M-29 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-29 is a state trunkline highway
in the US state of Michigan
that runs in a south–north direction from Chesterfield Township
to Marysville
. It generally runs along the shore of Lake St. Clair
and the St. Clair River
.
The M-29 designation has been used twice in Michigan starting in 1919. The first designation near Lansing
was replaced by U.S. Route 27 (US 27) in 1926. At that time, the M-29 designation was moved to the east side of the state along the current routing and farther north along part of what became US 25 and M-25
. The 1933 extension of US 25 replaced the northern section of M-29 leading to the current location of M-29.
and the western bank of the St. Clair River
. From Algonac
to its northern terminus in Marysville, M-29 is within a mile of Ontario, just across the river to the east. The route starts at an interchange with I-94 at exit 243. The road passes east through the residential areas of Chesterfield Township
towards the shores of Lake St. Clair
. Upon reaching the lake, the road turns to the northeast as it generally follows the contours of the lakeshore and St. Clair River further down. The road passes through New Baltimore
and curves around the northern edge of Anchor Bay, which is part of Lake St. Clair. West of I-94, the route continues as 23 Mile Road.
From there the route swings to the south, following the eastern shore of the lake before turning back to the east as it approaches the Harsens Island Ferry docks. M-29 is the main thoroughfare with which to reach Harsens Island
which connects to St. Clair Flats Wildlife Area and the communities of Grand Point, Maple Leaf and Sans Souci
via M-154
by auto ferry
. After passing by the ferry docks, the road turns back to the north, paralleling the St. Clair River as it runs along the eastern side of Algonac State Park
, passing through numerous riverbank communities. The road then turns to the north and runs a few blocks inland as it enters Marine City
. On the northern side of the town, the road turns back to the east, to once again, running adjacent the bank of the river.
The route continues along the shoreline, until it meanders back inland a bit as it passes by the St. Clair and Belle River
power plants, after which it runs close to the bank, once again, buffered by several riverbank residences. As the route enters the city of St. Clair
, it is known as River Road and Riverside Avenue as it serves as the main thoroughfare along the shore. As M-29 approaches Marysville
the road turns back inland from the river where it travels through the southeastern side of Marysville before terminating at an intersection with I-94 Business Loop which leads into Port Huron
.
area to Indiana
via Charlotte
and Marshall
. In 1926, when the U.S. Highway system was created, US 27 overtook the alignment that M-29 had previously occupied. At the same time the M-29 designation was shifted to the eastern side of the state, generally where it exists today. However, rather than terminating in Marysville, the route continued all the way around the thumb and into Bay City
on a route now occupied by present day M-25
.
In 1933, the US 25 designation was extended from Port Huron, along the existing M-29 roadway, to a terminus in Port Austin
. This would have created two discontinuous segments of M-29, so the section designated as such from Bay City to Port Austin was renumbered to M-25. In 1939, M-29, which formerly terminated at US 25 and Gratiot Avenue was shifted slightly eastward and realigned to run along Jefferson Avenue along the St. Clair Lake shoreline. It continued along Jefferson Avenue down to Grosse Pointe Shores
where it then turned west along Vernier Road where it then terminated at US 25 on the Detroit – East Detroit
border.
In 1949, the route was altered once again when a new bypass was built in Mount Clemens
. From New Baltimore, the road continued along 23 Mile Road, as it had before, to US 25 and proceeded to the southwest to Hall Road where it assumed the new bypass alignment and continued to Crocker Boulevard where it turned southeasterly along its former alignment. Later in 1956, the Michigan State Highway Department made a few realignments in the Marine City
as the route was moved to its present day course.
When I-94
was completed in 1963, M-29 south of 23 Mile Road was routed onto it down to present day exit 235. Three years later, a realignment in Marysville, realigned M-29 onto the Busha Highway, returning the old route to local control. Finally, in 1971, M-29 south of exit 243 on I-94 was truncated back to its present day terminus, and the route has existed as such since then.
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 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 runs in a south–north direction from Chesterfield Township
Chesterfield Township, Michigan
Chesterfield Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 37,405. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 44,612. The township was organized in 1842, formed out of a portion of Macomb Township...
to Marysville
Marysville, Michigan
Marysville is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,684 at the 2000 census.-Geography:* According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.* It is considered to be part of the Thumb of...
