M‑3 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan. The route follows Gratiot Avenue for its entire length, extending northward from the city of Detroit through the northern suburbs of the Metro Detroit area to the vicinity of Port Huron.
Route description
- Southern terminus: M‑3 begins at an interchange with Interstate 94 (I‑94) and US 12 (Jeffries Blvd) in Detroit.
- Path: The highway proceeds northeast along Gratiot Avenue, passing through the Detroit neighborhoods of Midtown, East English Village, and the city of Hamtramck. It continues through the cities of Warren, Roseville, and Fraser, and the townships of Clinton and Macomb.
- Northern terminus: The route ends at an intersection with US 23 (Merriman Road) near the community of Port Huron in St. Clair County.
The entire length of M‑3 is approximately 24 mi (38 km). The highway is primarily a four‑lane divided arterial road, providing a major north‑south corridor for commuter and commercial traffic within the Detroit metropolitan area.
History
The roadway that comprises present‑day M‑3 was originally part of US 25, a United States Numbered Highway that connected Detroit to Port Huron. In 1971, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) truncated US 25 and redesignated the former alignment as M‑3. Since that time, the route has largely retained its alignment, though minor realignments and reconstruction projects have been undertaken to improve traffic flow and safety.
Major intersections
Key junctions along M‑3 include interchanges with I‑94/US 12 at its southern end, an intersection with M‑39 (Southfield Freeway), a crossing of M‑59, and connections to M‑25 and M‑81 in the northern segment before terminating at US 23.
Related routes
- Gratiot Avenue: The local name for the roadway that carries the M‑3 designation.
- US 25: The former designation of the route prior to 1971.
References
- Michigan Department of Transportation, “State Trunkline Highway System – M‑3.”
- Historical state highway maps, Michigan Department of Transportation (1970‑1972).
All information is based on publicly available records from the Michigan Department of Transportation and historical highway documentation.