U.S. Route 31 (Michigan)

Southern Entrance: Indiana State Line, northwest of South Bend, Indiana

Northern Terminus: I-75, south of Mackinaw City

Length: 356 miles

Counties: St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Kent, Montcalm, Mecosta, Osceola, Wexford, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet

Routing: US 31 begins its trek through Michigan at the Indiana Border, just north of South Bend.  The highway passes around the west side of Niles before intersecting I-94 and running concurrently with I-196 until Holland.  At Holland, US 31 departs the interstate, following the Lake Michigan shoreline as a mix of freeway and divided highway.  The freeway section of US 31 ends at Ludington; the highway becoming a conventional two-lane at-grade highway.  The route continues to hug the Lake Michigan shoreline, through Traverse City until the northern terminus of the route at I-75 just south Mackinaw City..

Links:

Pictures on this page are arranged in order from south to north.  US 31 North photos are left-aligned in the last column, while US 31 South are right-aligned.  Center-line pictures are centered within the last column.



Location

Description

Photo

North-
Bound

South-
Bound

US 31 meets I-94 in Benton Harbour.  I-94 is Michigan's southern-most interstate highway, stretching from Indiana to Port Huron.  Click here for I-94 images.

Barrien County
City of Benton Harbour

Overhead signage at the southern end of I-196.  Eventually US 31 will continue directly through this interchange continuing on its own freeway alignment.  Presently, there is a one-mile gap in the US 31 freeway resulting in a very awkward jog.

High Res        

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Barrien County
City of Benton Harbour

The I-196 ends sign stands alone about a half mile upstream of the I-94 interchange.

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Barrien County
City of Benton Harbour

Bridge-mounted advanced overhead sign for the I-94 interchange.

High Res        

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Van Buren County
City of South Haven

Southbound guide signage for the M-140 interchange, affixed to the M-140 overpass.  Michigan is very good at marking lower speed exit ramps well in advance of the interchange.

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Van Buren County
City of South Haven

Southbound view I-196/US 31 from the M-43 overpass.

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Van Buren County
City of South Haven

Northerly view from the M-43 overpass.  Surprisingly, M-43 does not have a direct connection with I-196/US 31.  M-43 is routed along County Road A-2 (Old 31) between this overpass and the next northerly interchange.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Van Buren County
City of South Haven

This long view of I-196/US 31 is seen from the North Shore Drive overpass near South Haven.    

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Van Buren County
City of South Haven

Northerly view of the freeway from the North Shore Drive overpass.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Allegan County
City of Saugatuck

Southerly view of I-196/US 31 from County Road A-2.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Allegan County
City of Saugatuck

This view looks north from County Road A-2.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/3/2007

Ottawa County
Charter Township of Grand Haven

To access M-45 from US 31 southbound, traffic must utilize a Michigan left turn.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 4/21/2007

Ottawa County
Charter Township of Grand Haven

Advanced signage for the M-45 intersection.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 4/21/2007

Ottawa County
City of Grand Haven

southerly view of US 31 from the south edge of Grand Haven.  US 31 is a four-lane divided at-grade highway between Grand Haven and I-196.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 4/21/2007

Ottawa County
City of Grand Haven

Northerly view of US 31 as the highway enters Grand Haven from the south.  Through Grand Haven, US 31 has a narrow cross-section for a 'Michigan-Left' highway.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 4/21/2007

Ottawa County
City of Grand Haven

View looking southerly along US 31 through Grand Haven.

High Res

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 4/21/2007


Site Navigation


© 2008, Scott Steeves/Dan Garnell/CanHighways.com. All rights reserved. All pictures used on this site are the property of the respective photographers, and are used by permission. No picture may be used without the consent of the respective photographer.  All shield graphics are courtesy of Barry Camp.


Page Created: July 18, 2008.
Last Updated: July 18, 2008.