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M-149 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-149 is a 10.605 miles (17.07 km) north–south state trunkline highway
in the Upper Peninsula
of the US state of Michigan
. It connects US Highway 2
(US 2) in Thompson with the Palms Book
and Indian Lake state parks. The highway was originally designed in the 1930s and extended a few years later. The last major changes to the highway were made in the 1960s when it was completely paved for the first time.
on Lake Michigan. It runs west-northwesterly through woodlands away from a junction with US 2 along a small pond in the area. The road curves to the north and passes the cemetery and some small farms south of a crossing with a line of the Canadian National Railway
. North of the tracks, the road meets County Road 442 (CR 442) near Indian Lake. M-149 turns to the west at that junction while CR 442 runs easterly to connect to the main unit of the Indian Lake State Park. The highway continues to a junction with CR 455, which connects to the western unit of the state part, after which the trunkline turns to the northwest through forested terrain. The highway turns back to the west before intersecting another CR 442 in the area. At this junction, M-149 turns to the north where it continues for several miles until curving eastward. M-149 intersects the northern end of CR 455 and turns north once again until it terminates at the main gate to the Palms Book State Park, home of Kitch-iti-kipi
(the Big Spring).
No part of M-189 is listed on the National Highway System
. In 2009, the Michigan Department of Transportation
conducted a survey to determine the traffic volume along the highway, reported using a metric called average annual daily traffic (AADT). The department determined that 421 vehicles a day used the highway south of the junction with CR 442 near Indian Lake State Park while 245 vehicles used remainder of the highway on average.
, was formed later in 1931 along another gravel road to connect US 2 southerly with the Thompson State Fish Hatchery. When US 2 was rerouted in the Manistique area in 1936, that highway was moved further south closer to Lake Michigan; M-149 was extended eastward along a section of the paved highway formerly a part of US 2 to connect with M-125 at the Indian Lake State Park. From that point south, M-149 replaced M-125 to Thompson. The former routing of US 2 became CR 442 except for the section used to extend M-149. In the latter half of 1960 or the beginning of 1961, the MSHD paved the sections of M-149 north and south of the former US 2 segment, completely hard-surfacing the roadway for the first time.
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 Upper Peninsula
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
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"....
. It connects US Highway 2
U.S. Route 2 in Michigan
US Highway 2 is a component of the United States Numbered Highway System that connects Everett, Washington, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan, with a separate segment that runs from Rouses Point, New York, to Houlton, Maine...
(US 2) in Thompson with the Palms Book
Palms Book State Park
Palms Book State Park is a state park in Thompson Township, Schoolcraft County, in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Approximately in size, it is noted for Kitch-iti-kipi, the "Big Spring" of the Upper Peninsula...
and Indian Lake state parks. The highway was originally designed in the 1930s and extended a few years later. The last major changes to the highway were made in the 1960s when it was completely paved for the first time.
Route description
M-149 is a rural two-lane highway that starts in the community of Thompson southwest of ManistiqueManistique, Michigan
Manistique is a city in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,583. It is the county seat of Schoolcraft County and the only incorporated community in the county. The city lies on the north shore of Lake Michigan, at the southwest corner...
on Lake Michigan. It runs west-northwesterly through woodlands away from a junction with US 2 along a small pond in the area. The road curves to the north and passes the cemetery and some small farms south of a crossing with a line of the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
. North of the tracks, the road meets County Road 442 (CR 442) near Indian Lake. M-149 turns to the west at that junction while CR 442 runs easterly to connect to the main unit of the Indian Lake State Park. The highway continues to a junction with CR 455, which connects to the western unit of the state part, after which the trunkline turns to the northwest through forested terrain. The highway turns back to the west before intersecting another CR 442 in the area. At this junction, M-149 turns to the north where it continues for several miles until curving eastward. M-149 intersects the northern end of CR 455 and turns north once again until it terminates at the main gate to the Palms Book State Park, home of Kitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring. The name means big cold water and is sometimes referred to as The Big Spring. Its original name was the "Mirror of Heaven" given to it by the early Indians.Kitch-iti-kipi spring is one of Michigan's Upper Peninsula's major tourist...
(the Big Spring).
No part of M-189 is listed on the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
. In 2009, the Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
conducted a survey to determine the traffic volume along the highway, reported using a metric called average annual daily traffic (AADT). The department determined that 421 vehicles a day used the highway south of the junction with CR 442 near Indian Lake State Park while 245 vehicles used remainder of the highway on average.
History
The Michigan State Highway Department (MSHD) designated M-149 along a gravel road in late 1930; the highway provided access from US 2 northerly to Palms Book State Park. A second highway, the first creation of M-125M-125 (Michigan highway)
M-125 Connector is a connector route running through Erie. It connects I-75 with M-125. It is a four lane divided highway for its entire length, named "Summit Street" in Erie. It is known internally to the Michigan Department of Transportation as "Connector 2"...
, was formed later in 1931 along another gravel road to connect US 2 southerly with the Thompson State Fish Hatchery. When US 2 was rerouted in the Manistique area in 1936, that highway was moved further south closer to Lake Michigan; M-149 was extended eastward along a section of the paved highway formerly a part of US 2 to connect with M-125 at the Indian Lake State Park. From that point south, M-149 replaced M-125 to Thompson. The former routing of US 2 became CR 442 except for the section used to extend M-149. In the latter half of 1960 or the beginning of 1961, the MSHD paved the sections of M-149 north and south of the former US 2 segment, completely hard-surfacing the roadway for the first time.