Talk:U.S. Route 131

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I have been looking forward to further freeway extentions of US-131. How come US-131 never got upgraded to full freeway standards (i.e. Interstate Highway standards) even though I-75 reached Mackinaw City with no gap of freeway in only a few decades? --SuperDude 20:00, 17 May 2005 (UTC)

To answer this question: Because of fundamental differences between the two types of highways. I-75 is part of what is called the "Interstate Highway System," which was a system conceived in the late-1950s to connect all major cities and border points in the U.S. It was funded primarily by the federal government and, as such, the entire system was laid out and plans were conceived for its completion. I-75 runs from Miami, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and, since the highway is part of the Interstate system, it was constructed along with the rest of the system. US-131, on the other hand, is not on the Interstate system and, as such, there is no mandate to build/convert every mile of US Highway to freeway standards as there is with the Interstates. It's much more of an "as-needed" basis or, in today's budgetary and bureaucratic (not necessarily a bad thing, but can be) environment, these routes are built on an "as-needed/when money and political support is available" basis. So, there is no justification for US-131 to be freeway all the way to I-75 based on traffic counts and there is certainly no money available for such a project at this time. Hope that answers the question... CBessert 15:08, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Revisions

I went through the US-131 article and many many corrections and revisions, though I wanted to explain some of them here in case anyone was curious:

US-131's length in Indiana (rounded) is 0.7 mile.
I added the section noting that US-131 has NEVER extended past its current terminus to US-20, US-31 or anywhere for that matter. (I noted that until 1959, it didn't even enter the State of Indiana at all!) There have been no official proposals or requests to do this either. Thus, this statement is false and should not be included.
Corrected the length of US-131 in Michigan to match official sources.
Noted that the freeway extension north of Manton has been officially shelved by MDOT; only spot improvements and upgrades to the corridor are planned by MDOT. This occurred several years ago and no northerly extension is imminent or even in the planning stages. Also added the recent back-and-forth regarding any proposed southerly extension toward Indiana, although this improvement may come in the future.
Corrected the "lane configurations" section. (US-131 is not on four-lane right-of-way south of Three Rivers or north of Manton for the most part.) Changed the format to the number of total lanes and whether or not the highway is divided as this is a more concise method.
Other minor corrections and grammatical improvements.

CBessert 14:42, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

As late as the mid-1960s, US 131 extended at least as far south as Middlebury, according to at least one map along what is now Indiana 13. It has been truncated at or near the Indiana Toll Road since 1967. That is not to say that the map is not in error.

... If the section between Schoolcraft and the Indiana Toll Road were to be upgraded to a freeway, it might sensibly be designated as part of the Interstate system, possibly as a spur route of Interstate 90. It would be a very long spur, and it would certainly not be a loop route. --66.231.41.57 04:21, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

First, US-131 has NEVER existed south of the Indiana East-West Toll Road. Ever. This is according to both the Indiana Department of Transportation and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) -- the two entities responsibile for signing and approving changes to highways such as this. AASHTO is responsible for any additions, changes and deletions from the system and InDOT actually petitions AASHTO for those types of changes within the state. Thus, that one map is, indeed, in error and is most definitely not an official source.

Second, as to US-131's impending addition to the Interstate system... Don't hold your breath... for MANY reasons. First, the current proposals for upgrading US-131 through St Joseph Co (Michigan) are NOT for an Interstate-grade freeway, but a two-lane limited-access "expressway" with crossroads and some interchanges, which cannot be designated as part of the Interstate system. Even if the Portage-Indiana route were built to full freeway standards, there are many parts of the rest of US-131 in Michigan which do not meet current Interstate standards. In addition, the Michigan Department of Transportation has historically (and to this day) not been overly interested in applying for Interstate designations for every stretch of freeway in the state. In fact, the portions of US-131 that ARE at Interstate grade have never been considered for inclusion as an Interstate. All of these reasons combined point to US-131 not becoming an Interstate, likely ever. CBessert 04:31, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Which coincidently enough, that particular 20 mile extension was just agreed upon by Governor Granholm and state lawmakers. KelleyCook 17:52, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

I would be interested in hearing of such a deal. There has been nothing of the sort in any news media (newspapers, television, etc.) to that extent. In fact, a February 16, 2006 news article in the Kalamazoo Gazette noted that a decision may come on March 22nd... possibly. If there is any evidence that supports the fact that the Governor, MDOT or legislators have come to such an agreement, please share! CBessert 04:31, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

I removed the following statement that "Nintendude" added to the article because it had no basis in fact (and, grammatically, it had problems as well): "There has been plans to redesignate U.S. 131 between Grand Rapids and where it will possibly connect to I-75 as Interstate 67 as much of U.S. 131 is up to Interstate highway standards." Indeed, this statement contracts other statements in the article which state MDOT is NOT persuing an Interstate designation for the corridor -- it never has and there is no indication it ever will. Please do not make up information that is not true. Thanks. CBessert 06:51, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

Since somebody brought it up I personally would like to have the current US 31 in Indiana from I 80 to Indapolis built to interstate standards and then connect it to US 131 provided US 131 becomes a freeway from Manton to Petoskey. I would then label it Interstate 65. Then I would take the current Indiapolis to Gary I 65 and name it I 63 and have it ride shot gun on I 80 to its merger with the current US 31 and with the extensions currently planned have it go from South Bend to Ludingtion US 31 be consigned as I 63 with a possible shortening of US 31 with a merger to US 131 around Kalkaska and maybe extended further east to Grayling. The rest of US 31 north of Traverse City would be M 31. With the remaining distance of future I 65 be built to with a merger with I 75 going directly east of Petoskey. --Mihsfbstadium 14:11, 27 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Some stuff that I added.

This is just stuff I plan on adding in the near future. I just want to allow everybody a chance to contribute thier knowledge as well so its not just me doing it all. Although I could care less.--Mihsfbstadium 14:59, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Exit list

There isn't a CDH with the B-92 designation at all. Exit 142 needs to be corrected. Also, while MDOT might technically put the BR suffix on a route, the signs all use BUS US 131 normally. Ditto with BS I-196/BL 196, etc. Is there an easy way to alter the templates used to fix this order to the lay/sign usage, not the "technical" planning document usage that the average motorist would find slightly foreign?Imzadi1979 06:03, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, technically the signs don't say "US" or "I" either. As far as I can tell, BS/BL/BR is the most common abbreviation. Sorry about exit 142 - that should have read B-96. --NE2 06:17, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

No, but Interstate is spelled out yet on the shields, and US used to be listed on those shields as well. The most common lay abbreviation is BUS US 131 and BL I-196 (Also Sault Ste. Marie uses a street address name of I-75 Business Spur just to be unique.) I've only ever seen BR used on government documents/MDOT press releases. All references in local media I've ever seen, when not quoting/copying those press releases, were to BUS US ## or BL/BS I-##. Imzadi1979 06:26, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I can't find any newspaper articles (from Google's admittedly incomplete archive) using "BUS US 131", but AAA Michigan uses "US-131 BR". Can you please show me a local media reference to "BUS US 131"? Thank you. --NE2 06:31, 10 October 2007 (UTC)