M-49 (Michigan highway)

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. At one point, M-49 briefly runs concurrently with US Highway 12 (US 12).

M-49
M-49 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDOT
Length25.480 mi[1] (41.006 km)
Existed1930[2][3]–present
Major junctions
South end SR 49 at the Ohio state line
  US 12 in Allen
North end M-99 in Litchfield
Location
CountiesHillsdale
Highway system
← M-48→ M-50

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 tripoint 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,[4][5] the highway crosses a branch of the Indiana Northeastern Railroad on the south side of Reading.[6] 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 (41.0 km) north of the state line.[4][5] No part of the highway has been listed on the National Highway System,[7] a system of highways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[8]

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.[2][3] The second version of M-120 ran concurrently with M-49 on this section of Territorial Road starting in 1939.[9][10] This concurrency was removed in late 1946 or early 1947 when M-49 was realigned to smooth out the corners in the roadway at M-120.[11][12] 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.[4]

Major intersections

The entire highway is in Hillsdale County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Camden Township0.0000.000 SR 49 south – EdgertonOhio state line
Allen Township18.56029.869 US 12 east – YpsilantiEastern end of US 12 concurrency
Allen19.08530.714 US 12 west – ColdwaterWestern end of US 12 concurrency
Litchfield25.48041.006 M-99 – Albion, Hillsdale
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also
  •  Michigan Highways portal

References
  1. Michigan Department of Transportation & Michigan Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships (2009). MDOT Physical Reference Finder Application (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  2. Michigan State Highway Department & H.M. Gousha (July 1, 1930). Official Highway Service Map (Map). [c. 1:810,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. OCLC 12701195, 79754957.
  3. Michigan State Highway Department & H.M. Gousha (November 1, 1930). Official Highway Service Map (Map). [c. 1:810,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. OCLC 12701195, 79754957.
  4. Michigan Department of Transportation (2010). Uniquely Michigan: Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:975,000. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. §§ M10–N10. OCLC 42778335, 639960603.
  5. Google (February 3, 2011). "Overview Map of M-49" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  6. Michigan Department of Transportation (April 2009). Michigan's Railroad System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  7. Michigan Department of Transportation (April 23, 2006). National Highway System, Michigan (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  8. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  9. Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (April 15, 1939). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Summer ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N10. OCLC 12701143.
  10. Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1939). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N10. OCLC 12701143. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  11. Michigan State Highway Department (July 1, 1946). Michigan Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N10. OCLC 12701120, 613361131. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  12. Michigan State Highway Department (May 1, 1947). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N10. OCLC 12701120, 494733404.

KML is from Wikidata
  • M-49 at Michigan Highways
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