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M-3 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-3 is a north–south state highway
in the US state of Michigan
in the Detroit metropolitan
area. For most of its length, M-3 is known as Gratiot Avenue. Locals pronounce the street name ˈɡræʃɨt.
, Grand River
, and Jefferson
) planned by Judge Augustus Woodward in 1805 that extend from downtown Detroit in differing directions. Gratiot runs northeast from downtown and extends into Macomb County
.
The total length of the route is approximately 29 miles (46 km). The road passes through Detroit, Eastpointe
, Roseville
, Clinton Township
, Mount Clemens
, and Chesterfield Township. For much of the way it runs more or less parallel with M-97
to the north and with Interstate 94
to the south.
and U.S.
routes), the original M-3 became M-39
. Since M-39 was moved to Southfield Road in 1959, Schaefer Highway has been a locally maintained road.
Gratiot Avenue, then also called "the Gratiot road," was established in 1835 as the road leading to Fort Gratiot
near Port Huron, which was in turn named for Colonel Charles Gratiot
, an engineer with Harrison's army in the War of 1812.
Originally bearing M-19
for its entire length from Detroit to Port Huron, Gratiot Avenue was redesignated as part of U.S. 25, while M-19 was relocated westward, connecting Yale
with U.S. 25/Gratiot Avenue at the village of Muttonville (now part of Richmond
), just north of 31 Mile Road. In 1963, the portion of U.S. 25 north of 23 Mile Road was turned over to local control as U.S. 25 was routed over the newly-constructed I-94 freeway, with the exception of the stretch between New Haven
and Muttonville, which was again designated M-19 as an extension of that route.
for most of its length through Michigan and Ohio
, was truncated at Cincinnati. Following the trend of M-1
being established for Woodward Avenue (former U.S. 10), the former U.S. 25 portion of Gratiot was designated M-3, along with a southwestern extension down Fort Street to Clark Avenue (I-75 exit 47A). This provided an international connection via the Ambassador Bridge
to Ontario
's Highway 3
. In 2001, a series of exchanges between MDOT and the City of Detroit resulted in the downtown portion of M-3 being broken up; the Fort Street portion was redesignated as an extension of M-85
, while M-3 was realigned to continue from Gratiot to Randolph Street, where the route ends at an intersection with Jeffersion Avenue (the southern termini of M-10
and unsigned BS I-375). The northern terminus of M-3 remains at I-94 exit 243, 23 Mile Road, in Chesterfield Township
about two miles (3.2 km) west of New Baltimore
. (M-29
connects to the junction from the east.)
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in 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"....
in the Detroit metropolitan
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
area. For most of its length, M-3 is known as Gratiot Avenue. Locals pronounce the street name ˈɡræʃɨt.
Route description
Gratiot is one of five major avenues (along with Woodward, MichiganMichigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue may refer to:* Michigan Avenue * Michigan Avenue , a designation for much of both current and former U.S. Route 12 in Michigan...
, Grand River
Grand River Avenue
US Highway 16 , also called Grand River Avenue for much of its length, is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Before the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the highway had been designated M-16...
, and Jefferson
Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)
Jefferson Avenue is a scenic road along the eastern part of the Detroit metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Michigan. It travels alongside Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake Saint Clair. This road also provides access to many recreational facilities in the area...
) planned by Judge Augustus Woodward in 1805 that extend from downtown Detroit in differing directions. Gratiot runs northeast from downtown and extends into Macomb County
Macomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
.
The total length of the route is approximately 29 miles (46 km). The road passes through Detroit, Eastpointe
Eastpointe, Michigan
Eastpointe is a city in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 34,077. Eastpointe forms a part of the Metro Detroit area. It borders on 8 Mile Road on the northern edge of Detroit.- History :The community was first settled by Irish and German...
, Roseville
Roseville, Michigan
Roseville is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,299...
, Clinton Township
Clinton Charter Township, Michigan
The Charter Township of Clinton, usually referred to as Clinton Township, is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a part of Metro Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 96,796, and is Michigan's most populous township...
, Mount Clemens
Mount Clemens, Michigan
Mount Clemens is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,312. It is the county seat of Macomb County.-Early history:...
, and Chesterfield Township. For much of the way it runs more or less parallel with M-97
M-97 (Michigan highway)
M-97 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs from Detroit to north of Mt. Clemens following Groesbeck Highway. The highway starts south of 7 Mile Road and runs northeasterly through Macomb County suburbs to Hall Road, which takes the place of 20 Mile Road in the Mile...
to the north and with Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
to the south.
Early M-3
The first route to be designated M-3 was Schaefer Highway, running north-south from U.S. 25/Dix Avenue in Melvindale to U.S. 16/Grand River Avenue in western Detroit. When MDOT chose to reserve single-digit M-routes for planned superhighways (which eventually became InterstateInterstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
and U.S.
