterly to M-24/Main St is turned back to city control. This comes 3½ months after the M-21 freeway is opened from M-24 westerly just south of Lapeer.
	1971 (Dec 21) – The 2.5-mile segment of the Chevrolet Frwy through Flint, from the end of the existing M-78/M-21 freeway at the BUS M-54/Saginaw St exit downtown easterly to the Center Rd interchange, is completed and opened to traffic, completing the freeway not only through Flint and Genesee Co, but as a continuous segment from M-52 near Perry to M-24 at Lapeer. This last segment cost $22.1 million to construct, not including right-of-way costs, and includes the bridges carrying the new freeway over the future freeway and through the massive interchange with that route on which construction is still just getting underway. The M-78 designation is extended exactly ¼ mile beyond BUS M-54/Saginaw St and its new eastern terminus is now fixed at the future I-475. In Genesee Co, the Chevrolet Frwy is designated as M-78/M-21 from the west county line into downtown Flint at future I-475, and as M-21 only from there easterly through the remainder of the county toward Lapeer.
	1972 (June 9, Sept 22) – The former route of M-21 along Davison Rd from Center Rd easterly to the western Davison city limit and from the eastern Davison city limit easterly to Genesee/Lapeer Co line is turned back to county control on June 9. Then on Sept 22, the 1.439 mile portion of former M-21 along E Court St from future I-475 and M-54/Dort Hwy, the one mile of former M-21 along Davison Rd in Flint from M-54/Dort Hwy to Center Rd and the one mile along Flint St in the City of Davison are both turned back to city control. Also on Sept 22, the 6.1 miles of former M-21 from the Genesee/Lapeer Co line easterly to the western Lapeer city limit at Millville Rd is turned back to county control.
	1972 (Dec 29) – BUS M-21 in Grand Rapids is sliced in half, with the portion to the east of US-131 along Franklin St and Eastern Ave & Fulton St (from Cascade Rd westerly only) is removed and turned back to municipal control. The remaining portion of BUS M-21 between Grandville and US-131 becomes a "spur" business routing. The portion of the former BUS M-21 along E Fulton St from Cascade Rd easterly to M-37/M-44/East Beltline Ave becomes an unsigned state trunkline as OLD M-21, while the segment from there easterly to I-96 Exit 39 (where M-21 transitions from running concurrently with I-96 to continuing easterly toward Ada and Lowell via E Fulton St) is designated as CONN M-21.
	1973 (Early) – Sources seem to indicate the BS I-196 designation debuts at this time in Wyoming and Grand Rapids, replacing the BUS M-21 routing along Chicago Dr from the I-196 connector in Wyoming easterly to Clyde Park Ave, then along Grandville Ave in the City of Grand Rapids from Clyde Park Ave to Franklin St, then easterly along Franklin St to US-131. The remainder of the former BUS M-21 tto the west of this segment hrough the City of Grandville via Chicago Dr becomes an unsigned state trunkline for the time being as OLD M-21.
	1974 (Feb) – The M-78 designation is removed from the portion of M-21 freeway concurrently designated with M-78 between M-13 at Lennon and downtown Flint and replaced by the newly-extended I-69 designation from Charlotte.
	1974 (June–July) – All interchanges along the I-196/M-21 freeway from M-21/Chicago Dr (present-day M-121) at Jenison to I-96 east of Grand Rapids are posted with exit numbers corresponding to the nearest milemarker.
	1974 (Dec 8) – Approximately 31 miles of M-21 are lopped off its western end with the completion of I-196 between Holland and Grandville. The former route from US-31 at Holland to east of Zeeland becomes a part of a new BL I-196. The portion of Chicago Dr from Main Ave at Zeeland to I-196 (present-day Exit 69) at Grandville becomes an unsigned state trunkline as OLD M-21 (later to be designated as M-121 in 2007-08). The concurrent I-196/M-21 through Grand Rapids becomes just I-196 while M-21's new western terminus is at I-96 Exit 39. (For the time being, the segment of E Fulton St—formerly part of M-21 prior to late 1964—remains designated as CONN M-21, although logically, the M-21 designation could have been extended back over that ½-mile segment of highway to a new western terminus at M-37/M-44/East Beltline Ave. But it wasn't.)
	1982 – Two segments of OLD M-21 (former BUS M-21) along Chicago Dr in Grandville are cancelled as state trunkline routes and turned back to local control: (Aug 31) – Chicago Dr from the eastbound I-196 off-ramp at Exit 69 easterly to Wilson Ave in downtown Grandville (Oct 20) – Chicago Dr through the I-196 interchange (Exit 69) from the Ottawa/Kent Co line easterly to the eastbound I-196 off-ramp
	1984 (Dec 14) – The entire 39-mile segment of freeway from Lapeer to Wadhams opens, not as M-21, but rather as an easterly extension of I-69. The length of M-21 is reduced by approximately 70 miles to end in Flint. Firstly, the M-56 designation which had replaced M-21 along Corunna & Miller Rds and Court St between M-13 and I-475/UAW Frwy in downtown Flint is re-designated as M-21. (M-56 ceases to exist as a state highway designation). The former M-13/M-21 through Lennon reverts back to just M-13, while the concurrently-designated M-21/I-69 between Lennon and Flint becomes just I-69. Between Flint and Port Huron the highway, including the M-21 freeway segments (I-475-to-M-24 and Barth Rd-to-I-94) becomes I-69. The former route of M-21 along Imlay City Rd from Lapeer easterly past Imlay City, Capac and Emmet to Barth Rd northwest of Whadams in St Clair Co becomes an unsigned state trunkline as OLD M-21. The former M-21 into downtown Port Huron along the Griswold-Oak Sts pair is designated as BS I-69, ending at M-21's former terminus at M-25/Huron Ave.
