M-44 (Michigan highway)

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This article is about the state highway in Michigan; for other uses, see M44
A road sign bearing a diamond enclosing a block M and the number 44
M-44
East Beltline
Length: 37.4 mi[1] (60.19 km)
Formed: 1920
West end: M-11 in Kentwood
Major
junctions:		 M-21 near Grand Rapids

I-96 near East Grand Rapids concurrency ends

CONN M-44 in Plainfield Township
East end: M-66 near Ionia
Counties: Kent, Ionia
Michigan highways
< M-43 US 45 >

M-44 is a 37.4-mile (60.2 km) highway in the western region of the US state of Michigan that 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 cousin highway, Connector M-44, in Plainfield Township. This highway runs concurrently with M-37 between M-11 and I-96.

Contents

[edit] Route description

M-44 starts at the intersection of 28th Street and East Beltline Avenue in Kentwood. 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. This intersection is also the location of the Woodland Mall in Kentwood. For here north, M-37/M-44 runs along a four-lane divided boulevard intersecting M-21 at M-21's western terminus. Just north of this intersection is I-96 exit 38. M-37 leaves East Beltline Avenue and runs long I-96 just east of the I-96/I-196 split. M-44 continues north along East Beltline Avenue. At Plainfield Avenue, it meets CONN M-44 and crosses the Grand River. M-44 turns eastward near Rockford and crosses the Kent/Ionia county line between Grattan and Cooks Corners. There it meets M-91. M-44 continues east through Belding, where it crosses the Flat River, and ends at M-66 north of Ionia.

[edit] History

M-44 was first designated in 1920 beginning at M-13 (later US 131) from Rockford to Belding. Near Orleans, M-44 turned south into town and ended at M-21. The segment near Orleans was realigned to end at M-14 (now M-66) in Woods Corners. M-44 was extended along East Beltine Avenue concurrently with US 131 to end at a junction with US 131/M-11/M-21/M-37 in Grand Rapids. The next year, M-44 was moved along M-21/Fulton Street and then with M-21 to M-11/28th Street when US 131 was moved off East Beltline Avenue to Plainfield Avenue. The M-21 concurrency only lasted until 1964 when M-21 was moved to I-196.

US 131 was moved to the freeway alignment in 1969. The Northland Drive segment of US 131/M-44 was redesignated as 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. The M-44 signs along East Beltline Avenue were removed. The M-44 signs at the route's former western terminus at M-11/28th Street were, however, left in place. Then in 2003 the signs along the East Beltline were restored and the route extended back to its former terminus.[1]

[edit] Major intersections

County Location Mile[2][3] Roads intersected Notes
Kent Kentwood 0.00 M-11 (28th Street) / M-37 south (East Beltline Avenue) Western terminus. M-44 runs concurrently with M-37 north along East Beltline Avenue
East Grand Rapids 3.52 M-21 (Fulton Street) – Lowell Western terminus of M-21
4.21 I-96 / M-37 north M-37 concurrency ends at exit 38
Plainfield Township 10.06
CONN M-44		 Northern terminus of CONN M-44
Ionia Belding 27.86 M-91 north – Greenville Southern terminus of M-91
Ionia 37.4 M-66 – Ionia, Stanton Eastern terminus

[edit] Connector route



CONN M-44
Location Kent County
Length 4.196 mi[3] (6.753 km)
Existed 1969[4]–present

M-44 Connector, or CONN M-44, is a 4.196-mile (6.753 km)[3] connector route running along Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids. It connects I-96/M-37 with M-44 running along East Beltline Avenue. It is signed either as TO I-96 or TO M-44 on maps.

Map of CONN M-44

[edit] History

CONN M-44 was formed on October 29, 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.

[edit] Major intersections

The entire route is in Kent County.

Location Mile[3] Roads intersected Notes
Grand Rapids 0.000 I-96 / M-37 Southern terminus; Exit 33
Plainfield Township 4.196 M-44.svg M-44 Northern terminus

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Michigan Highways: Highways 40 through 49 Christopher J. Bessert. URL accessed Sep 8 2006.
  2. ^ "MiGDL - Center for Geographic Information - Geographic Data Library". Michigan Department of Information Technology. May 2007. http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/?rel=thext&action=thmname&cid=14&cat=MI+Geographic+Framework+All+Roads+%28v7b%29. Retrieved February 25, 2008. 
  3. ^ a b c d "Control Section/Physical Reference Atlas". Michigan Department of Transportation. 2001. http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/maps/pr/. Retrieved January 25, 2008. 
  4. ^ Michigan Highways: Business Connections 32 through 94. Bessert, Christopher J. URL Accessed 19 September 2006.
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