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Highways 140 through 159

M-140 | US-141 | M-142 | M-143 | M-149 | M-150 | Former M-151 | M-152 | M-153 | M-154 | M-156 | M-157 | Jump to Bottom
M-140
 Southern Terminus: M-139, 1.8 miles north of downtown Niles
Northern Terminus: I-196/US-31 at Exit 18 at South Haven
Length: Updated 37.163 miles
Map: New! Route Map of M-140
Notes: As much as it may seem so, M-140 was not designated as an offshoot of the "parent route" of M-40. Even when M-40 followed the current alignment of M-51 between Paw Paw and Niles, M-140 never came in contact with M-40 at Niles, although it did come within two miles of doing so. It is merely a coincidence that M-140 and M-40 were designated so closely. The more likely explnation was that M-140 was designated shortly after M-139 and in the same general area as M-139. It is therefore interesting to note that roughly eighty years after both highways were designated, they now meet each other north of Niles.
    In c.2006–2008, discussion from unofficial corners (e.g. not from MDOT sources) conjecturized as to a possible southerly extension of M-140 into downtown Niles to replace much of the BUS US-31 designation which was marked for decommissioning at the time. From the 1992 completion of the US-31/St Joseph Valley Pkwy from Walton Rd northwest of Niles to the existing route of US-31 at Berrien Springs, the former route of US-31/US-33 between Walton Rd and the freeway's new northern terminus was retained as an unsigned state trunkline, likely earmarked by MDOT for jurisdictional transfer back to county and, within Berrien Springs, village control. This transfer never took place and "Old US-31" was maintained as an unsigned trunkline. It is assumed the Berrien Co Road Commission was unwilling to take the former US-31 route back and MDOT decided to extend the M-139 designation from Berrien Springs to Niles to solve two issues—the unsigned trunkline situation and the orphaned BUS US-31 routing north of Niles. However, it seemed the M-139 extension would not occur before the "decommissioning" of BUS US-31, leading some to theorize that M-140 may be extended southerly from its terminus into downtown Niles. However, with the decommissioning of all of BUS US-12 through Niles in 2010, MDOT finally posted M-139 from north of Berrien Springs to southwest of Niles—taking in the unsigned OLD US-31 route, all of the remainder of BUS US-31 and the western half of the former BUS US-12—leaving M-140 as it has been for decades.
History: 1931 (Oct 23) - A new shoreline routing of US-31 is determined from the south side of South Haven southwesterly to the Van Buren/Berrien Co line and opens to traffic. (The Berrien Co portion from St Joseph northerly to the Van Buren Co line was determined the previous December, although construction did not finish until late 1931.) The former route of US-31 from South Haven to Watervliet is retained as a state trunkline highway and is assigned the M-140 designation. M-140 begins at US-12 in downtown Watervliet and proceeds northerly to a terminus at South Haven at either jct US-31 or at jct M-43 (records are unclear).
  1934 (Nov 12) - A 23.0-mile long southerly extension of M-140 is officially added to the state trunkline system when the route is extended from Watervliet southerly via Watervliet Rd to M-62, westerly via M-62 for about a mile, then southerly again via Berrien Center on Berrien Center Rd, terminating at US-31 (later US-31/US-33, then BUS US-31, now M-139) north of Niles.
  1943 - Although officially assumed into the trunkline system in January of the previous year and opened to two-way traffic using one half of the new highway beginning in September of 1942, the US-31 bypass of South Haven via present-day A-2/Blue Star Hwy is completely finished and opened to traffic this year. Assuming the M-140 designation had run concurrently with US-31 from the south side of South Haven northerly to either the M-43 junction or into downtown, it would now be signed concurrently with BUS US-31 instead.
  1953 (Oct 1) - A new alignment for M-140 is designated on this date from the north limits of Watervliet northerly to the Berrien/Van Buren Co line, shaving approximately 8/10 mile from the former route via N Watervliet Rd, Hagar Shore Rd & Paw Paw Lake Rd, which is turned back to local control. The new route, however, does not show up on most official (and non-official) maps until c.1959, thus indicating actual construction and completion of the new alignment was not done until that time.
  1957 (Jun 24) - On this date, all of M-62 from Painter School Rd (approximately 1/3 mile east of the eastern jct of M-140) into downtown Eau Claire is turned back to local control. This includes the 2/3-mile long M-62/M-140 concurrent segment, meaning that technically, M-140 is severed into two sections, although the turnback agreement with Berrien Co likely stipulates the route will continue to be maintained as a trunkline until a new alignment is constructed and completed. This transfer is very likely connected to the State Highway Dept's longtime proposal to relocate M-140 from Eureka Rd (1 mile north of jct M-62) southerly to the Berrien/Niles Twp line north of Niles onto a new alignment generally following the section line parallel to and two miles west of the Berrien/Cass Co line, some of which would involve rebuilding Painter School Rd. The new alignment M-140 route is proposed to merge back into the existing M-140 at Fairland Rd on the Niles/Berrien Twp line south of Steinbauer Lake.
  1961 (Dec 4) - The first segment of the relocated M-140 (described above) is officially "determined" as a state trunkline from Eureka Rd southerly to M-62 east of Eau Claire. The former route of M-140 via Eureka & Preston Rds is turned back to local control pending completion of the new highway which, according to many sources, likely does not occur until 1967.
  1962 (Apr 5) - The route of M-140 via the former M-62/M-140 concurrency east of Eau Claire—the segment turned back to local control on June 24, 1957, is officially re-assumed into the state trunkline system on this date. This likely signals the State Highway Dept's conclusion that the new-alignment routing of M-140 from M-62 southerly to the Niles/Berrien Twp line will not come to pass.
