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M-42 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-42 is a rural state trunkline highway
in the U.S. state of Michigan
. It is located in the northwestern Lower Peninsula
of the state. Along its route, M-42 begins in Manton
and ends north of Lake City
, some 10.356 miles (16.666 km) apart. The highway used to run much farther. Former termini included the Traverse City
area from 1919 until 1940 and Mesick
from 1940 until 2007.
designated with BUS US 131 along Seventh Street. It runs east along Seventh Street to a folded diamond interchange at Exit 191 on US 131 east of downtown. Continuing east, it is known as North 16½ Road until it crosses the Wexford
–Missaukee
county line at Seeley Road approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) east of the freeway. Here the road name changes to Mike and Tony Road before M-42 curves southeasterly crossing Morrisy Creek on West Walker Road. East of the unincorporated community of Arlene the highway turns ninety degrees to the south off Walker Road before angling southeasterly skirting the edge of some hills near Dyer Lake just west of M-66
. The road turns back due east between Al Moses Road and M-66, where it ends north of Lake City. No section of the trunkline is part of the National Highway System
.
in Manton and ran due west to Mesick. From there the highway turned north and met M-11
at Chums Corners. M-11/M-42 ran concurrently northward into the City of Traverse City where M-42 ended. By May 1929, M-42 was extended east to connect to Lake City. The highway was further extended before 1936 up the Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City. In the latter half of 1940, the M-37 designation replace M-42 north of Mesick through Traverse City to Old Mission. The last sections of highway were paved in late 1951 and early 1952.
In 2007, the stretch of M-42 between M-37
and US 131
along 16 Road was transferred to the Wexford County Road Commission. This change shortened the highway from 25.255 miles (40.644 km) to 10.356 miles (16.666 km). The section of transferred highway in Wexford County
was labeled as "flexible pavements" on the 2006 MDOT Truck Operators Map. This classification meant truck traffic on the roadway was subject to weight and load restrictions during spring. This classification is unlike the other highways in the county and surrounding area which were marked as "all-weather highways" and would not carry such restrictions.
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 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...
of the state. Along its route, M-42 begins in Manton
Manton, Michigan
Manton is a city in Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,221 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....
and ends north of Lake City
Lake City, Michigan
Lake City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 836. Known as the "Christmas Tree Capital", it is the county seat of Missaukee County.-Geography:...
, some 10.356 miles (16.666 km) apart. The highway used to run much farther. Former termini included the Traverse City
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
area from 1919 until 1940 and Mesick
Mesick, Michigan
Mesick is a village in Springville Township, Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 447 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
from 1940 until 2007.
Route description
M-42 is a rural, two-lane highway connecting Manton and Lake City. It runs through wooded terrain on gently rolling hills. Between the western terminus at Michigan Avenue and the US 131 freeway in Manton, M-42 is concurrentlyConcurrency (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...
designated with BUS US 131 along Seventh Street. It runs east along Seventh Street to a folded diamond interchange at Exit 191 on US 131 east of downtown. Continuing east, it is known as North 16½ Road until it crosses the Wexford
Wexford County, Michigan
-Tourism:There are many attractions and hot spots in Wexford county to check out. The Manistee National Forest is a great recreation site. The Manistee River is great for fisherman, kayakers and canoers, and other outdoor lovers.-Demographics:...
–Missaukee
Missaukee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,478 people, 5,450 households, and 4,043 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 8,621 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
county line at Seeley Road approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) east of the freeway. Here the road name changes to Mike and Tony Road before M-42 curves southeasterly crossing Morrisy Creek on West Walker Road. East of the unincorporated community of Arlene the highway turns ninety degrees to the south off Walker Road before angling southeasterly skirting the edge of some hills near Dyer Lake just west of 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...
. The road turns back due east between Al Moses Road and M-66, where it ends north of Lake City. No section of the trunkline is part of 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...
.
History
M-42 is an original state trunkline dating back to the 1919 signage of the highway system in Michigan. The original highway routing started 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...
in Manton and ran due west to Mesick. From there the highway turned north and met 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...
at Chums Corners. M-11/M-42 ran concurrently northward into the City of Traverse City where M-42 ended. By May 1929, M-42 was extended east to connect to Lake City. The highway was further extended before 1936 up the Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City. In the latter half of 1940, the M-37 designation replace M-42 north of Mesick through Traverse City to Old Mission. The last sections of highway were paved in late 1951 and early 1952.
In 2007, the stretch of M-42 between 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...
and 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...
along 16 Road was transferred to the Wexford County Road Commission. This change shortened the highway from 25.255 miles (40.644 km) to 10.356 miles (16.666 km). The section of transferred highway in Wexford County
Wexford County, Michigan
-Tourism:There are many attractions and hot spots in Wexford county to check out. The Manistee National Forest is a great recreation site. The Manistee River is great for fisherman, kayakers and canoers, and other outdoor lovers.-Demographics:...
was labeled as "flexible pavements" on the 2006 MDOT Truck Operators Map. This classification meant truck traffic on the roadway was subject to weight and load restrictions during spring. This classification is unlike the other highways in the county and surrounding area which were marked as "all-weather highways" and would not carry such restrictions.