M-186 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-186, is a state trunkline highway
in the U.S. state of Michigan
. It functions as a connector highway wholly contained in Grand Traverse County
, which is located in the northwestern Lower Peninsula
. The western terminus is at M-113
east of Kingsley
and the eastern terminus is at U.S. Highway 131 (US 131) west of downtown Fife Lake
. The current incarnation of M-186 is the second usage of the designation. The first was used for a highway in the Upper Peninsula
in the 1930s.
In 2007, the average annual daily traffic (AADT) surveys conducted by the Michigan Department of Transportation
(MDOT) showed that 2,100 vehicles used M-186. M-113 west of M-186 logged an average of 7,800 vehicles a day north of the junction and 4,400 vehicles south of the junction. On the east end, US 131 carried 5,100 vehicles north and 4,800 vehicles south of the junction in Fife Lake. Of the 2,100 vehicles on M-186, only 140 trucks travelled the highway each day on average.
between US 2
/US 41
at Rapid River
and M-35
near Brampton. This designation existed from 1933 to 1939, forming a route for westbound US 2 traffic to access M-35 northbound towards Gwinn
and Negaunee
.
. From this intersection, US 131 ran south to Walton Junction, M-113 ran west to Kingsley, and M-131 ran east toward Fife Lake before turning north to Petoskey
. A new alignment of US 131 was built from Walton Junction directly to Fife Lake. This formed a third leg of a triangle of roads, allowing US 131 to bypass the Paradise Township intersection. US 131 replaced M-131 north from Fife Lake to Petoskey. M-113 was extended along the former section of US 131 south to Walton Junction. The remaining leg of the triangle from Paradise Township to Fife Lake along a portion of the former M-131 was designated M-186 at this 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 U.S. 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 functions as a connector highway wholly contained in Grand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County, Michigan
-Air service:*Grand Traverse County is served by Cherry Capital Airport, which is located near Traverse City.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,654 people, 30,396 households, and 20,730 families residing in the county. The population density was 167 people per square mile . ...
, which is located in the northwestern 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...
. The western terminus is at M-113
M-113 (Michigan highway)
M-113 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from US Highway 131 in Walton Junction to M-37 near Kingsley. It was designated on November 21, 1927. The stretch of M-113 from Walton Junction to M-186 was originally part of US 131.-Route description:M-113 starts west...
east of Kingsley
Kingsley, Michigan
Kingsley is a village in Paradise Township, Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,517 as of 2009.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land...
and the eastern terminus is at U.S. Highway 131 (US 131) west of downtown Fife Lake
Fife Lake, Michigan
Fife Lake is a village in Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 466.The village is situated within Fife Lake Township near the junction of U.S...
. The current incarnation of M-186 is the second usage of the designation. The first was used for a highway 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...
in the 1930s.
Route description
M-186 forms an easterly extension of M-113 from Kingsley to Fife Lake. M-186 starts south of a ninety-degree curve in M-113 and runs east through flat, wooded terrain to Fife Lake. The roadway runs parallel to the survey section lines in Fife Lake Township, and it passes several residences along the whole length. From the eastern terminus, State Street connects M-186 and US 131 with downtown Fife Lake.In 2007, the average annual daily traffic (AADT) surveys conducted by 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...
(MDOT) showed that 2,100 vehicles used M-186. M-113 west of M-186 logged an average of 7,800 vehicles a day north of the junction and 4,400 vehicles south of the junction. On the east end, US 131 carried 5,100 vehicles north and 4,800 vehicles south of the junction in Fife Lake. Of the 2,100 vehicles on M-186, only 140 trucks travelled the highway each day on average.
Previous designation
In the 1930s, M-186 was designated on a 4.3 miles (6.9 km) connector route in the Upper Peninsula of MichiganUpper 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...
between US 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 41
U.S. Route 41 in Michigan
US Highway 41 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Miami, Florida, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state via the Interstate Bridge between Marinette, Wisconsin, and Menominee,...
at Rapid River
Rapid River, Michigan
Rapid River is an unincorporated community in Masonville Township, Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan.It is situated on the northern end of the Little Bay de Noc at , between the mouths of the Tacoosh and Rapid rivers with the mouth of the Whitefish River just to the east. U.S. Highway 2...
and M-35
M-35 (Michigan highway)
M-35 is a state trunkline highway in the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. Running for in a general north–south direction, it connects the cities of Menominee, Escanaba and Negaunee. The southern section of M-35 in Menominee and Delta counties carries two additional designations...
near Brampton. This designation existed from 1933 to 1939, forming a route for westbound US 2 traffic to access M-35 northbound towards Gwinn
Gwinn, Michigan
Gwinn is an unincorporated community in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is in Forsyth Township at on M-35 near the forks of the east and middle branches of the Escanaba River. Gwinn is a census-designated place for statistical purposes, and the CDP includes the...
and Negaunee
Negaunee, Michigan
Negaunee is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,576 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the southwest corner of Negaunee Township. The city is home to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum...
.
Current designation
In 1940, US 131 ended at a threeway convergence with M-113 and M-131 four miles (6 km) north of Walton Junction in Paradise TownshipParadise Township, Michigan
Paradise Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,191 at the 2000 census.-Communities:* The village of Kingsley is within the township...
. From this intersection, US 131 ran south to Walton Junction, M-113 ran west to Kingsley, and M-131 ran east toward Fife Lake before turning north to Petoskey
Petoskey, Michigan
Petoskey is a city and coastal resort community in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,080. It is the county seat of Emmet County....
. A new alignment of US 131 was built from Walton Junction directly to Fife Lake. This formed a third leg of a triangle of roads, allowing US 131 to bypass the Paradise Township intersection. US 131 replaced M-131 north from Fife Lake to Petoskey. M-113 was extended along the former section of US 131 south to Walton Junction. The remaining leg of the triangle from Paradise Township to Fife Lake along a portion of the former M-131 was designated M-186 at this time.