Canhighways.com > Michigan > Michigan Route 6

Michigan Route 6

Western Terminus: I-196 (Exit 64), at a directional "Y" interchange east of Hudsonville

Eastern Terminus: I-96 (Exit 46), at a semi-directional "Y" interchange east of Kentwood

Length: 19.71 miles

Counties: Ottawa, Kent

Routing: M-6 is also known as the South Beltline Freeway. It serves as a southern by-pass of the Grand Rapids region, linking I-196 with I-96. Of note is that M-6 is one of Michigan's newest freeways, having been completed between 2001 and 2004.

Links:

M-6 @ Michigan Highways -- Chris Bessert

< Photo by Scott Steeves

Pictures on this page are arranged in order from south to north. M-6 East photos are left-aligned in the last column, while M-6 West are right-aligned. Center-line pictures are centered within the last column.

*Location*	*Description*		*Photo*
			East- Bound	West- Bound
Ottawa County Georgetown Township	Sign truss with I-196 West and I-196 East lane distribution signs at M-6's Western Terminus. Since the primary maneuver through this interchange is from M-6 West to I-196 West, the two left lanes are used. The right lane provides access to I-196 East.
	Photographer: Scott Steeves	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (100 kb)
Ottawa County Jamestown Township	Diagrammatical sign for upcoming split of lanes for I-196 West and I-196 East, affixed to sign truss on M-6 West 0.5 mile before it comes to an end. The final reassurance marker for M-6 West is situated right in front of the sign truss. A third lane forms as a result of the merge of the on-ramp from 8th Ave. This lane is for traffic heading onto I-196 East.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (80 kb)
Ottawa County Jamestown Township	Bridge-mounted 1 mile advance exit sign for the I-196 interchange on M-6 West, affixed to the 8th Ave. overpass.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007
Ottawa County Jamestown Township	This view highlights the 8th Ave. overpass along M-6. 8th Ave. is the westernmost exit along M-6, apart from the terminal interchange at I-196.
	Photographer: Scott Steeves	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (105 kb)
Kent County Byron Township	These two photos highlight the view looking westerly along M-6 from the Ivanrest Ave. overpass, which is located at approximately mile marker 4. In the distance, the Wilson Avenue interchange is visible.
			High Res (130 kb)

	Photographer: Scott Steeves	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (146 kb)
Kent County Byron Township	View looking easterly from the Ivanrest Ave. overpass towards the Byron Center Ave. Interchange.
	Photographer: Scott Steeves	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (130 kb)
Kent County Byron Township	Overhead exit sign for Byron Center Ave. (Exit 5) on M-6 West. This interchange is a six-ramp parclo A4.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007
Kent County Byron Township	Overhead exit only sign for Byron Center Ave. (Exit 5) on M-6 West. A third westbound lane forms with the merge of the C/D road for US 131. This lane becomes exit only for the Byron Center Ave. interchange.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007
Kent County Byron Township	Sign truss with US 131 South exit sign on the M-6 West C/D lane, located immediately after the US 131 overpass. A second lane that is added when the ramp from US 131 North to M-6 West merges in then, in turn, takes the traffic that is exiting onto US 131 South.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007
The US 131 freeway heads south toward Kalamazoo, and north into downtown Grand Rapids. Click here for US 131 images.
Kent County Byron Township	Full-width sign truss on M-6 West with US 131 South and US 131 North guide signs over the C/D road for the US 131 interchange.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007
Kent County Byron Township	Overhead exit sign for US 131 (Exit 8) on M-6 West. M-6 and US 131 meet at an expansive cloverleaf interchange, with C/D roads used in all directions.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (118 kb)
Kent County Gaines Township	Exit only sign for US 131 (Exit 8) affixed to sign truss on M-6 West. A third westbound lane that is added with the merge of the Kalamazoo Ave. on-ramp becomes exit only for US 131. However, traffic in the center lane here will also be able to access the C/D road for the US 131 interchange.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (107 kb)
Kent County Gaines Township	Sign truss with 1 mile advance exit sign for US 131 (Exit 8) on M-6 West.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (108 kb)
Kent County Gaines Township	Westerly view of M-6 from the Patterson Ave. overpass, which is located at approximately mile marker 14. The Patterson Ave. crossing of M-6 is located immediately west of the M-37 interchange. In fact the ramps from M-6 East to M-37 and from M-37 South to M-6 West diverge and converge, respectively, with M-6 to the west of this overpass, as is shown here.
	Photographer: Scott Steeves	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (182 kb)
Kent County Caledonia Township	View looking east along M-6 at the M-37 interchange from the Patterson Ave. overpass.
	Photographer: Scott Steeves	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (190 kb)
South of M-6, M-37 heads to Hastings and Battle Creek. To the north, M-37 serves the eastern suburbs of Grand Rapids. Click here for M-37 images.
Kent County Caledonia Township	Scene looking west along M-6 from the 60th Ave. overpass at around mile marker 16.
	Photographer: Scott Steeves	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (161 kb)
Kent County Cascade Township	Easterly view of M-6 from the 60th Ave. overpass. M-6 traverses a huge sweeping curve as it passes underneath 60th Ave., turning into a northeasterly direction in the process as it heads toward the I-96 interchange.
	Photographer: Scott Steeves	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (171 kb)
Kent County Cascade Township	Bridge-mounted 1 mile advance exit sign for M-37 (Exit 15), facing M-6 West as it travels the big sweeping curve beneath the 60th Ave. overpass.
	Photographer: Josh Anderchek	Date: 4/21/2007	High Res (130 kb)
M-6's Eastern Terminus is at I-96, the intra-state Interstate that runs from Muskegon to Detroit. Click here for I-96 images.

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Page Created: June 7, 2007.
Last Updated: August 11, 2008.