M-37 (Michigan highway)

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This article is about the state highway in Michigan; for other uses, see M37
M-37
Maintained by MDOT
Length: 221.46 mi[1] (356.41 km)
Formed: 1920
South end: I-94 at Battle Creek
(concurrent with BL I-94 western terminus)
Major
junctions:		 BL I-94/M-37/M-96 at Battle Creek

M-79 at Hastings
I-96/M-37 in Grand Rapids to Comstock Park
M-46 near Casnovia
M-20 in White Cloud
US 10 near Baldwin
M-55 near Cadillac
& M-42 & M-115 in Mesick
US 31/M-37 near Grawn
concurrent until
US 31/M-37/M-72 in Traverse City
North end: Cul-de-sac at Mission Point Lighthouse, Old Mission Peninsula
Michigan highways
< M-36 M-38 >

M-37 is a north-south state highway route in the U.S. state of Michigan. The southern terminus is on the border between Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties at exit 92 of I-94 in the southwest corner of Battle Creek. The northern terminus is at Old Mission Point in Grand Traverse County. The section of M-37 on Old Mission Peninsula was designated a Scenic Heritage Route in June 2007.[1]

The Old Mission Point Lighthouse located at the northern end of M-37 in Old Mission Point
The Old Mission Point Lighthouse located at the northern end of M-37 in Old Mission Point

Contents

[edit] Route description

M-37 goes through Hastings, Grand Rapids, the Manistee National Forest and Traverse City.

M-37 passes through the following counties: Calhoun County, Barry County, Kent County, Muskegon County, Newaygo County, Lake County, Wexford County, and Grand Traverse County.

In Battle Creek, M-37 and Business Loop I-94 follow the same route for a few miles. In Grand Rapids, M-37 and I-96 follow the same route around the northeast side of the city.

The Old Mission Point Lighthouse is located at the northern terminus of M-37, at the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse Bay. It is located just south of the 45th parallel north, midway between the North Pole and the Equator.

[edit] History

A portion of M-37 follows the route of the Muskegon, Grand Traverse and Northport State Road, later changed to the Newaygo and Northport State Road, which was authorized by the state legislature in 1857. It was intended to connect the settlements in Muskegon and Newaygo counties, which at the time were the furthest north on the south side of the "Big Woods", with the growing settlements around the Grand Traverse Bay. Construction progressed slowly and was only opened through Wexford County in 1863 and the bridge over the Manistee River in 1864 at what is now Sherman.

[edit] See also

Hastings-Battle Creek Expressway

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Michigan Highways: Highways 30 through 39 Christopher J. Bessert. URL accessed Sep 1 2006.