  1963 (Sept 30) - The I-196/US-31 freeway bypassing South Haven to the east is officially assumed into the state trunkline highway system on this date and likely opens to vehicular traffic about the same time. While sources have always been unclear as to the precise northern terminus of M-140 over the years—at US-31, at M-43 or in downtown South Haven—it is assumed the northern end of M-140 was to have been scaled back to end at the new I-196/US-31 freeway interchange at this time, replaced by BL I-196 north of the new freeway. However, official state maps from 1964 through 1972 indicate the route of BL I-196 at South Haven ran northerly via M-140 from the freeway to the 1943 US-31 bypass of South Haven (Blue Star Hwy), then northerly via Blue Star Hwy to North Shore Dr before turning back to the freeway in southwestern Allegan Co. Thus, the state trunkline continuing northerly from Blue Star Hwy into downtown South Haven via La Grange St, Phillips St and Broadway may have been signed as M-140 during this timeframe.
  1967 - The relocation of M-140 from Eureka Rd southerly to M-62 east of Eau Claire is completed and opened to traffic, with the M-140 routing turning westerly at M-62, supplanting a very short portion of that route to the former route of M-140 at Preston Rd.
  1972 (Dec 15) - Phoenix St in South Haven from Broadway easterly to I-196/US-31 is transferred to state control and the route of BL I-196 changes to its present-day configuration, likely signalling the truncation of the northern end of M-140 to the interchange with I-196/US-31 at Exit 18 south of the city.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-140 is freeway or expressway.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-140 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-140 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
    • Niles Area Highways: 2010– Map - An overview map of the Niles area showing the current state of the various highway routings in and around that city.
SOUTH SEGMENT:
Southern Entrance: From Wisconsin state line 4 miles southeast of downtown Iron Mountain and southwest of Quinnesec.
Northern Entrance: Wisconsin state line (concurrently with US-2) 4 miles northwest of downtown Iron Mountain
Length: Updated 8.016 miles
NORTH SEGMENT:
Southern Entrance: From Wisconsin state line (concurrently with US-2) 10 miles south of downtown Crystal Falls
Northern Terminus: Jct US-41 & M-28 four miles northeast of Covington in southwestern Baraga Co.
Length: Updated 49.622 miles
 
  Length (Total): Updated 57.638 miles
Map: New! Route Map of US-141
Notes: US-141 in Michigan consists of two route segments, as the highway dips back into Wisconsin, concurrently with US-2, for approximately 15 miles between Iron Mountain and Crystal Falls.
The proposed US-2/US-141 "Iron Mountain bypass" previously mentioned on this website will not come to be. MDOT has pledged to make some improvments, however, to the current, somewhat congested route through the center of the city. Increasing traffic volumes on the two major US Highways funnelled through downtown Iron Mountain may cause further congestion without a bypass, though. From the MDOT's "Five Year Road & Bridge Program, Volume II," which covers 2000-2004:

The study of roadway alternatives for the proposed US-2 Bypass of Iron Mountain was completed during 1999. The study determined that construction of a bypass was not feasible and, therefore, improvements to the existing US-2 alignment will be implemented. The Superior Region Office, in cooperation with the City of Iron Mountain, has identified a series of operational and geometric improvements with implementation to begin in 2000. Early preliminary engineering (EPE) for the widening of US-2 from Washington Street to Michigan Avenue will begin in 2001.

It is not clear what made construction of the bypass infeasible, be it cost or engineering obstacles, but overwhelming public opposition to the project seemed to be absent.
History: 1928 (Sept) Updated — As one of the earlier U.S. Highway extensions—the U.S. Highway System is only about two years old at this time—the US-141 route designation is extended northerly from Green Bay, Wisc to Niagara on the Michigan state line. At Niagara, the new US-141 routing supplants M-57 from the Menominee River bridge south of Quinnesec thence northerly 0.833 miles into downtown Quinnesec at US-2. There, US-141 now runs concurrently with US-2 through Iron Mountain, then back into Wisconsin via Florence before re-entering Michigan south of Crystal Falls. At Crystal Falls, where US-2 turns westerly toward Iron River, US-141 supplants the US-102 designation in its entirety all the way to US-41 near Covington in southwest Baraga Co. US-102 has the dubious honor of being the first U.S. Highway in history to be "decommissioned."
  1929 (Dec 2) Updated — A new entrance into Michigan from Wisconsin for the southern segment of US-141 is determined as a state trunkline, utilizing a new bridge over the Menominee River and a new alignment leading northerly from downtown Niagara, Wisc. and meeting with US-2 west of Quinnesec. The former route from the Quinnesec-Niagara bridge over the Menominee River into Quinnesec along Quinnesec Ave (formerly M-57) remains as an unsigned state trunkline route for the time being.
  1930 (Nov 22) - The former route of US-141 from Niagara, Wisc., across the Menominee River into Quinnesec, Mich. (running via Quinnesec Ave on the Michigan side) is turned back to local control. The route crossed the river on a bridge linking the foot of Tyler St in Niagara with the foot of Quinnesec Ave in Quinnesec, which is removed at some point.
  1931 (Aug 31) - On this day, a new alignment for US-2/US-141 from the north side of Iron Mountain into Wisconsin is determined as a state trunkline highway, although it will not be completely finished for three more years. The existing route of US-2/US-141 follows Stephenson Ave northerly to Main St, west two blocks via Main to N Milwaukee Ave, then northerly via Milwaukee to the north city limit where the road turns into Bass Lake Rd, northerly via Bass Lake to Twin Falls Rd, then westerly less than 1/2 mile across the Menominee River into Wisconsin. This route, with the exception of the 0.4 mile Twin Falls Rd and bridge portion, is turned back to local control pending the completion of the new (and present-day) alignment. This is also the same day the new alignment of M-45 (present-day M-95) from the newly-rerouted US-2/US-141 northerly to Randville is also determined as a state trunkline highway.
  1932 (Oct 29) - Two realignments in Iron Co:
  • A new 1.1-mile long realignment just northwest of Crystal Falls replaces a 1.8-mile jog in the route via Paint River Rd, which is turned back to local control.
