M-331 (Michigan highway)

M-331
Westnedge Avenue, Park Street
M-331 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDOT
Length:	3.363 mi[2] (5.412 km)
Existed:	October 1, 1998[1] – present
Major junctions
South end:	Kalamazoo–Portage city line
North end:	BL I-94 / BUS US 131 / M-43 in Kalamazoo
Location
Counties:	Kalamazoo
Highway system
Michigan State Trunkline Highway System Interstate • US • State ← M-311 I-375 →

M-331 is an unsigned state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan located within the city of Kalamazoo. It runs from the southern city limits north into downtown Kalamazoo. This was one of many highways to be established or realigned as a result of a rationalization process initiated in 1998 during the tenure of Governor John Engler. M-331 uses streets in Kalamazoo that were once part of US Highway 131 (US 131) before a freeway was built that bypassed the downtown area.

Route description

M-331 runs along Westnedge Avenue from the intersection of Kilgore Road on the Kalamazoo–Portage city limit near an exit with Interstate 94 (I-94). It runs north from this endpoint, which is unconnected to the rest of the trunkline system, to the vicinity of Crane Park in Kalamazoo along Westnedge Avenue. M-331 runs west of Blanche Hull Park and east of the Kalamazoo Country Club. It also passes immediately next to the Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery. From Crane Park northward, Park Street carries the northbound traffic while Westnedge Avenue is restricted to the southbound traffic. Along this pairing of one-way streets, M-331 passes South Westnedge Park and meets Bronson Park at the intersection of Michigan Avenue (eastbound Business Loop Interstate 94/M-43 and northbound Business US Highway 131) downtown. The M-331 designation ends at Michigan Avenue, and Westnedge Avenue and Park Street continue north as BUS US 131.^[3][4]

History

The current alignment of M-331 was part of the long-time alignment of US 131 before that highway was relocated onto a freeway west of Kalamazoo in the 1960s.^[5][6] The trunkline was designated on October 1, 1998 as part of a rationalization process started by Governor John Engler designed to transfer control of roads and streets in Michigan of economic importance to the state.^[1] The highway is not shown on the official state map published by the Michigan Department of Transportation,^[7] but it is labeled on the truck operator's map as an "unsigned state highway".^[3]

Major intersections

The entire highway is in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County.

Mile[2]	Destinations	Notes
0.000	Kilgore Road	Southern terminus on Kalamazoo–Portage city line
3.363	BL I-94 east / BUS US 131 north / M-43 east (Michigan Avenue)	Northbound traffic follows Park Street & southbound traffic follows Westnedge Avenue
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

Michigan Highways portal

1. ^ ^{a b} "MDOT Accepts Responsibility for 120 Miles of Local Roads" (Press release). Michigan Department of Transportation. September 24, 1998. http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9620_11057-94859--,00.html. Retrieved August 26, 2008. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Michigan Department of Transportation (2001). Control Section/Physical Reference Atlas (Map). http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/maps/pr/. Retrieved January 25, 2008. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Michigan Department of Transportation (2008). Truck Operators Map (Map). 1 in.:4.25 mi./1 cm.:2 km. Kalamazoo inset. 
4. ^ Google, Inc. Google Maps – S Westnedge Ave & W Kilgore Rd, MI to Westnedge & Michigan, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=S+Westnedge+Ave+%26+W+Kilgore+Rd,+MI&geocode=&dirflg=&daddr=Westnedge+%26+Michigan,+Kalamazoo,+MI&f=d&sll=42.244944,-85.589697&sspn=0.010103,0.014505&ie=UTF8&z=13. Retrieved February 12, 2008. 
5. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1961). Official Highway Map (Map). Section M-9.  (Includes all changes through July 1, 1961)
6. ^ Michigan State Highway Department (1965). Official Highway Map (Map). Section M9. 
7. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (2008). Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). 1 in.:3.5 mi/1 cm:2 km. Kalamazoo inset. 

External links

• M-331 at Michigan Highways
• Rationalization process at Michigan Highways