. It generally runs along the shore of Lake St. Clair
Lake Saint Clair (North America)
Lake St. Clair is a fresh-water lake named after Clare of Assisi that lies between the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan, and its midline also forms the boundary between Canada and the United States of America. Lake St. Clair includes the Anchor Bay along the Metro Detroit coastline...
and the St. Clair River
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
.
The M-29 designation has been used twice in Michigan starting in 1919. The first designation near Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
was replaced by U.S. Route 27 (US 27) in 1926. At that time, the M-29 designation was moved to the east side of the state along the current routing and farther north along part of what became US 25 and M-25
M-25 (Michigan highway)
M-25 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The route follows an arc-like shape closely along the Lake Huron shore of the Thumb in the eastern Lower Peninsula between Port Huron and Bay City. It serves the lakeshore resorts along Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay and generally lies...
. The 1933 extension of US 25 replaced the northern section of M-29 leading to the current location of M-29.
Route description
The route generally follows the eastern border of the state along the northwest shore of Lake St. ClairLake Saint Clair (North America)
Lake St. Clair is a fresh-water lake named after Clare of Assisi that lies between the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan, and its midline also forms the boundary between Canada and the United States of America. Lake St. Clair includes the Anchor Bay along the Metro Detroit coastline...
and the western bank of the St. Clair River
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
. From Algonac
Algonac, Michigan
Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,613 at the 2000 census.Algonac is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River, just before it splits into a large delta region known as the St. Clair Flats. The St. Clair River drains Lake Huron into...
to its northern terminus in Marysville, M-29 is within a mile of Ontario, just across the river to the east. The route starts at an interchange with I-94 at exit 243. The road passes east through the residential areas of Chesterfield Township
Chesterfield Township, Michigan
Chesterfield Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 37,405. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 44,612. The township was organized in 1842, formed out of a portion of Macomb Township...
towards the shores of Lake St. Clair
Lake Saint Clair (North America)
Lake St. Clair is a fresh-water lake named after Clare of Assisi that lies between the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan, and its midline also forms the boundary between Canada and the United States of America. Lake St. Clair includes the Anchor Bay along the Metro Detroit coastline...
. Upon reaching the lake, the road turns to the northeast as it generally follows the contours of the lakeshore and St. Clair River further down. The road passes through New Baltimore
New Baltimore, Michigan
New Baltimore is a city and coastal resort community in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,405 at the 2000 census. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 11,346. New Baltimore is in Metropolitan Detroit....
and curves around the northern edge of Anchor Bay, which is part of Lake St. Clair. West of I-94, the route continues as 23 Mile Road.
From there the route swings to the south, following the eastern shore of the lake before turning back to the east as it approaches the Harsens Island Ferry docks. M-29 is the main thoroughfare with which to reach Harsens Island
Harsens Island
Harsens Island is a wet marshy location at the mouth of the St. Clair River in the U.S. state of Michigan. Politically, the island is in Clay Township of St. Clair County.-History:...
which connects to St. Clair Flats Wildlife Area and the communities of Grand Point, Maple Leaf and Sans Souci
Sans Souci, Michigan
Sans Souci is an unincorporated community in Clay Township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan at . Located on the eastern shore of Harsens Island at the mouth of the St. Clair River, it lies at the edge of the St. Clair Flats Wildlife Area. M-154 is the primary road on Harsens Island...
via M-154
M-154 (Michigan highway)
M-154 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is entirely on Harsens Island at the mouth of the St. Clair River. It is one of only three trunklines in Michigan on islands. The other two are M-134 on Drummond Island and M-185 on Mackinac Island...
by auto ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
. After passing by the ferry docks, the road turns back to the north, paralleling the St. Clair River as it runs along the eastern side of Algonac State Park
Algonac State Park
Algonac State Park is a state park in St. Clair County, Michigan. The park has approximately a half mile of St. Clair River frontage, making viewing of international freighters a major attraction.-Ecology:...
, passing through numerous riverbank communities. The road then turns to the north and runs a few blocks inland as it enters Marine City
Marine City, Michigan
Marine City is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located on the west bank of the St. Clair River, it is one of the cities in the River District north of Detroit and south of Lake Huron. The population was 4,652 at the 2000 census...