  • A realignment from the Porter Mine area southeast of Amasa into Amasa adds 0.7 mile to the route of US-141. Much of this new alignment survives to present-day as Old US-141 (two segments) while part lies obliterated under a 1972 realignment of US-141 at Gibson Lake. Most of the former alignment is turned back to local control running via Warner Lake Rd from Old US-141 at Amasa southeasterly to Industrial Park Rd. Between Industrial Park and Old US-141 through the Porter Mine site, the former alignment is abandoned as a public way.
  1932-33 - Much of the new route of US-2/US-141/M-45 from Iron Mountain northerly into Wisconsin is completed, with the portion from Traders Mine Rd northerly to Collins Rd surfaced in 1932 and the portion from Traders Mine Rd southerly to the existing route at cnr Stephenson Ave & Main St surfaced in '33. Evidence indicates the new alignment of US-2/US-141/M-45 is posted as such to the M-45 (present-day M-95) turn-off, with US-2/US-141 being temporarily routed north on M-45 to the Twin Falls Access Rd, westerly via that road to the former route along Bass Lake Rd, then northerly to the existing interstate bridge and into Wisconsin.
  1933 (July 12) - The 0.4-mile stretch of former US-2/US-141 along Twin Falls Rd from Bass Lake Rd westerly into Wisconsin north of Iron Mountain is cancelled as a state trunkline to be turned back to local control once the replacement bridge and approaches to the south are completed and opened to traffic.
  1934 - The approach highway from the M-95 (newly redesignated from M-45 this year) jct westerly to the new interstate bridge crossing the Menominee River into Wisconsin north of Iron Mountain as well as the bridge itself are completed this year. Unfortunately, for some reason Wisconsin highway authorities have not completed their new segment and their approach to the new bridge, meaning the highway ends where it touches down in Wisconsin with all through traffic remaining on the temporary detour outlined in the 1932-33 listing above.
  1938-39 - Wisconsin finally completes its new alignment for US-2/US-141 from the new interstate bridge north of Iron Mountain completed 4-5 years earlier westerly to the Spread Eagle area in Florence Co. The reason for the delay on the Wisconsin side of the river is not clear.
  1940 (Nov 12) - A new 7.27-mile realignment of US-2/US-141 is completed from just north of the interstate bridge into Wisconsin in southeastern Iron Co northerly to a point approximately 3 miles south of downtown Crystal Falls. The new route cuts about a mile off the former alignment, via Stager Lake Rd and Co Rd 424, which is turned back to local control. Also as a part of this project, a brand new bridge over the Menominee River into Wisconsin is completed replacing an older structure.
    1940 (Nov 12) – Also on Nov 12, in an apparent effort to correct a one-tenth of a mile in the gap of the officially determined route of US-2/US-141/M-95 on the north edge of downtown Iron Mountain in Dickinson Co, the portion of Stephenson Ave from just south of Third St northerly to approximately Hamilton St is officially assumed into the trunkline system. As this is a correction, this short segment has always been signed as US-2/US-141/M-95.
  1949 (Nov 10) - US-41 in central Baraga Co is realigned onto its present-day routing between Alberta and Nestoria, intersecting US-141/M-28 0.9 miles southwest of its previous junction with US-41, thus truncating the route of US-141 to that point. The 0.9 mile of US-141/M-28 is turned back to local control.
  1955 (Nov 18) - The length of US-141 is shortened by 2.3 miles when it is routed onto a new highway alignment from Covington at jct M-28 northeasterly to meet US-41 at that highway's relatively-new (1949) realignment northeast of Covington. The former route of US-141/M-28 via Old M-28 east from Covington is turned back to local control.
  1961 (Nov 15) - In the first of two massive complete overhaul projects along US-141 between US-2 and US-41, the 20.1 mile length of US-141 from the Little Hemlock River Bridge in northern Iron Co (approximately 5 miles north of Amasa) to M-28 at Covington is cancelled as a state trunkline routing, simultaneously being replaced by 18.553 miles of 'new' state trunkline between those two points. The highway is completely re-engineered, reconstructed and rebuilt from the ground up, in some cases immediately adjacent to the existing highway, in some cases more than a mile from the old route, such as End Rd in northern Iron Co. More than half of the former route is either abandoned as a public roadway or is obliterated in the construction of the new alignment. The remaining segments are turned back to local control.
  1972 (Nov 10) - Completing a project begun more than a decade earlier, all of US-141 from US-2 on the west side of Crystal Falls northerly to the Little Hemlock River bridge north of Amasa (totaling 16.850 miles of trunkline) is cancelled, simultaneously replaced by 15.825 miles of new, completely re-engineered, reconstructed and rebuilt trunkline alignment. As with the 1961 project to the north, the new alignment either bypasses older segments of the highway or is built atop or beside the old route. However, unlike the 1961 project, more of the old route survives here (generally named Old US-141) and the old route rarely gets more than 1/2 to 3/4 mile from the new alignment. With the completion of this project, all of US-141 from US-2 west of Crystal Falls northerly to its northern terminus at US-41 has been re-engineered and reconstructed since 1955.
  c.1970s - At some time in the late-1970s, a new interstate bridge on US-2/US-141 north of Iron Mountain is constructed to replace the 1934 bridge. The new structure is just south of the older one and the approach roadways to the former bridge are obliterated in the process.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of US-141 is freeway or expressway.
NHS: Entire route.
Continue on: US-141 into Wisconsin - Wisconsin Highways Website
Photographs:
  Weblinks: • US-141 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the entrances and termini of US-141 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
    • End of US highway 141 - from Dale Sanderson's Maps of US highways, and photos of their endpoints website.
M-142
 Western Terminus: M-25 one mile south of Bay Port
Eastern Terminus: M-25 in downtown Harbor Beach
Length: Updated 39.267 miles
Map: Route Map of M-142
Notes: M-142 could be considered a "Trans-Thumb" highway, since it connects with M-25 on either side of the Thumb region of Michigan.
