M-44 (Michigan highway)

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This article is about the state highway in Michigan; for other uses, see M44
M-44
East Beltline
Length: 37.4 mi[1] (60.19 km)
Formed: 1920
West end: M-11 in Kentwood concurent with M-37
Major
junctions:		 M-21 near Grand Rapids

I-96 near East Grand Rapids concurrency ends

CONN M-44 in Plainfield Township
East end: M-66 near Ionia
Counties: Kent, Ionia
Michigan highways
< M-43 US-45 >

M-44 is a 37.4-mile (60.2 km) highway in the western region of the U.S. state of Michigan that runs northward from the intersection of M-11, 28th street and M-37 toward the Rockford area. The highway then turns eastward to Belding, and it ends six miles north of Ionia at M-66. M-44 is known in Grand Rapids as the "East Beltline" and intersects with its cousin highway, Connector M-44, in Plainfield Township. This highway runs concurrently and redundantly with M-37 between M-11 and I-96.

Contents

[edit] Route description

M-44 starts at the intersection of 28th Street and East Beltline Avenue in Kentwood. M-11 runs east and west along 28th Street and M-37 runs south along Broadmoor Avenue as the continuation of East Beltline. M-44 and M-37 run together on East Beltline Avenue north. This intersection is also the location of the Woodland Mall in Kentwood. For here north, M-37/M-44 runs along a four-lane divided boulevard intersecting M-21 at M-21's western terminus. Just north of this intersection is I-96 exit 38. M-37 leaves East Beltline Avenue and runs long I-96 just east of the I-96/I-196 split. M-44 continues north along East Beltline Avenue. At Plainfield Avenue, it meets CONN M-44.M-44 turns eastward near Rockford and crosses the county line between Grattan and Cooks Corners. In Belding, M-44 meets M-91 and then ends north of Ionia at M-66.

[edit] History

M-44 was first designated in 1920 beginning at M-13 (later US 131) from Rockford to Belding. Near Orleans, M-44 turned south into town and ended at M-21. The segment near Orleans was realigned to end at M-14 (now M-66) in Woods Corners. M-44 was extended along East Beltine Avenue concurrently with US 131 to end at a junction with US 131/M-11/M-21/M-37 in Grand Rapids. The next year, M-44 was moved along M-21/Fulton Street and then with M-21 to M-11/28th Street when US 131 was moved off East Beltline Avenue to Plainfield Avenue. The M-21 concurrency only lasted until 1964 when M-21 was moved to I-196.

US 131 was moved to the freeway alignment in 1969. The former US 131/M-44 was redesignated as M-44 and the Plainfield Avenue segment became CONN M-44. M-37 was rerouted as well up East Beltline from M-11 along M-44 to I-96. M-44 officially stays on East Beltline as a redundant concurrency until 1977. The signs for M-44 along the M-37/East Beltline Avenue concurrency were removed. They would be replaced in August 2003 as part of a sign rehabilitation.[1]

[edit] Major intersections

County Location Mile[2][3] Roads Notes
Kent Kentwood 0.00 M-11
M-37
28th Street/East Beltline Avenue		 Western terminus. M-44 runs concurrently with M-37 north along East Beltline Avenue
East Grand Rapids 3.52 M-21
Fulton Street		 Western terminus of M-21
4.21 I-96
M-37		 M-37 concurrency ends at exit 38
Plainfield Township 10.06
CONN M-44		  
Ionia Belding 27.86 M-91  
Ionia 37.4 M-66 Eastern terminus
Legend
Crossing, no access Concurrency terminus Deleted Unconstructed Closed


[edit] Connector routes

M-44 Connector
Connector route of the Michigan highway system
Plainfield Avenue
Maintained by MDOT
Formed: 1969[4]
Counties: Kent
Michigan highways

M-44 Connector, or CONN M-44, is a 4.196-mile (6.753 km)[3] connector route running along Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids. It connects I-96/M-37 with M-44 running along East Beltline Avenue. It is signed either as TO I-96 or TO M-44 on maps.

[edit] History

CONN M-44 was formed on 1969-10-29 when the US 131 freeway was completed from I-96/M-37 to 14 Mile Road near Rockford. US 131 along Plainfield Avenue was redesignated as CONN M-44 to connect I-96/M-37 with M-44.

[edit] Major intersections

County Location Mile[3] Roads Notes
Kent Grand Rapids 0.00 I-96
M-37		 Southern terminus; Exit 33
Plainfield Township 4.196 M-44 Northern terminus


[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Michigan Highways: Highways 40 through 49 Christopher J. Bessert. URL accessed Sep 8 2006.
  2. ^ MiGDL - Center for Geographic Information - Geographic Data Library. Michigan Department of Information Technology (May 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
  3. ^ a b c Control Section/Physical Reference Atlas. Michigan Department of Transportation (2001). Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  4. ^ Michigan Highways: Business Connections 32 through 94. Bessert, Christopher J. URL Accessed 19 September 2006.