M-146 was a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that initially served as a bypass for traffic going around Port Huron and as a short cut for traffic between U.S. Highway 25 (US 25) and M-21. Later it connected to the Blue Water Bridge before it was truncated to its final form. Segments of M-146 still exist today as state highways as part of Interstate 94 (I-94) and I-69 and the Lapeer Connector.
Route description
As the highway last existed, its southern end was at an intersection with M-21 (Lapeer Road) in a residential area of Port Huron west of the Black River. Following what is today named the Lapeer Connector, M-146 ran northward for about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) to an interchange with I-94/US 25 where it terminated.[3][6]
History
When the route debuted in 1933 it served as a connector between US 25 in southwest Port Huron and M-21 along the west side of town.[1][2] In 1954 a new approach was built from M-21 to the foot of the Blue Water Bridge, and M-146 was extended northward and easterly, designated along this new route.[7][8] By 1958, this newer segment was converted to freeway specifications,[9][10] and in 1964, with the completion of the I-94/US 25 freeway, M-146 was removed from that portion of the route.[11][12] By the next year, the M-146 designation only remained along the stretch of freeway which now serves as the exit 274 interchange on I-94, and was removed from 24th Street through town.[3][12] The alignment of the freeway stretch of M-146 was shifted slightly as well, allowing for a smoother transition between it and westbound I-94. In addition, the diamond interchange with Water Street along the Blue Water Bridge approach was reconstructed and appropriated into the alignment of I-94.[13] In 1966, with the completion of a new freeway alignment for M-21 between Wadhams and downtown Port Huron, the M-146 designation was removed from the state trunkline system,[3][4] and has not been used since. The connector between Lapeer Street and present-day I-94 is now known as the Lapeer Connector[14] and Connector 69.[15]
^ abMichigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (September 1, 1933). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Port Huron inset. OCLC12701053.
^Michigan State Highway Department (April 15, 1954). Michigan Water Wonderland: Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Port Huron inset. OCLC12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
^Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1954). Official Highway Map (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. Port Huron inset. OCLC12701120.
^Michigan State Highway Department (October 1, 1957). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § K14. OCLC12701120, 367386492.
^Michigan State Highway Department (1958). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § K14. OCLC12701120, 51856742. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center. (Includes all changes through July 1, 1958)
^Michigan State Highway Department (1964). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § K14. OCLC12701120, 81213707. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
^ abMichigan State Highway Department (1965). Official Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:918,720]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. § K14. OCLC12701120. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Michigan History Center.
^Michigan Department of Transportation (2014). Pure Michigan: State Transportation Map (Map). c. 1:221,760. Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation. Port Huron inset. OCLC42778335, 900162490.