History: 1929 (Dec 2) - A 1.0-mile long section of Jennings Rd from M-55/M-66/Morey Rd easterly to Call Rd just south of Lake City is transferred to the state and designated M-142. The only reason for the existence of this short stub of a highway to "nowhere" is likely the Michigan State College (now MSU) Farm located there.
  1938 (Dec 6) - Only eight years after becoming a state trunkline and on the same day 15.2 miles of other trunkline highway in Missaukee Co alone are turned back, all 1.0 miles of M-142 are transferred to local control.
  1939 (Jul 13) - The 5 miles of M-83 via Bradleyville Rd through Gilford in western Tuscola Co are transferred to local control. Since this would have created a two-segment discontinuous routing for M-83, all of that highway north of M-81 (the portion not transferred, as at Gilford) becomes parts of other routes. From north of Gilford to Unionville, the former M-83 becomes an extension of M-138, while the Unionville-to-Bay Port segment, formerly co-signed with M-25, retains the M-25 designation. The portion of former M-83 from M-25 just south of Bay Port easterly via Pigeon, Elkton and Bad Axe to US-25 at Harbor Beach is designated as M-142, thus beginning the second (and current) iteration of that designation.
    1940 (Aug 12) New! – The State Highway Dept notifies the Huron Co Road Commission of the redesignation of M-83 from M-25 just south of Bay Port easterly via Pigeon, Elkton and Bad Axe to US-25 at Harbor Beach as M-142, even though the M-83 signs have not yet been replaced. It is assumed the M-142 route markers will be erected by the end of the year.
  1951 - The final 3 miles of gravel-surfaced M-142, from M-19 easterly, are paved.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-142 is freeway or expressway.
NHS: From western terminus at M-25 to southern jct of M-53 in downtown Bad Axe.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-142 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-142 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-143
 Western Terminus: Michigan Ave on the Lansing/East Lansing city limit just west of Highland St
Eastern Terminus: M-43/Grand River Ave in downtown East Lansing just west of Abbot St
Length: 0.936 miles (eastbound lanes)
New! 0.826 miles (westbound lanes)
Map: Route Map of M-143
Notes: This remaining portion of M-143 is the remnant of a highway once stretching westerly into downtown Lansing via Michigan Ave, ending at Cedar-Larch Sts. Once a part of M-43, when US-16 was removed from Michigan in the early 1960s, the M-43 routing was moved north to Saginaw St & Grand River Ave, leaving Michigan Ave from downtown Lansing to downtown East Lansing "designationless." In the 1980s, MDOT traded the City of Lansing M-143 within its limits for the Capitol Loop route. The City of East Lansing, however, never accepted its portion of M-143, which remained an unsigned state trunkline until signs were reinstated along the route in mid-2013.
History: 1929 (Dec 8) Updated – A 14.7-mile long route is officially determined as a state trunkline highway in Osceola Co along 20 Mile Rd from US-131/Mackinaw Trl just east of Tustin to M-66/Mill St in downtown Marion. It is initially designated as M-143, although it is not clear whether it is actually signed as such in the field.
  1930 (Late) New! – At some point in the last half of 1930, the designation of the new M-143 route in northern Osceola Co from US-131 near Tustin easterly to M-66 in Marion is redesignated as an eastern extension of M-63, which now continues northerly with US-131 from the existing M-63 routing southwest of LeRoy to Tustin, then easterly to Marion. Thus, the first iteration of M-143—whether it was actually sigend as such in the field or not—comes to a close. Within a year, however a second iteration of M-143 would debut.
  1931 (Aug 17) - A short, new state trunkline is determined at Cheboygan and designated M-143 to serve as an access route from US-23/US-27 to the Cheboygan State Park on the southern edge of town. (Note: This early Cheboygan State Park should not be confused with the modern-day Cheboygan State Park east of the city off present-day US-23.) The new M-143 begins at US-23/US-27/S Main St (present-day M-27) on the south side of Cheboygan and proceeds easterly 0.9 miles via Lincoln Ave, terminating at Lafayette St.
  1945 - The primary reason for the existence of M-143, the original Cheboygan State Park (present-day Cheboygan Co Fairgrounds), disappears from official maps. It seems this was the timeframe when the park was turned over to local authorities for maintenance and upkeep. However, the state trunkline created to provide access to the park would continue to exist for about 15 more years!
  1960 (Jan 8) - Reality finally catches up with M-143 at Cheboygan when all 0.9 miles are cancelled and the designation is removed from the state trunkline system. Lincoln Ave is turned back to local control.
  1962 (Dec 12, Dec 14) Updated - I-96 around Lansing is officially assumed into the state trunkline system on December 12 and opens to traffic on December 14. With the completion of this major link in the Detroit-Musekgon freeway, the US-16 designation in Michigan is officially decommissioned, resulting in several route changes. Previously, M-43 entered Lansing from the west via Saginaw St, turned southerly with US-27/M-78 via Cedar-Larch Sts, then back easterly again via Michigan Ave into East Lansing, terminating downtown at US-16/Grand River Ave. When US-16 is removed in the Lansing/East Lansing area, it is determined the M-43 designation will be extended easterly from downtown East Lansing via the former US-16 through Okemos and Williamston, terminating at I-96 near Webberville. However, this would leave a portion of the former US-16 along Grand River Ave from M-78/Saginaw St to M-43/Michigan Ave with no state trunkline designation. The route of M-43 is then adjusted to continue easterly with M-78 from US-27/Cedar-Larch Sts via Saginaw-Oakland Sts and Saginaw St-Grand River Ave to the Lansing/East Lansing limit, then southeasterly via the former US-16 along Grand River Ave into downtown East Lansing. This then leaves Michigan Ave from US-27/Cedar-Larch Sts in downtown Lansing to M-43/Grand River Ave in downtown East Lansing without a route designation. The M-143 designation is revived and applied to this route, thus signalling the debut of the third iteration of M-143.
