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M-81 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-81 is a state trunkline in the Lower Peninsula
of the US state of Michigan
that travels from the city of Saginaw
at the junction with M-13
and ends at the junction with M-53
east of Cass City
over the county line in Greenleaf Township
in northwestern Sanilac County
.
and runs east out of Saginaw
running through an interchange with I-75. This is exit 151 along I-75. On the way, M-81 passes through the village of Reese
and then makes a northeastern curve towards the city of Caro
going northeast until it reaches Cass City Road, where it turns and runs directly east again into the village of Cass City
. The slant to M-81 through the city of Caro
creates a rather strange experience for visitors as they arrive. The roads that intersect with M-81 are not aligned in the proper grid-like structure found in most other cities. All of M-81 is a two-lane highway, except for in the city of Saginaw
, where it is a four-lane highway with a center turn lane.
.
Prior to 1971, M-81's western terminus formerly ended at M-47
in western Saginaw Charter Township
. When I-675
was completed through the city, M-81 was scaled back to its present day terminus at M-13.
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...
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"....
that travels from the city of Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
at the junction with M-13
M-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...
and ends at the junction with M-53
M-53 (Michigan highway)
M-53 is a gateway route to The Thumb region of the US state of Michigan, carrying vacationers to the many cottages and resorts located on Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron in the vicinity of Caseville and Port Austin. This highway is also used to transport agricultural and manufactured products from the...
east of Cass City
Cass City, Michigan
Cass City is a village in Tuscola County in the Flint/Tri-Cities area of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,428 at the 2010 U.S. Census and 2,643 at the 2000 U.S. Census . It is located along the M-81 state trunkline approximately 4 miles west of that highway's intersection with M-53...
over the county line in Greenleaf Township
Greenleaf Township, Michigan
Greenleaf Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 804.-Geography:...
in northwestern Sanilac County
Sanilac County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-19* M-25* M-46* M-53* M-81* M-90-History:Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandot chief named Sanilac. See List of Michigan county name etymologies....
.
Route description
M-81 starts at a junction with 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...
and runs east out of Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
running through an interchange with I-75. This is exit 151 along I-75. On the way, M-81 passes through the village of Reese
Reese, Michigan
Reese is a village in Tuscola and Saginaw counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located almost entirely in Tuscola County's Denmark Township, the village includes only a tiny portion of Blumfield Township in Saginaw County...
and then makes a northeastern curve towards the city of Caro
Caro, Michigan
Caro is a city in and the county seat of Tuscola County, Michigan, United States. The population was 4,229 at the 2010 census and 4,145 at the 2000 census ....
going northeast until it reaches Cass City Road, where it turns and runs directly east again into the village of Cass City
Cass City, Michigan
Cass City is a village in Tuscola County in the Flint/Tri-Cities area of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,428 at the 2010 U.S. Census and 2,643 at the 2000 U.S. Census . It is located along the M-81 state trunkline approximately 4 miles west of that highway's intersection with M-53...
. The slant to M-81 through the city of Caro
Caro, Michigan
Caro is a city in and the county seat of Tuscola County, Michigan, United States. The population was 4,229 at the 2010 census and 4,145 at the 2000 census ....
creates a rather strange experience for visitors as they arrive. The roads that intersect with M-81 are not aligned in the proper grid-like structure found in most other cities. All of M-81 is a two-lane highway, except for in the city of Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, where it is a four-lane highway with a center turn lane.
History
When originally formed around 1920, M-81 ran from Reese to Caro. It was extended eastward through Cass City to M-53 in 1922. The initial extension to Saginaw was made in 1926. M-81 would be completely paved in 1946, completing a section between Ellington and Elmwood in Tuscola CountyTuscola County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-15* M-24* M-25* M-46* M-81* M-138-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 58,266 people, 21,454 households, and 15,983 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 23,378 housing units at an average density of 29 per...
.
Prior to 1971, M-81's western terminus formerly ended at M-47
M-47 (Michigan highway)
M-47 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. It runs near Saginaw and Midland in the Tri-Cities area of the Lower Peninsula. The highway runs through suburban and agricultural areas to connect the two cities with the airport in the area. The northernmost section of...
in western Saginaw Charter Township
Saginaw Charter Township, Michigan
Saginaw Charter Township is a charter township of Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 40,840 at the 2010 census. The city of Saginaw is adjacent to the township to the southeast, but is administratively autonomous....
. When I-675
Interstate 675 (Michigan)
Interstate 675 is an Interstate Highway in the US state of Michigan. I-675 is a loop route through downtown Saginaw as I-75 passes on the east side of the city....
was completed through the city, M-81 was scaled back to its present day terminus at M-13.