. On the northern side of the town, the road turns back to the east, to once again, running adjacent the bank of the river.
The route continues along the shoreline, until it meanders back inland a bit as it passes by the St. Clair and Belle River
Belle River Power Plant
Belle River Power Plant is a major coal- and natural gas-fired power plant owned by Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy. It is located in St. Clair County, Michigan, on the peninsula formed by the St. Clair and Belle rivers. The plant was built across M-29 from the St. Clair Power Plant in...
power plants, after which it runs close to the bank, once again, buffered by several riverbank residences. As the route enters the city of St. Clair
St. Clair, Michigan
St. Clair is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,802 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the St. Clair River near the southeast corner of St. Clair Township.-Geography:...
, it is known as River Road and Riverside Avenue as it serves as the main thoroughfare along the shore. As M-29 approaches Marysville
Marysville, Michigan
Marysville is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,684 at the 2000 census.-Geography:* According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.* It is considered to be part of the Thumb of...
the road turns back inland from the river where it travels through the southeastern side of Marysville before terminating at an intersection with I-94 Business Loop which leads into Port Huron
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
.
History
Prior to the implementation of the U.S. Highway System, M-29 existed as a route that connected the LansingLansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
area to Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
via Charlotte
Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County....
and Marshall
Marshall, Michigan
Marshall is a city located in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,459. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
. In 1926, when the U.S. Highway system was created, US 27 overtook the alignment that M-29 had previously occupied. At the same time the M-29 designation was shifted to the eastern side of the state, generally where it exists today. However, rather than terminating in Marysville, the route continued all the way around the thumb and into Bay City
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
on a route now occupied by present day M-25
M-25 (Michigan highway)
M-25 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The route follows an arc-like shape closely along the Lake Huron shore of the Thumb in the eastern Lower Peninsula between Port Huron and Bay City. It serves the lakeshore resorts along Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay and generally lies...
.
In 1933, the US 25 designation was extended from Port Huron, along the existing M-29 roadway, to a terminus in Port Austin
Port Austin, Michigan
Port Austin is a village in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 737 at the 2000 census. The village is within Port Austin Township.-Geography:...
. This would have created two discontinuous segments of M-29, so the section designated as such from Bay City to Port Austin was renumbered to M-25. In 1939, M-29, which formerly terminated at US 25 and Gratiot Avenue was shifted slightly eastward and realigned to run along Jefferson Avenue along the St. Clair Lake shoreline. It continued along Jefferson Avenue down to Grosse Pointe Shores
Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Shores is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. With only land area, the city is the smallest of the five Grosse Pointe communities. The city, which is entirely residential, is the location of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club on Lake Saint Clair. The city's population was 3,008 at the...
where it then turned west along Vernier Road where it then terminated at US 25 on the Detroit – East Detroit
Eastpointe, Michigan
Eastpointe is a city in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 34,077. Eastpointe forms a part of the Metro Detroit area. It borders on 8 Mile Road on the northern edge of Detroit.- History :The community was first settled by Irish and German...
border.
In 1949, the route was altered once again when a new bypass was built in Mount Clemens
Mount Clemens, Michigan
Mount Clemens is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,312. It is the county seat of Macomb County.-Early history:...
. From New Baltimore, the road continued along 23 Mile Road, as it had before, to US 25 and proceeded to the southwest to Hall Road where it assumed the new bypass alignment and continued to Crocker Boulevard where it turned southeasterly along its former alignment. Later in 1956, the Michigan State Highway Department made a few realignments in the Marine City
Marine City, Michigan
Marine City is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located on the west bank of the St. Clair River, it is one of the cities in the River District north of Detroit and south of Lake Huron. The population was 4,652 at the 2000 census...
as the route was moved to its present day course.
When I-94
Interstate 94 in Michigan
Interstate 94 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Billings, Montana, to the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state south of New Buffalo...
was completed in 1963, M-29 south of 23 Mile Road was routed onto it down to present day exit 235. Three years later, a realignment in Marysville, realigned M-29 onto the Busha Highway, returning the old route to local control. Finally, in 1971, M-29 south of exit 243 on I-94 was truncated back to its present day terminus, and the route has existed as such since then.