Holland Business Route Photos (June 30, 2004)
The following photos were taken on June 30, 2004 to document the state of the routes of BUS US-31 and BL I-196 in Holland prior to the jurisdictional transfer of those routes within the city to local control. This resulted in the complete decommissioning of Holland's BUS US-31 route (although a short segment of state-maintained trunkline still exists within the US-31 interchange as OLD US-31BR) and the rerouting of BL I-196 along the US-31 Holland Bypass to retain route continuity.
 Westbound on 7th St approaching Pine Ave where BUS US-31 and BL I-196 turned left to head south to 9th St where the routes then jogged back easterly for a block to River Ave.Taken June 30, 2004. ©2004 Christopher J. Bessert, All Rights Reserved. |
 7th St in downtown Holland approaching the Central Ave inersection, while still a part of the routes of BUS US-31 and BL I-196. Two reassurance route marker assemblies can be seen in the distance on the right side of the street. Taken June 30, 2004. ©2004 Christopher J. Bessert, All Rights Reserved. |
 BUS US-31 and BL I-196 reassurance route marker assemblies along northbound Washington Ave north of 40th St on the south side of Holland prior to those routes' decommissioning. Taken June 30, 2004. ©2004 Christopher J. Bessert, All Rights Reserved. |
 For some inexplicable reason, Holland's Business Routes featured several examples of inappropriately large and/or poorly-designed and/or comically-incorrect route markers prior to its 2004 transfer to local control. Both route markers and direction indication signs are the size used along freeways, which Michigan Ave in Holland definitely was not. The "BUSINESS" sign was also omitted from the right assembly, indicating this was the mainline route of "US- 31" instead of BUSINESS US-31. The use of a wide, three-digit US route marker and the off-center "31" digits complete the odd scene. This photo was taken on northbound Michigan Ave at Maple Ave just south of Holland Hospital. Taken June 30, 2004. ©2004 Christopher J. Bessert, All Rights Reserved. |
 Two more examples of comically large and poorly-designed route markers along Holland's former BUS US-31 and BL I-196 prior to the route's transfer to local control. These signs were located on northbound Michigan Ave just north of 32nd St on the south side of Holland. The "BUSINESS" sign was also omitted from the right assembly, indicating this was the mainline route of "US- 31" instead of BUSINESS US-31. Taken June 30, 2004. ©2004 Christopher J. Bessert, All Rights Reserved. |
 BUS US-31 and BL I-196 reassurance route marker assembly along northbound Michigan Ave at Cherry St just north of Holland Hospital. This shows the lane confguration as it was as a state trunkline: two lanes in both directions. The City of Holland would later take the left southbound lane and turn it into a left-turn-only lane, leaving the street with an odd two lanes northbound, one lane southbound with center left turn lane arrangement. The very large tree shown on the right side of the street was removed soon after and a traffic light was installed at 22nd St as well. Taken June 30, 2004. ©2004 Christopher J. Bessert, All Rights Reserved. |
 Northbound Michigan Ave approaching State St south of downtown Holland showing route markers for BUS US-31, the Lake Michigan Circle Tour and even M-40, which had been scaled back to terminate at the US-31 Holland Bypass a decade earlier in 1994. A BL I-196 route marker assembly can be seen just past State St. The blinker light installation in this picture remains today, albeit with the addition of a "Left Turn Only" lighted sign for southbound traffic. Taken June 30, 2004. ©2004 Christopher J. Bessert, All Rights Reserved. |
Additional Information
- Holland Business Routes: The Turnback – from the In-Depth section of this site.
Back to Former BUS US-31 (Holland) Route Listing
Back to BL I-196 (Holland/Zeeland) Route Listing
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