M-120 (Michigan highway)

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Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Bus. US 31 in Muskegon
Major intersections
North end M-20 in Hesperia
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesMuskegon, Oceana, Newaygo
Highway system
← M-119→ M-121

M-120 is a

state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan in the southwest Lower Peninsula. The highway runs northeast from Muskegon to Hesperia
. In between, the road passes through suburban Muskegon, forests and farmland. Some 5,900–26,000 vehicles use the highway each day on average as it runs long a series of roads that follow county lines in the area.

The current highway to bear the M-120 designation is the third in the state. The first was a spur route in the Lansing area in the 1930s. The second was a route that connected to like-numbered state highways in both Ohio and Indiana. The current M-120 was originally part of M-20 until that highway was rerouted between New Era and US Highway 31 (US 31).

Route description

The current route starts at

B-31 as it turns north to run along the Muskegon–Newaygo county line.[2][3]

As M-120 continues north along the county line, it runs in

B-86. B-86 runs along the Muskegon–Oceana county line, and M-82 runs along a township line in Newaygo County. North of this intersection, M-120 follows the Oceana–Newaygo county line that divides Greenwood Township from Dayton Township. Maple Island Road enters the south side of Hesperia on Division Street. M-120 terminates at an intersection with M-20 in the middle of the village, 27.901 miles (44.902 km) from its starting point.[1][2]

The

average annual daily traffic, which is a calculation of the traffic along a roadway segment for any average day of the year. In 2009, the highest traffic levels were near the southern terminus at 26,736 vehicles each day. The lowest levels MDOT calculated were in Holton at 5,936 vehicles daily.[4] The section between the south end and US 31, M-120 has been listed on the National Highway System,[5] a network of roads important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[6] The remainder of the highway has not been listed.[7]

History

Previous routings

The M-120 designation was originally used on two different roadways in the state. In 1930, a road from

State Road 120 along the short north–south Michigan–Indiana border.[14][15] By the middle of 1961, the M-120 designation was retired by the MSHD again.[16][17] The Ohio and Indiana SR 120 highways are still in place today with only the county road in Michigan connecting them.[18]

Current routing

The MSHD's successor, the Michigan Department of State Highways, realigned the route of M-20 through

Western Michigan in 1969. In the aftermath of the reroute, the M-20 designation was moved from Muskegon to New Era. The former routing of M-20 south of Hesperia to Muskegon was renumbered M-120, including a segment that ran concurrently with M-82.[19][20] That concurrency was removed in 1978.[21][22]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
LMCT
 – Downtown Muskegon
Muskegon Township4.134–
4.173		6.653–
6.716		 US 31 – Ludington, Grand HavenExit 118 on US 31
B-31 (Maple Island Road) – Nunica
M-120 follows the Muskegon–Newaygo county line here
B-86 west (Skeets Road) – Montague
B-86 is located on the Muskegon–Oceana county line; M-120 is on the Muskegon–Newaygo county line south of the intersection and the Oceana–Newaygo county line north of the junction
Oceana–Newaygo
county line		Hesperia27.90144.902 M-20 (South Street) – New Era, White CloudM-120 is located on the Oceana–Newaygo county line here
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
aMuskegon County • bOceana County • cNewaygo County

See also

  •  
    Michigan Highways portal

References

  1. ^ a b c Michigan Department of Transportation (2021). Next Generation PR Finder (Map). Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. ^
    OCLC 42778335, 639960603
    .
  3. ^ Google (February 20, 2011). "Overview Map of M-120" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  4. ^ "Traffic Monitoring Information System". Michigan Department of Transportation. 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  5. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (2005). National Highway System: Muskegon Urbanized Area (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  6. ^ "The National Highway System". Federal Highway Administration. August 26, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 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. OCLC 12701195, 79754957
    .
  9. OCLC 12701195, 79754957
    .
  10. OCLC 12701143
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  11. OCLC 12701143
    .
  12. OCLC 12701143
    .
  13. OCLC 12701143
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  14. OCLC 12701143
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  15. OCLC 12701143
    .
  16. OCLC 12701120, 81552576
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1960)
  17. OCLC 12701120, 51857665
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1961)
  18. OCLC 42778335, 639960603
    .
  19. OCLC 12701120
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
  20. OCLC 12701120
    .
  21. OCLC 12701177
    .
  22. OCLC 12701177
    . Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.

External links

KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/M-120 (Michigan highway)
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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=M-120_(Michigan_highway)&oldid=1167313188"