  1970 (June) New! - Less than eight years after becoming M-143, the State Highway Dept first asks the City of Lansing to accept jurisdiction over Michigan Ave from US-27/Cedar-Larch Sts in downtown easterly to the East Lansing City limit. The City rejects the request and M-143 remains a state trunkline in Lansing along E Michigan Ave for the time being.
  1989 (Oct 14) - All of M-143 within the City of Lansing (except the one block between nbd BL I-96/BUS US-27/Larch St and sbd BL I-96/BUS US-27/Cedar St) is turned back to City of Lansing control (2.225 miles). This is the result of an apparent deal between the City of Lansing and MDOT, whereby Lansing would take Michigan Ave east of Larch St off the state's hands in exchange for the state taking several streets in the downtown core off Lansing's hands, resulting in the creation of the signed Capitol Loop route. The one block of the former M-143 between Cedar & Larch Sts retained as a state trunkline is incorporated into the Capitol Loop. The East Lansing portion of the route, however, is not turned back and remains an unsigned state trunkline highway.
  2013 (June) New! - During a massive 2012-2013 reconstruction project involving all of M-143 portion of Michigan Ave and a major portion of M-43/Grand River Ave in East Lansing, MDOT unexpectedly decides to re-erect all M-143 route signage along the East Lansing portion of Michigan Ave. Improvements include resurfacing the roadway from just west of Harrison Rd, east to the M-43 split. In addition, the intersections at Harrison Rd and Beal St are reconfigured. Why MDOT decides to sign a trunkline having a terminus at a city limit—and also falls approximately 2,100 feet shy of intersecting another state trunkline (US-127) because of that terminus—is unclear and seemingly runs contrary to some of the department's longstanding route signage practices.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-143 is freeway or expressway.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • Michigan Route 143 @ Michigan Highway Junction & Photos - photos of M-143 at Dan Garnell's Michigan Highway Junctions & Photos website.
  • M-43(Grand River Avenue) / M-143(Michigan Avenue) in East Lansing - 2012-2013 MDOT project page.
  • M-43 (Grand River Avenue) M-143 (Michigan Avenue) Resurfacing and Intersection Improvements - 2012-2013 project brochure from MDOT.
M-149 PLEASE NOTE:
The M-149 route information has been moved its own page: M-149 Route Listing.
M-150
 Southern Terminus: M-59 at the Rochester Rd interchange in southern Rochester Hills
Northern Terminus: Cnr Rochester Rd & Tienken Rd in northern Rochester Hills
Length: Updated 4.809 miles
Map: Route Map of M-150
Notes: This highway, while always confined to Oakland Co, was once much longer than its current 4.66 mile length. On the south, M-150 formerly continued southerly through Troy via Rochester Rd, then further south via Stephenson Hwy ending at M-102/Eight Mile Rd on the Detroit city limit. It was scaled back to end at I-75 in Troy after that freeway opened. Ironically, Stephenson Hwy between Eight Mile Rd and Gardenia (11-1/2 Mile) in Hazel Park, Madison Heights and Royal Oak now forms the I-75/Walter P Chrysler Frwy service drives! On the north, M-150 formerly extended to the community of Lakeville as well.
History: 1930 (Dec 2) - A new, 3.5-mile long state trunkline spur is officially determined via Rochester Rd in eastern Oakland Co, beginning at M-59/Auburn Rd in southern Avon Twp (present-day City of Rochester Hills) and proceeding northerly through downtown Rochester, terminating at the northern Rochester city limit.
  1932 (Apr 1) - A southerly 14.0-mile extension of M-150 is assumed into the state trunkline system, beginning at the southern terminus of M-150 at M-59/Auburn Rd and proceeding southerly via Rochester Rd to 1/2 mile south of the community of Big Beaver, then jogging slightly easterly and southerly again via the proposed Stephenson Hwy to 11 Mile Rd, then southeasterly via the existing Stephenson Hwy, terminating at M-102/Eight Mile Rd at the Oakland/Wayne Co line. Since the portion of Stephenson Hwy from Rochester Rd southerly to 12 Mile Rd is not yet complete, M-150 is marked-and-maintained via Rochester Rd into downtown Royal Oak, then southerly via Main St to 11 Mile and easterly via 11 Mile Rd to Stephenson Hwy. This temporary routing is not officially assumed into the state trunkline system, through. (While the Oakland Co Road Commission had built the one mile stretch of Stephenson Hwy from 11 Mile to 12 Mile Rds in 1928, that portion of the highway was not marked as part of M-150 pending the completion of the remainder of Stephenson Hwy.)
  1932 - During this year, the State Highway Dept completes the initial grading on the Stephenson Hwy bypass of Royal Oak from 12 Mile Rd to Rochester Rd. It would take the state almost twenty years, however, to complete this project! In the interim, Stephenson would remain a gravel/dirt road with M-150 being 'temporarily' routed through downtown Royal Oak.
  1935 (Jan 7) - An additional 7.3-mile long northerly extension of M-150 is added to the state trunkline system, beginning at the northern limits of Rochester proceeding northerly via Rochester Rd to the Oakland/Addison Twp line, terminating at Romeo Rd. The next year in 1936, this new extension is surfaced by the State Highway Dept, as is the rest of Rochester Rd from Romeo Rd northerly through the communities of Lakeville and Leonard to the Oakland/Lapeer Co line, however this segment of roadway is NOT part of the trunkline system and, as such, not signed as M-150.
  1950 (Oct) - The Stephenson Hwy project begun in 1932 (see above) from 12 Mile Rd to Rochester Rd in southeast Oakland Co is finally completed when the highway is hard-surfaced and the M-150 designation is applied to the route for the first time since becoming a state trunkline in 1932. Unfortunately, about a decade from this point it would be realized this 'new' portion of Stephenson Hwy would have to be bypassed by an even newer highway.
