What Exactly Happens to US-131 at the Michigan State Line?

There's an argument to be made that US-131 is the signature highway in West Michigan. The north-south artery runs from the Indiana state line through Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, Cadillac to Petoskey.

It is the main lifeblood of the region, and to some, the bane of travelling it day in and day out.

US-131: A West Michigan Lifeline

Given just how meaningful the roadway is in Michigan, it's then perhaps surprising what happens when US 131 hits the state line.

It ends. And rather abruptly.

The Abrupt End: US-131 at the Indiana State Line

Once US 131 crosses into Indiana it runs for just 3400 feet before it reaches the Indiana Toll Road. At I-80/90, the designation changes and US-131 ends and Indiana State Road 13 takes over. SR 13 has a nice run —138 miles south — to the town of Fortville in the center of the state.

READ MORE: Why Does the Historic Dunes Highway Not Extend into Michigan? It Should

What's particularly interesting is that Indiana's choice of numbering the roadway that meets US 131 may not be coincidental. Before the US highway system was created, the path that is today's US 131 was M-13, a Michigan state highway. (Modern M-13 exists in a completely different part of the state near Bay City.)

From M-13 to US-131: A Numbering Coincidence?

So it's very possible Indiana numbered its road to match the route number coming from Michigan. If that's the case, a combined Michigan and Indiana highway 13 would today have been a 407 mile combined highway from Petoskey to the suburbs of Indianapolis.

Here's what US 131 looks like as it begins where Indiana SR 13 end at the exit ramp from the Toll Road.

Other Short-Lived Interstate Connections: US-223

While federal highways like US 131 are largely intended to be interstate routes, this one is but just barely. It's not unique in that. US 223 which runs mainly in Lenawee County extends just a few feet into Ohio - and needlessly as it runs concurrently with US 23 into Toledo. US 223 runs about as far into Ohio as US 131 does into Indiana.

👇🏼BELOW: These Short, Overlooked Michigan Highways Exist Only to Leave the State + This is the Opposite End of Every National Highway That Begins in Michigan 👇🏼

Michigan returns the favor of being the stubby end of a longer highway with US 8. That roadway extends 280 miles through Minnesota and Wisconsin. Just 2 of those 280 miles are in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where it quickly ends at US 2 in Norway.