Route information | ||||
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Maintained by MDOT | ||||
Length | 144.835 mi[1] (233.089 km) | |||
Existed | 1919–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | BL I-196 in South Haven | |||
East end | I-96 near Webberville | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Michigan | |||
Counties | Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Ingham | |||
Highway system | ||||
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M-43 is a state trunkline highway in the southwestern and central parts of the US state of Michigan. The highway runs from South Haven to Webberville along an indirect path through both rural areas and larger cities. The trunkline follows five overall segments: a southeasterly track from South Haven to Oshtemo Township (just west of Kalamazoo), a northerly path to Plainwell, a southeasterly route to Richland, a northeasterly course to the Hastings area and an easterly route through the Lansing area.
The M-43 designation dates back to at least July 1, 1919, when it was used on a series of roadways running between Kalamazoo and St. Charles. Its northern- and easternmost sections were transferred to other highways in the 1930s. Additions to M-43 extended it to its current termini. Several sections of the highway were realigned during its history, one of these changes led to the creation of a business loop in Grand Ledge. Another former segment of the trunkline in the Lansing area has been renumbered M-143. In January 2019, the highway was rerouted north to bypass downtown Kalamazoo, where it had historically formed a high traffic trunkline through the city. The former segment between Kalamazoo and Richland was renumbered M-343.