  1963 (Dec 31) - The 4.7-mile stretch of M-150 via Stephenson Hwy from 11 Mile Rd in Madison Heights northerly to I-75 at Exit 67 in Troy is turned back to local control, as on this same date all of the new I-75 freeway from 11 Mile Rd in Madison Heights northerly to Pontiac is officially determined as a state trunkline. The transferred portion of Stephenson Hwy runs parallel to the new I-75 freeway, less than 1/2 mile to the east and is considered a redundant route. The portion of M-150/Stephenson Hwy south of 11 Mile Rd to M-102/Eight Mile Rd is not transferred, however, as the new I-75 freeway will be built directly atop the existing highway. Until the freeway is completed, the former M-150 between 11 Mile and Eight Mile is signed as "TO I-75."
  1965 (June 30) - Nearly all of the 1935 northerly extension of M-150 is turned back to local control when all of the highway from Tienken Rd north of Rochester Hills northerly to Romeo Rd is cancelled as a trunkline. M-150 now only runs from I-75 in Troy to just north of Rochester.
  1982 - The portion of M-150 from M-59 southerly to I-75 in Troy is transferred to local control, ironically leaving M-150 in nearly the same form as it was when first determined as a state trunkline in 1930!
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-150 is freeway or expressway.
NHS: Entire route.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-150 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-150 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
Former M-151 PLEASE NOTE:
Former M-151 route information can be found on its own page: Former M-151 Route Listing.
M-152
 Western Terminus: Van Buren/Berrien county line (cnr 92nd Ave, Napier Ave & S County Line Rd) in the Sister Lakes area
Eastern Terminus: M-51 five miles north of downtown Dowagiac
Length: Updated 7.702 miles
Map: Route Map of M-152
Notes: Contrary to appearances, M-152 has never continued westerly via Napier Ave into the Benton Harbor/St Joseph area, even thought it seems such an extension would be rather logical. Historical State Highway Dept maps indicate Napier Ave westerly from the Van Buren Co line has always been a locally-maintained roadway. Even with the (rather temporary) assumption of the portion of Napier from the new US-31 freeway westerly to I-94 in 2003, no plans have been announced to transfer any other portion of Napier Ave to state control.
According to some MDOT sources, M-152 has long been marked as a prime "turnback" candidate, meaning the department would rather see this route maintained locally rather than at the state level. One source maintains the Cass Co Road Commission was offered M-152 as a jurisdictional transfer at the same time as the M-205-for-M-217 swap took place, however Cass Co declined the state's offer but stated they would be willing to take M-216 off their hands. MDOT wasn't as receptive to that offer...
   

Additional details on M-152 from a former MDOT employee shed even more light on the tenuous existence of this longtime spur route.

Notes on a possible turnback in 1967 state: "The existing facility is essentially a gravel county road, absorbed into our system in 1933, and to which has been added a number of seals over the years. The road serves primarily the resort and vacation areas in the Sister Lakes region and the fruit growers in this corridor." Turnback was attemped over the years, but consensus was not reached over the condition to which M-152 should be brought by MDOT, prior to turnback. Although PA 296 of 1969 provides for non-consent turnbacks through an arbitration process, these provisions are not currently used by MDOT.

Many thanks to Susan Berquist!
History: 1928 (Oct 19) New! – The State Highway Dept advisory board designates, pending approval by the State Administrative Board, a new, six-mile long state trunkline route beginning at M-40 (present-day M-51) north of Dowagiac to the Van Buren/Berrien Co line. No route designation is assigned to the newly proposed route at this time.
  1929 (Oct) New! – The State Administrative Board approves a new, six-mile long state trunkline route beginning at M-40 (present-day M-51) in southwestern Van Buren Co passing to the north of the Sister Lakes area, "to connect with the east end of a macadam road in Berrien Co" at the Van Buren/Berrien Co line.
  1930 (Apr 11) New! – Rescinding its order of six months prior, the State Administrative Board then simultaneously re-establishes a the state trunkline route beginning at M-40 (present-day M-51) in northwestern Cass Co passing through the heart of the Sister Lakes area, "to connect with the east end of a macadam road in Berrien Co" at the Van Buren/Berrien Co line. The length of the new trunkline route remains approximately six miles long.
  1933 (May 24) - A new, 7.7-mile long trunkline spur route as M-152 is officially assumed into the state trunkline system in northwestern Cass and southwestern Van Buren Cos, beginning at M-40 (present-day M-51) north of Dowagiac and running westerly, then northerly and westerly again through the Sister Lakes area, terminating at the Van Buren/Berrien Co line. (An aside: The route of M-152 first appears on official state highway maps, however, two years earlier in 1931. It is unclear when signage may have appeared in the field.) No changes to the route of M-152 have taken place since.
  1945 - M-152 is completely hard-surfaced throughout.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-152 is freeway or expressway.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-152 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-152 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-153
 Western Terminus: M-14 at Exit 10 east of Ann Arbor
Eastern Terminus: US-12/Michigan Ave at I-94 Exit 210 on the western edge of the City of Detroit
Length: Updated 25.197 miles
Map: Route Map of M-153
Notes: M-153 is known as Ford Rd for its entire length. While most would logically assume the road's namesake was Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, the road was actually named for Henry Ford's father, an area farmer, political officeholder and community figure. The Fords had settled on land in Dearborn near present-day M-153. Not coincidentally, the present-day Ford Motor Company World Headquarters (known locally as the "Glass House") is located just south of M-153/Ford Rd in Dearborn.
Updated In the 1930s, M-153 was proposed to be the first leg in an overall "Detroit-Chicago Superhighway" which was to "eventually provide a new route across the State, keeping away from the centers of the larger cities." It could be considered a direct forerunner of today's I-94.
