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 2 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. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1963). Official Highway Map (Map). [c.1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N7. OCLC 12701120.
  3. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (1964). Official Highway Map (Map). [c.1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § N7. OCLC 12701120 and 81213707.
  4. Michigan Department of Transportation (2012). Pure Michigan: State Transportation Map (Map). c.1:975,000. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. § N7. OCLC 42778335 and 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). c.1:918,720. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § N7. OCLC 12701120.
  11. Michigan Department of State Highways (1973). Official Highway Map (Map). c.1:918,720. Lansing: Michigan Department of State Highways. § N7. OCLC 12701120 and 81679137.

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

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