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M-44 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-44 is a 37.463 miles (60.3 km) state trunkline highway
in the western region of the US state of Michigan
. It runs northward from the intersection of M-11
(28th Street) and M-37
toward the Rockford
area. The highway then turns eastward to Belding
, and it ends six miles (10 km) north of Ionia
at M-66
. M-44 is known in Grand Rapids as the "East Beltline" and intersects with its related highway, Connector M-44, in Plainfield Township
. This highway runs concurrently
with M-37 between M-11 and Interstate 96
(I-96).
As a state highway, M-44 dates back to around July 1, 1919, and it was routed along a section of its modern route at that time. The eastern end was altered in the late 1920s, and the western end was extended to the Grand Rapids area in the 1970s. For over 20 years, M-44 was truncated to remove the M-37 concurrency. Since 2003 though, the highway has terminated at the intersection with 28th Street.
. M-11 runs east and west along 28th Street and M-37 runs south along Broadmoor Avenue as the continuation of East Beltline. M-44 and M-37 run together on East Beltline Avenue north from this intersection, which is also the location of the Woodland Mall
in Kentwood. From here north, M-37/M-44 runs along a four-lane divided boulevard through the campus of Calvin College
. East Beltline passes through suburban residential areas near the east end of Reeds Lake
and M-21
's western terminus at Fulton Street. Just north of this intersection is an interchange with I-96 at exit 38. M-37 leaves the roadway to run along I-96 while M-44 continues northward along East Beltline Avenue. All of M-44 to this point is listed on the National Highway System
, a network of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
North of the interchange, M-44 passes the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
and the campus of Cornerstone University
. The area around the highway is mixed businesses and office parks north to Knapp Street, and then residential north of there. At Plainfield Avenue, M-44 meets CONN M-44 and crosses the Grand River
. M-44 turns eastward near the south side of Rockford and runs through suburban residential areas near Lake Bella Vista
, Silver and Bostwick lakes. East of here, the environs transition to rural farmland and the highway crosses the Kent
–Ionia
county line between Grattan
and Cooks Corners
, where it meets M-91
west of Belding
. The highway continues east through town, where it crosses the Flat River
, and ends at M-66 north of Ionia
.
(later US 131
) from Rockford to Belding. Near Orleans, M-44 turned south into town and ended at M-21
in Ionia
. The segment near Orleans was realigned to end at M-14
(now M-66) in Woods Corners in 1929. M-44 was extended concurrently along US 131 to end at the intersection of the East Beltline and 28th Street near Grand Rapids. Two other highways were also routed on the East Beltline: M-21 south of Fulton Street and M-37 south of Cascade Road. The US 131, M-21 and M-37 concurrencies only lasted until 1964 when M-21 was moved to I-196
and M-37 was shifted to the new US 131 freeway.
US 131 was moved to its freeway north of Grand Rapids in 1969. The Northland Drive segment of US 131/M-44 was redesignated as only M-44, and the Plainfield Avenue segment became CONN M-44. M-37 was rerouted as well up East Beltline from M-11 concurrently with M-44 to I-96. In 1977, this junction at I-96 became the official western terminus of M-44, with the M-44 signs along East Beltline Avenue removed. Then in 2003, the signs along the East Beltline were restored and the route extended back to its former terminus.
state trunkline highway running along Plainfield Avenue in the Grand Rapids area. It connects I-96/M-37
near Lamberton Lake with M-44 running along East Beltline Avenue near the Grand River
. In between, the highway passes through a commercial area. North of 5 Mile Road, Plainfield Avenue takes on a more suburban residential character. There are more business again at the northern end by Versluis Lake. CONN M-44 was formed in 1969 when the US 131 freeway was completed from I-96/M-37 to 14 Mile Road near Rockford. US 131 along Plainfield Avenue was redesignated as CONN M-44 to connect I-96/M-37 with M-44.
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 western region 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 runs northward from the intersection of M-11
M-11 (Michigan highway)
M-11 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. The highway runs through the western and southern sides of the metro area, starting over the border in Ottawa County at an interchange with Interstate 96...
