M-46 is one of three trans-peninsular highways in the Lower Peninsula, starting blocks away from
Lake Michigan in Muskegon and running almost to
Lake Huron in Port Sanilac. The other two highways that do this are
M-55 (
Manistee –
Tawas City) and
M-72 (
Empire–
Harrisville). The trunkline has been listed on the
National Highway System (NHS) between the western terminus and US 31, and between
Cedar Springs and the
M-53 junction in
Sanilac County. The NHS is a network of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
Muskegon to Saginaw M-46 starts at an intersection between Muskegon and Apple avenues near the downtown Muskegon business district. The highway follows Apple Avenue eastward through the edge of the district and through a residential area in Muskegon to an interchange with the US 31 freeway. On the other side of the freeway, Apple Avenue runs farther east, leaving the Muskegon area and passing through the rural woodlands of
Muskegon County. Along the way, the road passes the Hall Drain, an artificial reservoir. At
Casnovia,
M-37 merges in from the north at a
roundabout intersection, and the two highways
run concurrently across the county line into
Kent County, turning to the southeast. A few miles later in
Kent City, M-46 turns due east again and leaves M-37 to run independently along 17 Mile Road. The highway runs through more mixed agricultural land to
Cedar Springs, where M-46 turns north along the US 131 freeway. US 131/M-46 runs northwards through the northern Kent and western
Montcalm counties for about near
Sand Lake and
Pierson. Near
Howard City. M-46 leaves the freeway and turns eastward independently along Howard City – Edmore Road. The highway runs through the north side of Montcalm County connecting the communities of
Lakeview and
Edmore. Between
Six Lakes and Edmore,
M-66 runs along M-46, a distance of around . The trunkline passes several small lakes and crosses the
Maple River near
Vestaburg before crossing into
Gratiot County. The highway, now called Monroe Road crosses more farm fields as it approaches
Alma. North of downtown, M-46 intersects the north–south leg of the
Alma business loop before meeting the US 127 freeway. East of this freeway interchange, M-46 picks up the east–west leg of the
US 127 business loop for
St. Louis. Although similar, the separate
business loop follows M-46 along Monroe Road over the
Pine River to Main Street, where it turns south through downtown. M-46 continues eastward from town through farm fields to
Breckenridge. At
Meridian Road, the highway follows Gratiot Road into
Saginaw County east through
Merrill and
Hemlock to the
Saginaw area. East of Hemlock, M-46 meets the northern terminus of
M-52 and then the southern terminus of
M-47 in
Saginaw Charter Township near its crossing of the
Tittabawassee River.
Saginaw to Port Sanilac As M-46 enters Saginaw proper, it follows Gratiot Avenue past the Saginaw Country Club. The area around the club is filled with residential subdivisions as the roadway approaches the
Saginaw River. M-46 follows Stephens Street southeasterly and Rust Avenue eastward to cross the river. The highway continues along Rust Avenue to Warren Avenue where it turns north. The highway then follows Holland Avenue, which is the continuation of Gratiot Avenue on the east side of the river. M-46 passes through an interchange with I-75/
US 23 and leaves the Saginaw area. The highway continues eastward through rural Saginaw County into the region of the Lower Peninsula known as
The Thumb. In
Tuscola County, M-46 passes through the
Vassar State Game Area and crosses the
Cass River north of
Vassar. The area near the river east to the
M-24 junction is forested. As M-46 approaches
Kingston, farms dominate the landscape again. M-46 crosses into
Sanilac County just west of the
M-53 junction at Van Dyke Road. Between
Elmer and
Sandusky,
M-19 follows M-46 for about . The highway crosses the
Black River near
Carsonville. The eastern end of M-46 is in Port Sanilac, just blocks west of the city's marina on Lake Huron at an intersection with M-25. ==History==