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M-126 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-126 was the designation of a former state trunkline route
in the Lower Peninsula
of the US state of Michigan
that was deleted in 1940 when US 16
was realigned on top of it. It ran from US 16 in Nunica, through Fruitport
, to Muskegon, Michigan
where it ended at US 31A
.
in Nunica, at the present day corner of Cleveland and Apple Drive. US 16 continued west into Grand Haven
while M-126 headed northwest towards Muskegon
along an old railroad grade. The road curved to the north, passing east of Spring Lake, before heading into Fruitport
as Third Avenue. The road, known today as Airline Highway, left town to the north, then curved to the northwest running parallel to the present day I-96 corridor. The road then passed just east of Mona Lake before terminating at US 31A, Getty Street.
and US 31A in Muskegon. From the second change, US 16 was re-routed on top of the M-126 alignment into Muskegon. The third change assigned M-104
over the old US 16 alignment into Grand Haven, a change which still exists to this day.
All three of these things happened simultaneously, Getty Street in Muskegon became the new route for US 31, the old route was shifted to Peck Street which is the predecessor to today's Business US 31 through the city. All of these things combined led to the removal of M-126 from the state trunkline system
, a designation which has not been used since.
Michigan Highway System
The Michigan State Trunkline Highway System is made up of all the highways designated as Interstates, U.S. Highways and State Highways in the US state of Michigan. The system is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation and comprises of trunklines in all 83 counties of Michigan on...
in the Lower Peninsula
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...
of the US state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
that was deleted in 1940 when US 16
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
was realigned on top of it. It ran from US 16 in Nunica, through Fruitport
Fruitport, Michigan
Fruitport is a village in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 1,124. The community is located within Fruitport Charter Township....
, to Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
where it ended at US 31A
U.S. Route 31 in Michigan
US Highway 31 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Alabama, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that runs from the Indiana–Michigan state line at Bertrand Township to its terminus at Interstate 75 south...
.
Route description
M-126 began at a junction with US 16U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
in Nunica, at the present day corner of Cleveland and Apple Drive. US 16 continued west into Grand Haven
Grand Haven, Michigan
Grand Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand Haven had a population of 10,412. It is part of the...
while M-126 headed northwest towards Muskegon
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
along an old railroad grade. The road curved to the north, passing east of Spring Lake, before heading into Fruitport
Fruitport, Michigan
Fruitport is a village in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 1,124. The community is located within Fruitport Charter Township....
as Third Avenue. The road, known today as Airline Highway, left town to the north, then curved to the northwest running parallel to the present day I-96 corridor. The road then passed just east of Mona Lake before terminating at US 31A, Getty Street.
History
Before 1940, US 16 traveled due west from Nunica into Grand Haven. M-126 was built to run northwest out of Nunica along a former railroad grade. Both highways had existed in this formation until 1940 when several changes came about. The first of which was a swapping of US 31U.S. Route 31
U.S. Route 31 is a long north–south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with its northern terminus at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and southern terminus at the combined U.S. Route 90 & U.S. Route 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama...
and US 31A in Muskegon. From the second change, US 16 was re-routed on top of the M-126 alignment into Muskegon. The third change assigned M-104
M-104 (Michigan highway)
M-104 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan in the Western Michigan region of the state. It runs from Ferrysburg to Nunica in Ottawa County, passing through Spring Lake...
over the old US 16 alignment into Grand Haven, a change which still exists to this day.
All three of these things happened simultaneously, Getty Street in Muskegon became the new route for US 31, the old route was shifted to Peck Street which is the predecessor to today's Business US 31 through the city. All of these things combined led to the removal of M-126 from the state trunkline system
Michigan Highway System
The Michigan State Trunkline Highway System is made up of all the highways designated as Interstates, U.S. Highways and State Highways in the US state of Michigan. The system is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation and comprises of trunklines in all 83 counties of Michigan on...
, a designation which has not been used since.