Bannered routes of U.S. Route 131

There are six bannered routes of U.S. Route 131. From south to north, they are:

Three Rivers, Michigan

usban
route=131
banner=BUS
location=Three Rivers, Michigan

U.S. Route 131 Business (BUS US 131) is a 2.96 mi (4.76 km) business route running through downtown Three Rivers, in the United States. Currently, BUS US 131 follows M-60/Michigan Ave. and the former route of US 131 along Main St. At the corner of Michigan and Main, BUS US 131 turns northward, M-60 continues eastward and M-86 intersects from the south. This intersection marks the western terminus of M-86. This route was formed on January 4, 1954.

The southern terminus of BUS US 131 is at the northerly US 131/M-60 junction south of downtown Three Rivers. M-60 separates from US 131 and runs long BUS US 131. The northern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 north of Three Rivers.

Kalamazoo, Michigan

usban
route=131
banner=BUS
location=Kalamazoo, Michigan

U.S. Route 131 Business (BUS US 131) is a 10.00 mi (16.09 km) business route running through downtown Kalamzoo, in the United States. Currently, BUS US 131 follows BL I-94/Stadium Dr. and the one-way pairings of Kalamazoo/Michigan and Park/Westnedge to a freeway section on the north end.

The southern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 Exit 36 at an interchange with US 131/BL I-94 and BL I-94/BUS US 131 near downtown Kalamazoo in Oshtemo Township. BL I-94 follows US 131 south from BUS US 131's southern terminus to I-94. The northern terminus is at US 131 Exit 41 at the end of the BUS US 131 freeway north of downtown in Oshtemo Township.

Historical notes

On 1963-12-16, the US 131 freeway was opened on the west side of Kalamazoo. This marks the beginning of BUS US 131 in the Kalamazoo area, even though the highway isn't signed until 1964. It won't be until the final section of the highway, built as a freeway connector from Exit 41 on US 131 to the northern end of Westnedge Ave. and Park St. is completed that the whole route is signed. The highway was routed to follow BL I-94 along Stadium Dr. to a junction with M-43/Michigan Ave. BUS US 131 then followed Michigan Ave. to the one-way pairings of Park St. and Westnedge Ave. Northbound traffic follows Park St. and southbound follows Westnedge Ave.

1965-10-04 marked the transfer of Kalamazoo and Michikal avenues to state jurisdiction. To smooth out traffic patterns downtown, Michikal Ave. is built as a connector between Kalamazoo and Michigan avenues. Kalamazoo and Michikal are then signed as southbound BUS US 131 from Westnedge Ave. to Stadium Dr. while Main St. and Michigan Ave. continue to serve northbound traffic only between Stadium Dr. and Park St.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

usban
route=131
banner=BUS
location=Grand Rapids, Michigan

BUS US 131 is a 2.81 mi (4.52 km) business route running through downtown Grand Rapids, in the United States. Currently, BUS US 131 follows Leonard, Division, and Oakes streets.

The northern terminus of Business US 131 is at US 131 Exit 87 Leonard Ave. The southern terminus of Business US 131 is at US 131 Exit 83B just north of Wealthy St.

Historical notes

Creation

The designation was created when US 131 was rerouted on the Grand Rapids "beltline system" in 1953. At the time, a Bypass US 131 (BYP US 131) designation was used on the beltine system. South Beltline Road (M-11/28th St.) and East Beltline Ave. were used to route BYP US 131. The mainline US 131 was rerouted over the path of BYP US 131 in 1953. The BUS US 131 moniker was used for the first time to designate the former routing of US 131 through the downtown area on Division and Plainfield avenues to East Beltline Ave.

1962 changes

In early 1962, a freeway alignment was completed north from US 131 at 28th St. to Pearl St. As a result, BUS US 131 was rerouted on its southern end to use the new freeway alignment. The remainder of Division Ave. south of Oakes St. to 28th St. is removed from the BUS US 131 routing.

Later that year, US 131 would be moved onto the new freeway as another section opens connecting north from Pearl St. to the current I-196 (then I-96/M-21). The M-11 designation was left on 28th St., and East Beltine became M-44. This freeway connection allowed US 131 to continue north along the southern portion of BUS US 131 to connect to I-296. Running concurrently with I-296, US 131 connected to the current I-96 (then I-196). US 131 then turned east along I-96 to reconnect with East Beltline Ave. BUS US 131 is shortened on the northern end to use Leonard St. to connect back to I-296/US 131. It is also shortened along the southern end to the Oakes St. with the loss of the freeway routing supplanted by US 131.

ince 1962

November 1986 marked a transfer to smooth out the routing of the northern end of BUS US 131, eliminating some extra turns between Plainfield Ave. and Leonard St. The construction of the Van Andel Arena in 1995 and 1996 severed the connection for SB BUS US 131 to US 131. This gap was rejoined with the reconstruction of the "S-Curve" in 1999.