	1985 (Dec 1) – The remainder of OLD M-21 (former BUS M-21) along Chicago Dr in the City of Grandville is turned back to local control, from Wilson Ave downtown easterly to the Grandville/Wyoming city limit.
	1989 (Jan 9) – The 0.687-mile long segment of OLD M-21 along Genesee St in Lapeer between M-24/Main St and Saginaw St is officially cancelled as an unsigned state trunkline route and turned back to city control.
	1993 (June 1) – The 4.0-mile segment of OLD M-21/Imlay City Rd from the east city limit of Imlay City easterly to the Lapeer/Saint Clair Co line is cancelled as a state trunkline highway route and turned back to county control.
	1994 (Oct 10) – The entire 0.760 mile of OLD M-21/Capac Rd within the City of Imlay City in Lapeer Co is cancelled as an unsigned state trunkline route and turned back to city control, almost exactly 10 years after it was decommissioned as part of M-21.
	1996 (Mar 5) – The 10.849 miles of Imlay City Rd, also internally designated within MDOT as OLD M-21 in Lapeer Co from Myers Rd east of Lapeer to the northern city limit of Imlay City is cancelled as an unsigned state trunkline route and turned back to county control.
	2003 – The 9.34 miles of unsigned OLD M-21 in St Clair Co, from M-19 at Emmett easterly to Taylor Rd, is officially cancelled as state trunkline highway turned back to county control.
	2004? – After the M-21 designation was relocated to run along I-196/Gerald R Ford Frwy through Grand Rapids in late 1964, the former route of M-21 through Grand Rapids was redesignated as BUS M-21. Then, at the end of 1972, the eastern half of that route—between US-131 and the cnr of E Fulton St & Cascade Rd—was decommissioned and turned back to local control. The portion of the former BUS M-21 along E Fulton St from Cascade Rd to M-37/M-44/East Beltline Ave became an unsigned trunkline as OLD M-21, while the segment of E Fulton St from M-37/M-44/East Beltline Ave easterly to jct I-96 & M-21 (at I-96 Exit 39) had been designated CONN M-21 (Connector M-21). The "CONN" label persists on Official State Transportation Maps through the 2004 edition, implying the CONN M-21 designation also persists until 2004 before being supplanted by a westerly extension of the mainline M-21 designation from I-96 to a new western terminus at M-37/M-44/East Beltline Ave. While this change may have ocurred at any point between 1974 and 2004, until evidence to the contrary is located, it will be assumed this change occurs in 2004.
	2005 (Mar 3) – The last 12.1 miles of unsigned OLD M-21 in St Clair Co, from the Lapeer Co line easterly to M-19 at Emmet, are officially cancelled as state trunkline highway and transferred to county control.
Controlled Access:	No portion of M-19 is freeway or expressway.
NHS:	M-21 is part of the National Highway System (NHS) in two different segments: In Kent Co, from the western terminus of M-21 at M-37/M-44/East Beltline Ave easterly to Ada Dr in Ada. (5.5 miles) (This segment was added in 2012 with the passage of the MAP-21 funding and authorization bill.) From the Elms Rd west of Flint to M-21's eastern terminus at I-475/UAW Frwy in downtown Flint. (6.9 miles) (The segments of M-21 from Elms Rd to I-75/US-23 and from Saginaw St to I-475 were added in 2012 with the passage of the MAP-21 funding and authorization bill.)
Memorial Highways:	The following Memorial Highway designations have been officially assigned to parts of M-21 by the Michigan Legislature: PFC Harold R. Cooley WWII Marine Corps League Memorial Highway – "The portion of highway M-21 in Shiawassee County beginning at the intersection of M-21 and Meridian Road and continuing east to the intersection of M-21 and M-13..." From MDOT: "The Harold R. Cooley Detachment of the Marine Corps League is based in Shiawassee County and honors an Owosso marine killed in the reconquest of Guam in 1944.)" Mark V. Ingram II Freeway – "Highway M-21 beginning at the intersection of M-21 and I-75 in Genesee county and continuing east to the intersection of M-21 and I-475..." From MDOT: "Mark V. Ingram II is a former running back for the University of Alabama, where he won the 2009 Heisman Trophy. He grew up in Flint, Michigan, and attended high school at Southwestern Academy, where he was ranked as the 17th best athlete in the nation and the 6th best athlete in Michigan by Rivals.com, according to information on the University of Alabama website. Ingram received a number of honors and awards after the Alabama Crimson Tide won its 13th National Football Championship in 2009." Note: Oddly enough, at no point anywhere, especially between I-75/US-23 and I-475 in Flint, is M-21 a freeway, so why this highway is named "Freeway" is quite odd, indeed.
Photographs:
Weblinks:	M-21 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-21 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.

Back to M-20

Route Listings Home

On to M-22