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M-49 (Michigan highway)
Encyclopedia
M-49 is a north–south state trunkline highway
in the south-central portion of the US state of Michigan
. It runs from the Ohio
state line north to Litchfield
through rural Hillsdale County
. M-49 is the only Michigan highway in which the road crossing into another state has the same state highway number. M-49 continues as State Route 49 (SR 49), near the Indiana–Michigan–Ohio tripoint south of Camden
. The highway dates back to 1930 and was only altered once in the 1940s. M-49 runs through Southern Michigan
farmlands connecting several small towns along its path.
with Indiana and Ohio. Running north through rural Hillsdale County, the roadway follows Edon Road through farm land. The highway follows two sweeping curves to cross Territorial Road and continue into the village of Camden. M-49 follows Main Street through town and turns northeasterly on the north side of the village on the way to Reading
. Returning to a due-north course, the highway crosses a branch of the Indiana Northeastern Railroad
on the south side of Reading. The Edon Road name gives way to Main Street through the city. M-49 runs north out of Reading, once again called Edon Road, through farm lands dotted with occasional trees. At Weston Road on the southeast side of Allen
, the highway turns to the northeast to a junction with US 12 (Chicago Road). M-49 turns west along US 12, running concurrently
into the village. M-49 resumes its northerly course at Railroad Street, separating from US 12 in the process. Outside of town, the roadway changes names to Allen Road, and through more Southern Michigan farmland, M-49 runs north to Genesee Road. The highway turns east on Genesee to Anderson Road, and then north to Litchfield. Crossing into that city, M-49 follows Chicago Street to the intersection with M-99 downtown. At that junction, M-49 terminates nearly 25.5 miles (41 km) north of the state line. No part of the highway has been listed on the National Highway System
, a system of highways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
ran concurrently with M-49 on this section of Territorial Road starting in 1939. This concurrency was removed in late 1946 or early 1947 when M-49 was realigned to smooth out the corners in the roadway a M-120. The routing of M-49 has remained the same since. It is currently the only state highway that connects with a like-numbered state highway from another state. The only other highways in Michigan to share a number with a cross-border connection are components of the Interstate Highway System
or the United States Numbered Highways
.
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 south-central portion 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"....
. It runs from the 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...
state line north to Litchfield
Litchfield, Michigan
Litchfield is a city in Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,458 at the 2000 census.Litchfield Township surrounds the city, but the two are autonomous municipalities.-Geography:...
through rural Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,527 people, 17,335 households, and 12,550 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 20,189 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
. M-49 is the only Michigan highway in which the road crossing into another state has the same state highway number. M-49 continues as State Route 49 (SR 49), near the Indiana–Michigan–Ohio tripoint south of Camden
Camden, Michigan
Camden is a village in Camden Township, Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 550 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
. The highway dates back to 1930 and was only altered once in the 1940s. M-49 runs through Southern Michigan
Southern Michigan
Southern Michigan is a loosely defined geographic area of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan may be referred to as a sub-region or component area to the larger geographic regions of Central Michigan, West Michigan, and Southeast Michigan.Southern Michigan is a...
farmlands connecting several small towns along its path.
Route description
M-49 starts as the continuation of SR 49 into Michigan from Ohio. The highway crosses the state line south of Camden east of the tripointTripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
with Indiana and Ohio. Running north through rural Hillsdale County, the roadway follows Edon Road through farm land. The highway follows two sweeping curves to cross Territorial Road and continue into the village of Camden. M-49 follows Main Street through town and turns northeasterly on the north side of the village on the way to Reading
Reading, Michigan
Reading is a city in Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,134 at the 2000 census.The city is situated within Reading Township on M-49, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
. Returning to a due-north course, the highway crosses a branch of the Indiana Northeastern Railroad
Indiana Northeastern Railroad
Indiana Northeastern Railroad is a short-line railroad operating in northeastern Indiana, northwestern Ohio and southern Michigan.-Routes:In northeastern Indiana, the INR operates a line that runs along the southern edge of Steuben County from South Milford east through Ashley, Steubenville and...
on the south side of Reading. The Edon Road name gives way to Main Street through the city. M-49 runs north out of Reading, once again called Edon Road, through farm lands dotted with occasional trees. At Weston Road on the southeast side of Allen
Allen, Michigan
Allen is a village in Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 225.The village is within Allen Township at the junction of US 12 and M-49.- History :...
, the highway turns to the northeast to a junction with US 12 (Chicago Road). M-49 turns west along US 12, running concurrently
Concurrency (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...
into the village. M-49 resumes its northerly course at Railroad Street, separating from US 12 in the process. Outside of town, the roadway changes names to Allen Road, and through more Southern Michigan farmland, M-49 runs north to Genesee Road. The highway turns east on Genesee to Anderson Road, and then north to Litchfield. Crossing into that city, M-49 follows Chicago Street to the intersection with M-99 downtown. At that junction, M-49 terminates nearly 25.5 miles (41 km) north of the state line. No part of the highway has been listed on 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...
, a system of highways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
History
M-49 was added to the state highway system in 1930, running along its current routing between M-9 (now M-99) in Litchfield and the Ohio state line south of Camden. Near the state line, the highway jogged along Territorial Road for a short distance to make the connection with the continuation of SR 49. The second version of M-120M-120 (Michigan highway)
M-120 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan in the southwest Lower Peninsula. The highway runs northeast from Muskegon to Hesperia. In between, the road passes through suburban Muskegon, forests and farmland...
ran concurrently with M-49 on this section of Territorial Road starting in 1939. This concurrency was removed in late 1946 or early 1947 when M-49 was realigned to smooth out the corners in the roadway a M-120. The routing of M-49 has remained the same since. It is currently the only state highway that connects with a like-numbered state highway from another state. The only other highways in Michigan to share a number with a cross-border connection are components of the Interstate Highway System
Interstate 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...
or the United States Numbered Highways
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...
.