M-216 (Michigan highway)

M-216 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that serves as a connector route between M-40 at Marcellus and US Highway 131 (US 131). The highway runs through a rural area of the southwestern part of the state. It has been a part of the highway system since 1935; the current form of the roadway was finalized in 1939. Between 2,400 and 3,900 vehicles use the highway each day on average.

M-216 marker

M-216

M-216 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDOT
Length9.379 mi[1] (15.094 km)
Existed1935[2]–present
Major junctions
West end M-40 in Marcellus
East end US 131 near Moorepark
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesCass, St. Joseph
Highway system
← M-214→ M-217

Route description

M-216 begins at a junction with M-40 in the village of Marcellus to the southwest of Kalamazoo.[3] The highway follows Main Street eastward in the village,[4] crossing a branch line of the Canadian National Railway.[5] East of town, M-216 passes through farm fields and jogs to the south around Lewis Lake. The highway runs along Marcellus Road through the rural landscape that is a mix of farm fields and woods. The trunkline crosses the Cass – St. Joseph county line before running through the unincorporated community of Howardsville in Flowerfield Township. After passing by the Pine View Golf Club, the road comes to its end at US 131.[3][4]

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) maintains M-216 like other state highways in Michigan. As a part of these maintenance responsibilities, the department tracks the volume of traffic that uses the roadways under its jurisdiction. These volumes are expressed using a metric called annual average daily traffic, which is a statistical calculation of the average daily number of vehicles on a segment of roadway. MDOT's surveys in 2009 showed that the highest traffic levels along M-216 were the 3,853 vehicles daily in the village of Marcellus; the lowest counts were the 2,421 vehicles immediately east of town.[6] No section of M-216 has been listed on the National Highway System,[7] a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.[8]

History

M-216 has existed in its current location since its creation in 1935.[2] Two sets of changes to the roadway were made in the late 1930s. The first came in late 1938 when a new 0.7-mile (1.1 km) long segment was newly built to replace an 0.9-mile (1.4 km) segment which contained sharp turns.[9][10] In 1939, the road paving was completed.[11][12] Since then, the road has existed on its current alignment.[3]

Major intersections
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
CassMarcellus0.0000.000 M-40 – Paw Paw
St. JosephPark Township9.37915.094 US 131 – Three Rivers, Kalamazoo
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. Michigan Department of Transportation (2021). Next Generation PR Finder (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (May 15, 1935). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ N8–N9. OCLC 12701143.
  3. Michigan Department of Transportation (2010). Uniquely Michigan: Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:975,000. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. § N8–N9. OCLC 42778335, 639960603.
  4. Google (June 2, 2011). "Overview Map of M-216" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  5. Michigan Department of Transportation (April 2009). Michigan's Railroad System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  6. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2008). "Traffic Monitoring Information System". Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  7. Michigan Department of Transportation (April 23, 2006). National Highway System, Michigan (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2012. 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. Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (May 1, 1938). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Spring ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ N8–N9. OCLC 12701143. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  10. Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1938). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ N8–N9. OCLC 12701143. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  11. Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (April 15, 1939). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Summer ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ N8–N9. OCLC 12701143.
  12. Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (December 1, 1939). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Winter ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ N8–N9. OCLC 12701143. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
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  • M-216 at Michigan Highways

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