State-Ends.com > Michigan Highway Ends > Michigan Route 217

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Michigan Route 217

M-221 >

Southern Terminus: IN State Line, SW of Union, Cass County. | Northern Terminus: US 12, W of Union, Cass County.

In September 2002, M-217 became Michigan's newest state highway.  Opened in conjunction with a new extension of Elkhart Co. Rd. 17 from the Indiana Toll Road (I-80 / I-90) to the state line, the combination of Co. Rd. 17 and M-217 form a continuous four-lane undivided highway that connects US 20 east of Elkhart, Indiana, with US 12 at Union.  The roadway, known in part as the Michiana Parkway, also has an interchange with the Indiana Toll Road.

Southern Terminus


 
M-217's Southern Terminus is at the Indiana State Line southwest of Union, where it turns into Elkhart Co. Rd. 17.  In this area, a roadway straddles the physical border between Indiana and Michigan, which intersects the Michiana Parkway.  Not so surprisingly, it is called State Line Road.  1.5 miles ahead, Co. Rd. 17 will meet the Indiana Toll Road (I-80 / I-90).  The terminus sign for M-217 at the Southern Terminus is a non-standard one for Michigan, with the ENDS tab placed above the M-217 marker instead of beneath it.
PHOTO # 1: Charles Sarjeant.

 
A "Welcome to Michigan" sign stands on the northbound side of the Michiana Parkway as Elkhart Co. Rd. 17 transitions into M-217.
PHOTO # 2: Charles Sarjeant.

Northern Terminus


 
The Northern Terminus of M-217 is at a T-intersection with US 12 near Union.  A couple interesting notes about the terminus assembly featured in the second photo: First, the ENDS tab is again placed above the M-217 marker, instead of below it; and second, the US 12 and M-217 shields are attached to a pair of rather long cross-bars, resulting in a larger-than-normal gap between the two shields in the assembly.
PHOTO # 1: Dan Garnell, 2/28/2003;
PHOTO # 2: Rich Rowland, 9/2002.

 
These two pictures show the signage along US 12 West as it approaches the starting point of M-217 South.  Note again that, like the terminus assembly on M-217 North, a pair of long cross-bars are used to hold the M-217 South and US 12 West markers on the sign assembly shown here, leading to a very wide gap between the shields in this assembly, too.
PHOTO # 3: Eric Meier, 7/2002;
PHOTO # 4: Eric Meier, 9/2002.

Links
 
  • M-217 @ Michigan Highways -- Chris Bessert
     
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    Page Created: March 28, 2003.
    Last Updated: March 4, 2006.