M-63 (Michigan highway)
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| M-63 |
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| Maintained by MDOT | |||||||||
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| Length: | 16.29 mi[1] (26.22 km) | ||||||||
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| Formed: | 1986 | ||||||||
| South end: |  M-139 at Scottdale |
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| Major junctions: |
  I-94 at St. Joseph |
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| North end: |   I-196/US 31 near Hagar Shores |
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| Counties: | Berrien | ||||||||
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M-63 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Michigan that runs from M-139 (formerly US 31) at Scottdale through the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph to I-196/US 31 at Exit 7 just outside Hagar Shores. All of M-63's routing was part of US 33 before that highway's truncation south of Niles in 1986.
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[edit] Route description
The expressway portion of M-63 is a relic of a now revised plan of a freeway corridor for US 31 through the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area. The highway was significantly reconfigured 2000-2002[2][3], with the overpass over the industrial access road to Whirlpool's warehouse in Benton Harbor and a rail line removed and rebuilt late 2000 through early 2001[4][5], and the only grade-separated interchange at Klock Road demolished and downgraded to an at-grade intersection in 2002[6]. Today, there are only two overpasses over smaller roads existing on this stretch of expressway[1], the northernmost of which is to be rehabilitated in 2008[7].
The expressway portion stretches from inside Benton Harbor to North Shore Drive. The highway is an expressway in its entire length except for a stub of it near where the expressway ends. The US 31 freeway project on this stretch of highway was most likely abandoned due to the nearby construction of I-96, renumbered I-196 in this area.[1]
[edit] History
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
M-63 originally ran from US 131 near Ashton to M-37 until 1961.[1]
[edit] Major intersections
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Michigan Highways: Highways 60 through 69 Christopher J. Bessert. URL Accessed October 28, 2006.
- ^ M-63 - Whirlpool Bridge Replacement & Interchange Improvements. Michigan Department of Transportation (2002-03-30). Archived from the original on 2003-02-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
- ^ Aiken, Scott. "Twin Cities area highway projects on schedule", The Herald-Palladium, 2002-06-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
- ^ Aiken, Scott. "Old bridge won't go 'boom'", The Herald-Palladium, 2000-11-07. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
- ^ Aiken, Scott. "M-63 road work continues", The Herald-Palladium, 2001-01-26. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
- ^ "Traffic in Twin Cities to roll again on Michigan 63 Wednesday", The Herald-Palladium, 2002-07-02. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
- ^ "MDOT will hold public meeting regarding M-63 bridge rehabilitation over Higman Park Road", Michigan Department of Transportation press release, 2008-03-13.
[edit] External links
- M-63 Endpoints Photos
- Michiana Road Photos: "Business Loop 94 and Michigan 63 in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor" - Includes photographs of the former highway configuration in the vicinity of Whirlpool and Klock Road.