United States Numbered Highways
The system of United States Numbered Highways is an integrated system of roads and highways in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid...
routes), the original M-3 became M-39
M-39 (Michigan highway)
M-39 is a state highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from Lincoln Park to Southfield. The southern terminus of M-39 is at the corner of Southfield Road and Lafayette Boulevard in Lincoln Park, one block southeast of the junction of I-75 and two blocks northwest of M-85...
. Since M-39 was moved to Southfield Road in 1959, Schaefer Highway has been a locally maintained road.
Gratiot Avenue history
Fort Gratiot
Fort Gratiot was an American stockade fort in Fort Gratiot, Michigan, in Saint Clair County, Michigan.The Army constructed Fort Gratiot in 1814 as an outpost to guard the juncture of the Saint Clair River and Lake Huron. The fort took the name of the engineer supervising its construction, Charles...
near Port Huron, which was in turn named for Colonel Charles Gratiot
Charles Gratiot
Charles Gratiot, Jr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the son of Charles Gratiot, Sr., a fur trader in the Illinois country during the American Revolution, and Victoire Chouteau, who was from an important mercantile family. His father became a wealthy merchant during the early years of St....
, an engineer with Harrison's army in the War of 1812.
Originally bearing M-19
M-19 (Michigan highway)
M-19 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. It begins northeast of Detroit at a junction with I-94 and runs northward to a junction with M-142 just east of Bad Axe in the thumb.-Route description:...
for its entire length from Detroit to Port Huron, Gratiot Avenue was redesignated as part of U.S. 25, while M-19 was relocated westward, connecting Yale
Yale, Michigan
Yale is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,063 at the 2000 census. Yale is considered unofficially as the Bologna Capital of the world, in part due to its . Yale bologna is sold in grocery stores throughout the area. Yale is also home to the Yale...
with U.S. 25/Gratiot Avenue at the village of Muttonville (now part of Richmond
Richmond, Michigan
Richmond is a city on the border between Macomb and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,897 at the 2000 census. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 5,606. Most of the city is located in Macomb County, though there is a small portion in St....
), just north of 31 Mile Road. In 1963, the portion of U.S. 25 north of 23 Mile Road was turned over to local control as U.S. 25 was routed over the newly-constructed I-94 freeway, with the exception of the stretch between New Haven
New Haven, Michigan
New Haven is a village in Lenox Township, Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,071 at the 2000 census. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 5,132.-Geography:...
and Muttonville, which was again designated M-19 as an extension of that route.
Modern route
M-3 returned to existence in 1973, when U.S. 25, now paralleling I-94 and I-75Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
for most of its length through Michigan and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, was truncated at Cincinnati. Following the trend of M-1
M-1 (Michigan highway)
M-1, commonly known as Woodward Avenue, named for Augustus B. Woodward, is a north–south state trunkline in the US state of Michigan. Until a few years ago, the northern terminus of M-1 was at BL I-75 and BUS US 24 in Bloomfield Township between the city limits of Bloomfield Hills and...
being established for Woodward Avenue (former U.S. 10), the former U.S. 25 portion of Gratiot was designated M-3, along with a southwestern extension down Fort Street to Clark Avenue (I-75 exit 47A). This provided an international connection via the Ambassador Bridge
Ambassador Bridge
The Ambassador Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, in the United States, with Windsor, Ontario, in Canada. It is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume: more than 25 percent of all merchandise trade between the United States...
to Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
's Highway 3
Highway 3 (Ontario)
King's Highway 3, commonly referred to as Highway 3 and historically as the Talbot Trail, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario which travels parallel to the shore of Lake Erie. It has three segments, the first of which runs from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor...
. In 2001, a series of exchanges between MDOT and the City of Detroit resulted in the downtown portion of M-3 being broken up; the Fort Street portion was redesignated as an extension of M-85
M-85 (Michigan highway)
M-85, also known as Fort Street or Fort Road for its entire length, is a state highway route in the U.S. state of Michigan.In Detroit proper, M-85 consists of West Fort street and South Fort street...
, while M-3 was realigned to continue from Gratiot to Randolph Street, where the route ends at an intersection with Jeffersion Avenue (the southern termini of M-10
M-10 (Michigan highway)
M-10, is a state trunkline route in the US state of Michigan. The southernmost portion follows Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit, and the southern terminus is at the intersection of Jefferson and Randolph Street leading to the entrance to the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel...
and unsigned BS I-375). The northern terminus of M-3 remains at I-94 exit 243, 23 Mile Road, in Chesterfield Township
Chesterfield Township, Michigan
Chesterfield Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 37,405. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 44,612. The township was organized in 1842, formed out of a portion of Macomb Township...
about two miles (3.2 km) west of New Baltimore
New Baltimore, Michigan
New Baltimore is a city and coastal resort community in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,405 at the 2000 census. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 11,346. New Baltimore is in Metropolitan Detroit....
. (M-29
M-29 (Michigan highway)
M-29 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs in a south–north direction from Chesterfield Township to Marysville. It generally runs along the shore of Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River....
connects to the junction from the east.)