(28th Street) and M-37
M-37 (Michigan highway)
M-37 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The southern terminus is near the border between Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties at exit 92 of Interstate 94 southwest of Battle Creek. The northern terminus is at the Mission Point Light on Old Mission Point in Grand...
toward the Rockford
Rockford, Michigan
Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,719. It is on the Rogue River and is only a few miles north of Grand Rapids.- History :...
area. The highway then turns eastward to Belding
Belding, Michigan
Belding is a city in Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,877 at the 2000 census. Belding is a small rural city surrounded almost entirely by farmland...
, and it ends six miles (10 km) north of Ionia
Ionia, Michigan
Ionia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 11,394 at the 2010 census. Every late July it hosts what may be the world's largest free-admission fair...
at M-66
M-66 (Michigan highway)
M-66 is a north–south state trunkline highway on the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Indiana state line in the south to Charlevoix in the north. M-66 is the only state highway to traverse almost the entire north–south distance of the LP. It starts as a...
. M-44 is known in Grand Rapids as the "East Beltline" and intersects with its related highway, Connector M-44, in Plainfield Township
Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan
Plainfield Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2000 census, the population was 30,195 . The township forms part of the metro Grand Rapids area. It derives its name from the extinct lumbertown of Plainfield founded in 1838 by Andrew...
. This highway runs concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with M-37 between M-11 and Interstate 96
Interstate 96
Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
(I-96).
As a state highway, M-44 dates back to around July 1, 1919, and it was routed along a section of its modern route at that time. The eastern end was altered in the late 1920s, and the western end was extended to the Grand Rapids area in the 1970s. For over 20 years, M-44 was truncated to remove the M-37 concurrency. Since 2003 though, the highway has terminated at the intersection with 28th Street.
Route description
M-44 starts at the intersection of 28th Street and East Beltline Avenue in KentwoodKentwood, Michigan
Kentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
. M-11 runs east and west along 28th Street and M-37 runs south along Broadmoor Avenue as the continuation of East Beltline. M-44 and M-37 run together on East Beltline Avenue north from this intersection, which is also the location of the Woodland Mall
Woodland Mall
Woodland Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located just outside the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. It comprises over 100 tenants in of retail space, with four anchor stores and a movie theater...
in Kentwood. From here north, M-37/M-44 runs along a four-lane divided boulevard through the campus of Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
. East Beltline passes through suburban residential areas near the east end of Reeds Lake
Reeds Lake
Reeds Lake is a fresh-water lake in the city of East Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.A good way to enjoy Reeds Lake is from one of the many benches located along the shoreline at John Collins Park. Named for John A...
and M-21
M-21 (Michigan highway)
M-21 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan connecting the cities of Grand Rapids and Flint. The highway passes through rural farming country and several small towns along its course through the Lower Peninsula...
's western terminus at Fulton Street. Just north of this intersection is an interchange with I-96 at exit 38. M-37 leaves the roadway to run along I-96 while M-44 continues northward along East Beltline Avenue. All of M-44 to this point 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...
, a network of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
North of the interchange, M-44 passes the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a botanical garden and outdoor sculpture park located in Grand Rapids Township, Michigan in Kent County. Commonly referred to as Meijer Gardens, it has quickly become one of the most significant sculpture experiences in the Midwest and an emerging...
and the campus of Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University is an independent, non-denominational Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The university emphasises the trinitarian belief in the triune God and the literal interpretation of the Bible...
. The area around the highway is mixed businesses and office parks north to Knapp Street, and then residential north of there. At Plainfield Avenue, M-44 meets CONN M-44 and crosses the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
. M-44 turns eastward near the south side of Rockford and runs through suburban residential areas near Lake Bella Vista
Lake Bella Vista (Michigan)
Lake Bella Vista is in northwest Cannon Township, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The lake was originally known as "Grass Lake" and once lay in the center of a marsh surrounded by pastureland as well as apple and cherry orchards. Grass Lake was one of the so-called "triplet lakes" lying...
, Silver and Bostwick lakes. East of here, the environs transition to rural farmland and the highway crosses the Kent
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
–Ionia
Ionia County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
county line between Grattan
Grattan Township, Michigan
Grattan Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,551.Grattan is an unincorporated community within the township.-Geography:...
and Cooks Corners
Otisco Township, Michigan
Otisco Township is a civil township of Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,243. Township offices are located in the community of Smyrna.-Communities:...
