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M-51 (Michigan highway)

M-51, is a north-south highway in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. The northern terminus is on I-94 west of Paw Paw and the southern terminus is at the Indiana state line between Niles and South Bend, Indiana, where it continues as State Road 933. The total length is 40.33 miles.

From Niles, it angles northeast toward Dowagiac where it then runs north before bending to run almost due east toward Decatur, after which is heads due north to I-94.

M-51 is in fact a designation of what used to be two different highways. Until the 1960s the route north of Niles was known as M-40 until M-40 was diverted to its current route south of Paw Paw. Until the 1990s, the segment between Niles and the Indiana state line was known as US 33 before US 33 was deleted northwest of Elkhart, Indiana. Earlier, it had also been designated as US 31 before the St. Joseph Valley Parkway was built west of Niles. The segment of old US 31 and US 33 in Michigan south of Niles became M-51 in April 1998.

Historical Note: M-51 was originally designated from Port Huron to M-83 (now M-142) west of Harbor Beach. The designation of M-51 from Port Huron to M-46 (Carsonville) was removed, and the remainder of it to M-142 was removed in the mid 1960s.

External links

• M-51 Endpoint Photos

References