History: 1930 (Dec 2) New! – A 47.4-mile long state trunkline highway route is officially determined as part of the proposed "Detroit-Chicago Superhighway" eventually linking the two cities with a re-engineered "super" highway largely on new alignment. The concept of freeways, as they came to be known later in the 20th Century, had not yet fully coalesced and this proposed route was planned as a 40-foot wide (or wider, in places) concrete highway, engineered to the highest existing standards. The new route "will eventually provide a new route across the State, keeping away from the centers of the larger cities." (Detroit Free Press, Jan 14, 1934, Part 2, pg. 4)
      The first segment of the "Detroit-Chicago Superhighway", as officially determined on this date, begins at US-112/Michigan Ave & Wyoming Ave between Detroit and Dearborn and continues westerly along Ford Rd to Canton Center Rd, then continues due westerly along an unconstructed alignment into Washtenaw Co to US-12/Plymouth Rd just northeast of Dixboro. The route then continued due westerly for an additional four miles before curving southwesterly as it crossed the Ann Arbor RR (present-day Great Lakes Central RR) north of Ann Arbor, continuing to US-12/Jackson Rd at Zeeb Rd west of Ann Arbor. The "superhighway" route continues westerly for ¾ mile along US-12/Jackson Rd for nearly 14 miles to just southwest of Sylvan. There, the route curved west-northwesterly for two miles, crossing existing US-12 and the Michigan Central RR before turning due westerly for an additional mile to the Washtenaw/Jackson Co line. From there, the "superhighway" route continues west on a gently curving alignment passing north of Riley Lake, between Grass and Tims Lakes and south of Goose Lake to the present-day intersection of Sargent Rd & Ann Arbor Rd northeast of Jackson. The highway route then turns southwesterly along present-day BL I-94/Ann Arbor Rd to Michigan Ave and then via Michigan Ave to the eastern Jackson city limit.
      From the outset, the portion of the "Detroit-Chicago Superhighway" along Ford Rd from US-12/Michigan Ave westerly to Canton Center Rd in Canton Twp and on to US-12 at Dixboro northeast of Ann Arbor is designated M-153., but state highway officials hoped to have Ford Rd designated as a "federal route," likely meaning transferred the US-12 designation from Plymouth Rd to the north onto Ford Rd. West of Ann Arbor, the highway officials planned to move the US-12 designation to the new route as it was completed and opened to traffic.
  1933 (Summer) Updated - M-153/Ford Rd from Canton Center Rd in western Wayne Co westerly to Napier Rd on the Wayne/Washtenaw Co line is completed and opened to traffic as a 20-foot concrete roadway on a 120-foot right-of-way. The grading for the segment of M-153 from Napier Rd to US-12/Plymouth Rd near Dixboro is underway with an anticipated completion in a year.
  1934 (July) Updated - The 20-foot concrete pavement is laid on M-153/Ford Rd from the Wayne/Washtenaw Co line westerly to US-12/Plymouth Rd near Dixboro and the signed, open highway now officially terminates at that point while plans for the northerly bypass of Ann Arbor are being finalized.
  1935 (Jan 7) - The portion of the M-153 northern bypass of Ann Arbor—officially determined as a state trunkline in late 1930, but not yet constructed—is officially cancelled as a state trunkline highway route. The western end of the existing highway now officially becomes the western terminus of the route as well. The cancelled bypass, however, would come back in the 1940s as a northerly US-12 bypass of Ann Arbor with the western half actually being constructed, with some modifications, as the M-14 freeway between I-94 and BUS US-23/N Main St.
  1965 (Mar 31) - On the same date the portion of the M-14 freeway is officially determined as a state trunkline highway from US-23 northeast of Ann Arbor to M-153, a new divided highway alignment of M-153 is similarly determined from its existing alignment at Frains Lake Rd northwesterly to the end of the new freeway at Plymouth Rd. This completes a seamless connection with the new freeway. The former route of M-153 via Ford Rd westerly to Plymouth Rd is turned back to local control.
  1973 (Dec 14) - M-153/Ford Rd is reconstructed to freeway standards from Artesian St/Auto Club Dr (halfway between M-39/Southfield Frwy and Evergreen Rd) westerly to Golfview Dr, including interchanges at Evergreen Rd and Edward N Hines Dr, on the Dearborn/Detroit and Dearborn/Dearborn Heights city limit. The former route of M-153 from Artesian St to just east of Evergreen Rd is turned back to local control and renamed Altar Rd, while the remainder of the former highway is either abandoned or is obliterated under the new construction.
  1980 (Feb 9) - The segment of the M-14 freeway from M-153 northeasterly to the Washtenaw/Wayne Co line is officially certified as a state trunkline highway and likely opens to traffic in the same timeframe. Thus, the route of M-153 is extended a very short distance along the former stub of M-14 freeway from Plymouth Rd to meet with the M-14 freeway.
Freeway/Expwy: A short portion of M-153 from from Artesian St/Auto Club Dr westerly to Golfview Dr in Dearborn.
NHS: From Canton Center Rd in Canton Twp to eastern terminus in Detroit.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-153 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-153 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-154
 Southern Terminus: End of Green Rd (beginning of Bates Hwy) on Harsens Island, 3.6 miles south of Sans Souci
Northern Terminus: Harsens Island Ferry landing on North Channel Drive on Harsens Island
Length: Updated 6.207 miles
Map: Route Map of M-154
Notes: M-154 is one of only three Michigan state highways on islands; the others are M-134 on Drummond Island and M-185 on Mackinac Island.
Even though the island and M-154 are only connected to the mainland via Champion's Auto Ferry plying the North Channel waters, the auto ferry does run year 'round, as long as the ice does not become too thick to cut through. In February 2004, a cold snap froze the North Channel more solidly than usual, cutting off island residents from the mainland. In times such as these, the U.S. Coast Guard sends in a cutter to break through the ice and reopen the ferry lanes. Because of these occasional situations, some island residents and developers have been attempting to garner support to have a bridge built between the island and the mainland, although others are very much against it and the changes such a structure would bring to the island.
