The M-6 Freeway in West Michigan Is Likely Incorrectly Numbered

The M-6 freeway south of Grand Rapids is the last major expressway to be completed in Michigan. The South Beltline as its sometimes known (or the Paul B Henry Freeway as it's officially known and never referred to as such) completes a portion of a loop around the Grand Rapids area.

It may just have an incorrect number.

👇🏼BELOW: Every Interstate Highway in Michigan Has Quirks - Here They Are + The Largest Cities in Michigan Without a Nickname👇🏼

How is that possible? The concept is based on how the Michigan Department of Transportation assigns route numbers.

While there is no formal system, MDOT appears to assign single digital state routes exclusively to the Detroit area. Consider the following:

M-1 is Woodward Ave
M-3 is Gratiot Ave
M-4 was a portion of Northwestern Highway between Farmington Hills and Southfield until 1984
M-5 is Grand River Ave
M-8 is the Davison Freeway
M-10 is the Lodge Freeway

M-2 has never been assigned because of US-2 in the UP while M-7 and M-9 have not been a part of the state's highway system for some 75 years.

Given all of those low numbered highways are in Detroit, it may seem odd that M-6 would get assigned to Grand Rapids.

The beltline, which is build to interstate standards, could have been given the I-296 designation, a route number currently hidden as a portion of US-131 north of I-196.

Or, perhaps, sticking with a state route designation, the freeway could have been an extension of M-21. That route which once crossed the state from Holland to Port Huron now ends at the eastern outskirts of Grand Rapids near Ada. Returning the historic M-21 designation to more of West Michigan could have made sense and offer some context to M-121, the current designation for Chicago Drive.

Every Interstate Highway in Michigan Has Quirks - Here They Are

Roads are intended to get you from here to there. And very few people think about the quirks of our interstate highway system. With being as long and as varied as it is, there is bound to be an oddity or two - and in fact, you can likely find a quirk with every interstate in Michigan. We think we have.

Gallery Credit: Eric Meier

These Are the Largest Michigan Cities Without a Nickname

Many Michigan cities carry well known nicknames like Motown for Detroit. But many of the state's largest cities have no nicknames at all. Here are the largest cities in the state without a nickname.

Gallery Credit: Eric Meier

Source: The M-6 Freeway in West Michigan Is Likely Incorrectly Numbered