Army Trail Road
Encyclopedia
Army Trail Road is a county road in parts of DuPage
and Kane Counties
, Illinois
. Army Trail Road begins at the Addison Village Hall east of John F. Kennedy
Drive in a cul de sac in Addison, Illinois
. It ends at Illinois Route 25
in Wayne, Illinois
. The portion of Army Trail Road from Illinois 53 to Munger Road is marked as DuPage County Highway 11. From Munger Road to its terminus it is a Village of Wayne road and not a County road. From the Kane County line west to Dunham Road, Army Trail Road is marked as Kane County Highway 20. Army Trail Road is 16.4 miles (26.4 km) long.
for early settlers who traveled in covered wagon
s in the early 19th century. Its name is based on the fact that the General Winfield Scott
's troops used this route during the Black Hawk War
. Near its end at the Fox River is a stone marking the graves of U.S. Army soldiers of the Indian War era.
Until December 1989, Army Trail Road was the southern terminus of the freeway portion of Illinois Route 53, which was subsequently designated I-355. In December 1989, the North-South Tollway was opened extending the limited access highway south to I-55 and reducing the traffic flow caused by the concurency of Route 53 and a short stretch of Army Trail Road.
In late 2004, construction began on parts of the road to widen the road to six lanes. A divider was to be set in place including new turn lanes and paving of the road. Project has completed sections of the road in Addison and was expected to be completed in November 2005. It is four lanes in parts east of Illinois Highway 59 to a few hundred feet west of Illinois Highway 59 where it enters the Village of Wayne, Illinois
. It remains two lanes to its western end at Illinois Highway 25 and is "rural" looking through Wayne and its horse farms.
DuPage County, Illinois
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 916,924, White Americans made up 77.9% of Dupage County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 70.5% of the population. Black Americans made up 4.6% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.3% of Dupage County's population...
and Kane Counties
Kane County, Illinois
Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Army Trail Road begins at the Addison Village Hall east of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
Drive in a cul de sac in Addison, Illinois
Addison, Illinois
Addison is a village located west of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,914 at the 2000 census. The estimated population was 36,378 as of 2002.The Village of Addison lies on Salt Creek...
. It ends at Illinois Route 25
Illinois Route 25
Illinois Route 25 is a state road in northeast Illinois. It runs north from U.S. Highway 34 in Oswego to Illinois Route 62 in Algonquin. Illinois 25 is in length.- Route description :...
in Wayne, Illinois
Wayne, Illinois
Wayne is a village in DuPage and Kane County, Illinois. The eastern portion, in DuPage County, is in Wayne Township while the western portion, in Kane County, is in St. Charles Township. The population was 2,137 at the 2000 census....
. The portion of Army Trail Road from Illinois 53 to Munger Road is marked as DuPage County Highway 11. From Munger Road to its terminus it is a Village of Wayne road and not a County road. From the Kane County line west to Dunham Road, Army Trail Road is marked as Kane County Highway 20. Army Trail Road is 16.4 miles (26.4 km) long.
History
Army Trail Road followed an Indian TrailIndian Trail
Indian Trail can refer to:*A part of or the whole of the Great Trail created by Native Americans*Indian Trail, North Carolina*A junior high in Olathe, Kansas -- Indian Trail Junior High...
for early settlers who traveled in covered wagon
Conestoga wagon
The Conestoga wagon is a heavy, broad-wheeled covered wagon that was used extensively during the late 18th century and the 19th century in the United States and sometimes in Canada as well. It was large enough to transport loads up to 8 tons , and was drawn by horses, mules or oxen...
s in the early 19th century. Its name is based on the fact that the General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
's troops used this route during the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
. Near its end at the Fox River is a stone marking the graves of U.S. Army soldiers of the Indian War era.
Until December 1989, Army Trail Road was the southern terminus of the freeway portion of Illinois Route 53, which was subsequently designated I-355. In December 1989, the North-South Tollway was opened extending the limited access highway south to I-55 and reducing the traffic flow caused by the concurency of Route 53 and a short stretch of Army Trail Road.
In late 2004, construction began on parts of the road to widen the road to six lanes. A divider was to be set in place including new turn lanes and paving of the road. Project has completed sections of the road in Addison and was expected to be completed in November 2005. It is four lanes in parts east of Illinois Highway 59 to a few hundred feet west of Illinois Highway 59 where it enters the Village of Wayne, Illinois
Wayne, Illinois
Wayne is a village in DuPage and Kane County, Illinois. The eastern portion, in DuPage County, is in Wayne Township while the western portion, in Kane County, is in St. Charles Township. The population was 2,137 at the 2000 census....
. It remains two lanes to its western end at Illinois Highway 25 and is "rural" looking through Wayne and its horse farms.