Portal:Michigan highways/Selected article/July 2012

US Highway 131 (US 131) is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles (1.08 of 429.41 km) 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 and becomes a state trunkline highway that runs as a freeway through the metropolitan areas of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. It reverts to a surface highway north of Manton before continuing north to its terminus at Petoskey. It forms an important corridor along the western side of the Lower Peninsula, running through rural farm and forest lands as well as urban cityscapes.

The first state highways along the US 131 corridor were designated as early as 1919. When the US Highway System was formed on November 11, 1926, US 131 was created along the route of M-13. Further changes were made, starting in the 1950s, to convert segments of the road to a full freeway. These improvements were completed by the early 1980s; Cadillac and Manton were bypassed in the early part of the 21st century, resulting in the current freeway configuration. Plans to further extend the freeway have either been canceled or placed back under study. Upgrades in the north ceased to be considered in 2000. South of Three Rivers, MDOT is studying possible upgrades to US 131; the preferred alternative as of 2008 was a two-lane bypass of Constantine. (more...)

Recently added: M-185* Michigan State Trunkline Highway System* M-107