, where it meets M-91
M-91 (Michigan highway)
M-91 is a largely north–south state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from Belding to south of Lakeview. Its length exists entirely within Ionia and Montcalm counties. It is all undivided surface route...
west of Belding
Belding, Michigan
Belding is a city in Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,877 at the 2000 census. Belding is a small rural city surrounded almost entirely by farmland...
. The highway continues east through town, where it crosses the Flat River
Flat River (Michigan)
The Flat River is a tributary of the Grand River in the western part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises as the outflow of the six lakes system in Belvidere Township, west of Edmore in Montcalm County. It flows mostly south and slightly west through Montcalm County, Ionia County, and Kent...
, and ends at M-66 north of Ionia
Ionia, Michigan
Ionia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 11,394 at the 2010 census. Every late July it hosts what may be the world's largest free-admission fair...
.
History
M-44 was first designated by July 1, 1919 beginning at M-13M-13 (Michigan highway)
M-13 is a north–south state trunkline highway that runs through the Saginaw Bay region of the US state of Michigan. It runs from Interstate 69 south of Lennon to US Highway 23 near Standish. The southern section of the trunkline runs long a pair of county lines in a rural area dominated by farm...
(later US 131
U.S. Route 131
US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...
) from Rockford to Belding. Near Orleans, M-44 turned south into town and ended at M-21
M-21 (Michigan highway)
M-21 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan connecting the cities of Grand Rapids and Flint. The highway passes through rural farming country and several small towns along its course through the Lower Peninsula...
in Ionia
Ionia, Michigan
Ionia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 11,394 at the 2010 census. Every late July it hosts what may be the world's largest free-admission fair...
. The segment near Orleans was realigned to end at M-14
M-14 (Michigan highway)
M-14 is a east–west state trunkline highway in the southeastern portion of the US state of Michigan. Entirely freeway, it connects Ann Arbor with Detroit by way of connecting with I-96.-Route description:...
(now M-66) in Woods Corners in 1929. M-44 was extended concurrently along US 131 to end at the intersection of the East Beltline and 28th Street near Grand Rapids. Two other highways were also routed on the East Beltline: M-21 south of Fulton Street and M-37 south of Cascade Road. The US 131, M-21 and M-37 concurrencies only lasted until 1964 when M-21 was moved to I-196
Interstate 196
Interstate 196 is a long freeway spur route in the US state of Michigan linking Grand Rapids, Holland, South Haven, and Benton Harbor. I-196 is known as the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, or simply the Ford Freeway, in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties, after the 38th President of the United States,...
and M-37 was shifted to the new US 131 freeway.
US 131 was moved to its freeway north of Grand Rapids in 1969. The Northland Drive segment of US 131/M-44 was redesignated as only M-44, and the Plainfield Avenue segment became CONN M-44. M-37 was rerouted as well up East Beltline from M-11 concurrently with M-44 to I-96. In 1977, this junction at I-96 became the official western terminus of M-44, with the M-44 signs along East Beltline Avenue removed. Then in 2003, the signs along the East Beltline were restored and the route extended back to its former terminus.
Major intersections
Connector route
M-44 Connector, or CONN M-44, is a 4.185 miles (6.735 km) connector routeConnector (road)
A connector is a highway or freeway road that connects to another highway or freeway. It can be part of an interchange such as the MacArthur Maze or a longer roadway such as the 13 mi Interstate 635 ....
state trunkline highway running along Plainfield Avenue in the Grand Rapids area. It connects I-96/M-37
M-37 (Michigan highway)
M-37 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The southern terminus is near the border between Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties at exit 92 of Interstate 94 southwest of Battle Creek. The northern terminus is at the Mission Point Light on Old Mission Point in Grand...
near Lamberton Lake with M-44 running along East Beltline Avenue near the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
. In between, the highway passes through a commercial area. North of 5 Mile Road, Plainfield Avenue takes on a more suburban residential character. There are more business again at the northern end by Versluis Lake. CONN M-44 was formed in 1969 when the US 131 freeway was completed from I-96/M-37 to 14 Mile Road near Rockford. US 131 along Plainfield Avenue was redesignated as CONN M-44 to connect I-96/M-37 with M-44.