M-79 marker

M-79

M-79 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDOT
Length24.890 mi[1] (40.057 km)
Existedc. July 1, 1919[2]–present
Major junctions
West end M-37 southeast of Hastings
Major intersections M-66 south of Nashville
East end BL I-69 / M-50 in Charlotte
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesBarry, Eaton
Highway system
← M-78→ M-80
← M-213M-214→ M-216

M-79 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the central portion of Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The western terminus is about three miles (4.8 km) southeast of Hastings at the junction with M-37 and the eastern terminus is in downtown Charlotte at the junction with M-50 and Business Loop Interstate 69 (BL I-69). It passes through Quimby and Nashville, where there is a junction with M-66. The entire highway is undivided surface road. It has no direct access with Interstate 69 (I-69), although a sign for the highway is located on southbound I-69 at exit 61.

The highway was first designated in 1919 between Hastings and Battle Creek. It was later moved to run to Charlotte. A section of M-79 was designated as M-214 in the 1930s. M-214 would later be decommissioned as a highway designation and the M-79 designation was reapplied to the roadway.

Route description

M-79 starts south of Hastings at a three-way intersection with M-37 in Hastings Township. The trunkline runs east and parallel to a section of the Thornapple River through wooded terrain that is interspersed with farm fields.[3] South of Thornapple Lake, M-79 angles southeasterly moving from Quimby Road to Scott Road running parallel to the Thornapple River again into the community of Nashville. M-79 meets M-66 and turns south along the latter highway's route along Main and Durkee streets through the community. South of town in Maple Grove Township, M-79 separates from M-66 and turns east along Lawrence Road. Outside of Charlotte, M-79 curves southeast to transition to Lawrence Avenue through town. The eastern terminus is at an intersection with Cochran Avenue, which carries BL I-69 and M-50.[1][3][4]

History

M-79 was formed as a state trunkline by July 1, 1919 along part of its present routing. At the time, it ran between Hastings and Nashville as it does today. From Nashville, the trunkline turned south and west to end at the contemporary M-17 in Battle Creek.[2] By 1927, the southernmost section of M-79 was truncated when M-78 was extended to Battle Creek.[5] In late 1930, the southernmost section was shortened once again as a new M-14 designation replaced M-79 south of Nashville. An eastward extension of M-79 at the same time carries the highway designation to Vermontville.[6][7]

M-79 was extended easterly to Charlotte in 1934 at the same time that the section of the trunkline between Nashville and Vermontville was redesignated M-214. M-79 was rerouted along Assyria and Lawrence roads at the time to connect the sections of M-79 on either side of M-214.[8][9] By 1941, M-214 was shortened to a 3-mile (5 km) connector route in downtown Nashville running between M-79 and M-66.[10] In 1953, M-79 replaced M-214 and the latter designation was retired from the highway system.[11][12] The last section of gravel roadway in Eaton County was paved by 1960.[13][14]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
BarryHastings Township0.0000.000 M-37 – Grand Rapids, Battle Creek
Nashville9.28014.935
 M-66 north – Ionia		Northern end of M-66 concurrency
Maple Grove Township11.57218.623
 M-66 south – Battle Creek		Southern end of M-66 concurrency
EatonCharlotte24.89040.057 BL I-69 / M-50 – Lake Odessa, Eaton Rapids
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Michigan Department of Transportation (2021). Next Generation PR Finder (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Michigan State Highway Department (July 1, 1919). State of Michigan (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Lower Peninsula sheet. OCLC 15607244. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  3. 1 2 Google (August 30, 2010). "Overview Map of M-79" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
  4. ↑ Michigan Department of Transportation (2010). Uniquely Michigan: Official Department of Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:975,000. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. §§ L9–L10. OCLC 42778335, 639960603.
  5. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department (December 1, 1927). Official Highway Service Map (Map). [c. 1:810,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. OCLC 12701195, 79754957.
  6. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department & H.M. Gousha (July 1, 1930). Official Highway Service Map (Map). [c. 1:810,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. OCLC 12701195, 79754957.
  7. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (May 15, 1931). Official Highway Service Map (Map). [c. 1:840,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L10. OCLC 12701053.
  8. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (May 1, 1934). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L10. OCLC 12701143. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  9. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (September 1, 1934). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L10. OCLC 12701143.
  10. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (July 1, 1941). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map) (Summer ed.). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L10. OCLC 12701143. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017 – via Archives of Michigan.
  11. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1953). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L10. OCLC 12701120.
  12. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1953). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L10. OCLC 12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  13. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department (1958). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L10. OCLC 12701120, 51856742. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1958)
  14. ↑ Michigan State Highway Department (1960). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § L10. OCLC 12701120, 81552576. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1960)
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