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M-51 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-51, is a north–south state trunkline highway
in the southwestern portion of the US state of Michigan
. The northern terminus is on I-94
west of Paw Paw
, where it continues north for less than a mile to W Red Arrow Highway as Van Buren CR 671, and the southern terminus is at the Indiana
state line between Niles
and South Bend, Indiana
, where it continues as State Road 933
. The total length is 40.33 miles (64.9 km).
where it then runs north before bending to run almost due east toward Decatur
, after which is heads due north to I-94.
M-51 is in fact a designation of what used to be two different highways. Until the 1960s the route north of Niles was known as M-40
until M-40 was diverted to its current route south of Paw Paw. Until the 1990s, the segment between Niles and the Indiana state line was known as US 33
before US 33 was deleted northwest of Elkhart, Indiana
. Earlier, it had also been designated as US 31
before the St. Joseph Valley Parkway
was built west of Niles. The segment of old US 31 and US 33 in Michigan south of Niles became M-51 in April 1998.
to M-83
(now M-142
) west of Harbor Beach
. The designation of M-51 from Port Huron to M-46
(Carsonville
) was removed, and the remainder of it to M-142
was removed in the mid 1960s.
In early 2010, the central section of BUS US 12 was transferred to the City of Niles. In doing so, the BUS US 12 designation was decommissioned in the city, removing that designation from the M-51 concurrency.
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 southwestern portion 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"....
. The northern terminus is on 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...
west of Paw Paw
Paw Paw, Michigan
Paw Paw is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 3,363. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.-Overview:...
, where it continues north for less than a mile to W Red Arrow Highway as Van Buren CR 671, and the southern terminus is at the 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...
state line between Niles
Niles, Michigan
Niles is a city in Berrien and Cass counties in the U.S. state of Michigan, near South Bend, Indiana. The population was 11,600 at the 2010 census. It is the greater populated of two principal cities of and included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
and South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, where it continues as State Road 933
State Road 933 (Indiana)
State Road 933 is a 900-series state highway in the U.S. state of Indiana, consisting of the former U.S. Route 33 within Indiana, north of the St. Joseph Valley Parkway .-Route description:...
. The total length is 40.33 miles (64.9 km).
Route description
M-51 starts at the state line as a continuation of SR 933 into Michigan. The trunkline runs north to Niles. From Niles, it angles northeast toward DowagiacDowagiac, Michigan
Dowagiac is a city in Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,147 at the 2000 census. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
where it then runs north before bending to run almost due east toward Decatur
Decatur, Michigan
Decatur is a village in Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,838 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Decatur Township...
, after which is heads due north to I-94.
M-51 is in fact a designation of what used to be two different highways. Until the 1960s the route north of Niles was known as M-40
M-40 (Michigan highway)
M-40 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway runs from US Highway 12 near the Indiana state line in Porter Township north through Paw Paw and Allegan to end in the outskirts of Holland...
until M-40 was diverted to its current route south of Paw Paw. Until the 1990s, the segment between Niles and the Indiana state line was known as US 33
U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 is a United States federal highway that runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en route. Although most odd-numbered U.S...
before US 33 was deleted northwest of Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
. Earlier, it had also been designated as US 31
U.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...
before the St. Joseph Valley Parkway
St. Joseph Valley Parkway
The St. Joseph Valley Parkway is a freeway in the U.S. states of Indiana and Michigan, serving as a bypass route around Elkhart, Mishawaka, and South Bend in Indiana and Niles in Michigan. The freeway runs to the south and west of Elkhart and South Bend and Niles and consists of segments of U.S...
was built west of Niles. The segment of old US 31 and US 33 in Michigan south of Niles became M-51 in April 1998.
History
M-51 was originally designated from Port HuronPort 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,...
to M-83
M-83 (Michigan highway)
M-83 is a state trunkline in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan primarily serving as a link between I-75/US 23 and the Bavarian themed town of Frankenmuth known for Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, Zehnder's and the Bavarian Inn.-Route description:...
(now M-142
M-142 (Michigan highway)
M-142 is a state trunkline highway in the Thumb region of the US state of Michigan. It is a "trans-peninsular" route in that it travels from Bay Port on Saginaw Bay to Harbor Beach on Lake Huron, thereby crossing the thumb peninsula.-Route description:...
) west of Harbor Beach
Harbor Beach, Michigan
Harbor Beach is a city in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,837 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 1,587 in 2009.-Geography:...
. The designation of M-51 from Port Huron to M-46
M-46 (Michigan highway)
M-46 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan between Muskegon and Port Sanilac, terminating near Lake Michigan and Lake Huron on each end. Except for the north–south segment that corresponds with the US Highway 131 freeway between Cedar Springs and Howard City, M-46 is...
(Carsonville
Carsonville, Michigan
Carsonville is a village in Sanilac County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 502. The village is situated at on the boundary between Bridgehampton Township and Washington Township, with about half the village in each.The village began with a store...
) was removed, and the remainder of it to M-142
M-142 (Michigan highway)
M-142 is a state trunkline highway in the Thumb region of the US state of Michigan. It is a "trans-peninsular" route in that it travels from Bay Port on Saginaw Bay to Harbor Beach on Lake Huron, thereby crossing the thumb peninsula.-Route description:...
was removed in the mid 1960s.
In early 2010, the central section of BUS US 12 was transferred to the City of Niles. In doing so, the BUS US 12 designation was decommissioned in the city, removing that designation from the M-51 concurrency.