Big Rapids, Michigan

usban
route=131
banner=BUS
location=Big Rapids, Michigan

U.S. Route 131 (BUS US 131) is a 7.87 mi (12.67 km)cite web | author= Bessert, Christopher J. | title=Michigan Highways: Business Connections 96 through 496 | date=2006-10-22 | work=Michigan Highways | url= http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwysBus96-496.html] business route running through downtown Big Rapids, in the United States. Currently, BUS US 131 follows Perry and State streets, and 19 Mile Road.

The southern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 Exit 139 at an interchange where M-20 merges onto US 131 southbound west of downtown Big Rapids. The northern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 Exit 142 at an interchange with 19 Mile Rd. and County Road B-96 north of Big Rapids.

Historical notes

Previous to the construction of the US 131 freeway in Mecosta County, US 131 was routed north from the Grand Rapids area on Northland Dr. and State St. in the Big Rapids area. M-20 intersected US 131 downtown Big Rapids. In 1983 with the completion of the US 131 freeway north to 19 Mile Rd., US 131 then proceeds up the freeway alignment, turning east on 19 Mile Rd. to Northland Dr. and returning to its previous alignment north to Reed City. BUS US 131 is created to run from exit 139 off US 131 along M-20 over Perry and State streets to the corner with Michigan St. in downtown Big Rapids. From there, BUS US 131 continues northward to 19 Mile Rd and US 131.

The US 131 freeway was completed north of 19 Mile Rd. in 1986. As this time, BUS US 131 is extended over the 19 Mile Rd portion of US 131 to connect with its parent route at exit 142 northwest of Big Rapids.

Cadillac, Michigan

usban
route=131
banner=BUS
location=Cadillac, Michigan

U.S. Highway 131 Business Route (BUS US 131) is a 5.60 mi (9.01 km) business route running through downtown Cadillac, in the United States. Currently, BUS US 131 follows Mitchell Street and Boon Road.

The southern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 Exit 177 at an interchange where M-55 merges onto US 131 northbound south of downtown Cadillac. The northern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 Exit 180 at an interchange with Boon Rd. north of Cadillac.

Historical notes

Previous to the construction of the US 131 Cadillac bypass in Wexford County, US 131 was routed north from the Grand Rapids area on a freeway that ended south of town. US 131 continued northward on Mitchell St. through town. M-55 intersected US 131 downtown Cadillac, and ran along US 131 to the south of town. With the completion of the southern half of the bypass in 2000, M-55 was rerouted out of town along the new freeway. Once the northern half of the bypass was completed on October 30, 2001, US 131 was rerouted out of town along the new highway to the end of the freeway where it joined the old alignment north of town. Mitchell St. through downtown Cadillac was redesignated as BUS US 131.

Manton, Michigan

usban
route=131
banner=BUS
location=Manton, Michigan

U.S. Route 131 Business (BUS US 131) is a 5.58 mi (8.98 km) business route running through downtown Manton, in the United States. Currently, BUS US 131 follows M-42/7th St. and the former route of US 131 along Michigan Ave to the north end of the freeway.

The southern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 Exit 191 at an interchange with BUS US 131/M-42 near downtown Manton. The northern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 at the end of the freeway north of Manton.

Historical notes

Previous to the construction of the US 131 Manton bypass in Wexford County, US 131 was routed north from the Grand Rapids area on a freeway that ended north of Cadillac. US 131 continued northward on Michigan Ave. through town. M-42 intersected US 131 downtown Manton, and ran along US 131 for a few blocks. With the completion of the bypass on September 19, 2003, US 131 was now freeway from Schoolcraft south of Kalamazoo to Wexford County. While the former routing of US 131 from the end of the freeway south into Manton was designated BUS US 131, it would take until 2005 for the Michigan Department of Transportation to resign the routing as BUS US 131 and erect signage along M-42 to continue the loop back to US 131.

External links

* [http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/us/131/bus/big_rapids/ BUS US-131 endpoint photos Big Rapids]
* [http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/us/131/bus/cadillac/ BUS US-131 endpoint photos Cadillac]
* [http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/us/131/bus/manton BUS US-131 endpoint photos Manton]

References