Updated 2023-04 Fares for Champion's Auto Ferry went up effective January 1, 2022 and are (as of Spring 2023) per round-trip:
  • Automobiles and Other Single Wheel Vehicles:
    • Car (Including Passengers): $15.00
    • 1-Axle trailer with 1 wheel on each side of the axle: $10.00
    • Each Additional Axle: $10.00
    • Motorcycles, Snowmobiles, Mopeds, Motorized Bikes, Golf Carts, Riding Lawnmowers: $7.00
    • Discount Ticket Book (20 Tickets): $200.00
  • Trucks, Busses, Trailers with Dual Wheels, and Large Wheeled Construction Equipment:
    • First Rear Axle In Addition to Front Axle: $30.00
    • Gas Truck (1 Axle): $40.00
    • Each Additional Rear Axle: $30.00
    • Dual Wheel Pickup Trucks: $15.00
    An MDOT source notes that around the year 2000, the department decided to truncate the route of M-154 to Ferry Dock Rd near its intersection with North Channel Rd at the "Y" intersection on the north end of Harsens Island. The remainder of what is signed as M-154 along North Channel Dr from the "Y" at Ferry Dock Rd westerly approximately ½ mile was then designated OLD M-154 and earmarked for a future jurisdictional transfer back to local control. It was also noted, though, that no corresponding changes have been made to the signage along the route, so OLD M-154 remains signed as if it was still part of M-154.
History: 1931 (Jan 22) - The first state trunkline highway to be designated on an island occurs when M-154 is determined as a 5.0-mile route on Harsens Island in southern Saint Clair Co. It begins in the Grand Pointe area on the northeastern tip of Harsens Island and proceeds westerly via North Channel Rd to Little Rd, then southwesterly via Little Rd (a portion of which no longer exists today) to La Croix Rd, southeasterly via La Croix to Green Rd, then southwesterly via Green Rd to a terminus at Clays Landing. While the rest of the roadway, known as Bates Hwy, to the southwestern tip of the island is never included in the trunkline routing, the State Highway Dept does improve the road the next year.
  1932 (Oct 29) - M-154 is realigned on Harsens Island to continue northwesterly via La Croix Rd (instead of turning northeasterly onto Little Rd) to Columbine Rd, then northeasterly via Columbine to North Channel Rd and westerly via North Channel to the Algonac-Harsens Island ferry dock. A very short connection on the "mainland" takes ferry users to M-29/Point Tremble Rd. Much of the former route is turned back to local control, while a portion of Little Rd is abandoned as a public roadway.
    1933 (July 10) New! 2023-04 – The state highway committee, in its first meeting since the election of Murray D. Van Wagoner as Highway Commissioner, rejects a dozen projects that had been planned during the administration of the previous commissioner, Grover C. Dillman. One of those cancelled projects is the cancellation of the entirety of M-154 on Harsens Island. Van Wagoner and the committe rescind that order, allowing M-154 to remain a state trunkline route.
  1939 (July 13) - A slight realignment 'cuts the corner' from La Croix Rd onto Columbine Rd, shaving 1/10th mile from the route. The former route is turned back to local control.
    c.2000 - As noted in the Notes section above, MDOT officially truncates M-154 to Ferry Dock Rd & North Channel Dr, with the portion of North Channel west of the Ferry Dock "Y" intersection being designated as a turnback candidate, OLD M-154. No signage changes are made, however, and all of the new OLD M-154 route remains signed as M-154.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-154 is freeway or expressway.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-154 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-154 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
    • Champion's Auto Ferry - the current ferry schedule, fares and contact information.
  • Harsens Island Ferry - a few 1996 photos of the automobile ferry connecting M-154 and the island to the mainland, courtesy of Tom Dean Associates.
M-156 Southern Terminus: Ohio state line (connection w/OH SR-108) at Morenci
Northern Terminus: M-34 at Clayton
Length: Updated 10.655 miles
Map: New! Route Map of M-156
Notes:  
History: 1931 (June 19) New! - The State Administrative Board approves a new 8.9-mile state trunkline route to connect Morenci with M-34 at Clayton in Lenawee Co. This is the second longest single segment approved out of a total of 30 additional miles of roadway to be added to the trunkline sytem.
  1931 (Oct 24) - A new 10.2-mile long state trunkline beginning at M-34 at Clayton and proceeding southerly via Morey Hwy and Lime Creek Hwy to Morenci and through town via North, Main and East Sts to the Ohio State Line is determined as M-156.
  1978 (___ 16) - A route with a new gentle double-curve immediately north of the community of North Morenci replacing several sharper ones is officially assumed into the trunkline system. The portion of the former route still open to traffic is temporarily retained in the system as well.
  1980 (Apr 3) - The segments still open to travel of the former M-156 bypassed by the realignment above, namely short portions of Lime Creek Hwy and Morey Hwy, are turned back to local control.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-156 is freeway or expressway.
Continue on: SR-108 into Ohio - John Simpson's Ohio Highways Website
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-156 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-156 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
M-157 Southern Terminus: M-55/West Branch Rd 2.5 miles east of downtown Prudenville
Northern Terminus: M-18 2.6 miles northeast of downtown Prudenville
Length: Updated 1.193 miles
Map: Route Map of M-157
Notes: M-157 serves only as a short connector highway between M-18 and M-55 and is the fourth-shortest mainline state trunkline highway.
History: 1931 (Aug 10) - A new 1.0-mile long state trunkline highway designated M-157 is determined in central Roscommon Co as a short-cut between M-55 and US-27 (present-day M-18) via Roscommon Rd.
  1932 (Oct 29) - The existing 1.0-mile long iteration of M-157 is cancelled as a state trunkline and the roadway is abandoned as a public right-of-way. Simultaneously, a new iteration of M-157 on a slightly different alignment just to the east of the former route is officially assumed into the state trunkline system. Since the new alignment curves slightly to the east (the former ran due north-south), it is 1.5 miles in length, one-half mile longer than the previous M-157. Other than extremely minor realignments at either end of the highway to create 90-degree tee-intersections with M-55 and M-18, no other modifications have been made to the route of M-157 since 1932.
Freeway/Expwy: No portion of M-157 is freeway or expressway.
Photographs:
Weblinks: • M-157 @ Michigan Highway Ends - photos of the termini of M-157 at Dan Garnell's excellent Michigan Highway Ends website.
 

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