M-239 (Michigan highway)

M-239 marker

M-239
Route information
Maintained by MDOT
Length: 1.136 mi[1] (1.828 km)
Existed: 1963[2][3] – present
Major junctions
South end: SR 39 south of New Buffalo
North end: I‑94 near New Buffalo
Location
Counties: Berrien
Highway system
← M‑231M‑247 →

M-239 is a north–south state trunkline highway in Berrien County in the extreme southwestern corner of the US state of Michigan connecting State Road 39 (SR 39) in Indiana to Interstate 94 (I-94). The highway was designated in 1963, and it provided the only connection from the southern end of I-94 into Indiana until 1972.

Route description

As SR 39 crosses into Michigan it becomes M-239. As soon as it crosses the border, the road curves around to the northwest where it continues through a generally rural area. The trunkline intersects Wilson Road and passes next to a commercial development. After a little over a mile (1.8 km), the road comes to its northern terminus at an interchange with I-94 at exit 1. While M-239 officially ends at the interchange, the roadway, known as Harbor Country Drive, continues on to the northwest where it heads into New Buffalo.[4][5] Like other state highways in Michigan, M-239 is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). In 2011, the department's traffic surveys showed that on average, 6,231 vehicles used the highway daily.[6] No section of M-239 is listed on the National Highway System,[7] a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.[8]

History

M-239 always ended at I-94, even though Harbor Country Drive continues into New Buffalo. Before completion of the Indiana portion of I-94, the freeway ended at the present exit 1. A 1.1-mile-long (1.8 km) stretch of LaPorte Road[lower-alpha 1] was designated as M-239 in 1963 to carry traffic to SR 39, which connects to the Indiana Toll Road.[2][3] Until 1972, when Indiana constructed their section of I-94, M-239 and SR 39 were the only connection from the southern end of I-94 in Michigan across the state line.[10][11]

Major intersections

The entire highway is in New Buffalo Township, Berrien County.

mi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
0.0000.000 SR 39 – La Porte, Indiana Toll RoadIndiana state line
1.1361.828 I‑94 – Detroit, Chicago
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ LaPorte Road was renamed to Harbor Country Drive in 2009.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Michigan Department of Transportation & Michigan Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships (2009). MDOT Physical Reference Finder Application (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Michigan State Highway Department (1963). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N7.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Michigan State Highway Department (1964). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N7. OCLC 81213707.
  4. ↑ Michigan Department of Transportation (2012). Pure Michigan: State Transportation Map (Map). 1 in≈15 mi / 1 cm≈9 km. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. § N7. OCLC 794857350.
  5. ↑ Google (July 2, 2012). "Overview Map of M-239" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2008). "Traffic Monitoring Information System". Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  7. ↑ Michigan Department of Transportation (April 23, 2006). National Highway System, Michigan (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. 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. ↑ Gudas, Ray (January 31, 2009). "'Gateway' to Area Laporte Road Renamed to Promote Idea of Harbor Country Region". The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph, MI). Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ Michigan Department of State Highways (1972). Official Highway Map (Map). 1 in≈14.5 mi. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § N7.
  11. ↑ Michigan Department of State Highways (1973). Official Highway Map (Map). 1 in≈14.5 mi. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § N7. OCLC 81679137.

External links

Route map: Bing