Illinois Route 4
Encyclopedia
Illinois Route 4 is a long state road that runs south from the Interstate 55
business loop around Springfield
south to Illinois Route 13
just north of Murphysboro
. This is a distance of 170.44 miles (274.3 km).
Illinois 4 in Springfield is known as Veterans Parkway. It completes the western loop around the city of Springfield, and is a divided four-lane highway that serves Springfield commercial areas such as White Oaks Mall
.
It is also worth noting that the northbound lane of IL 4 is in Washington County for less than one mile (1.6 km), on its southwest corner near the unincorporated town of Clarmin, where it runs concurrently with IL 13.
and St. Louis, as shown on the 1924 Illinois Road Map. As such it was the forerunner of more famous routes US 66
and Interstate 55
.
In 1926, a new alignment for Route 4 was opened between Joliet and Lyons, on the north side of the Des Plaines River
. The old alignment on the south side of the river through Lemont
was renamed Illinois Route 4A and then renamed again in 1967 as Illinois Route 171
.
When US 66 was first designated in 1926, it overlapped IL 4 for its entire length, however the section from just south of Staunton
to Springfield
was originally shown only as "Temporary US 66" while the permanent routing of US 66 is shown as proposed or under construction on a more eastern route away from IL 4 through Litchfield
. The new route of US 66 was completed as SBI 16 and SBI 126 in 1930, and the US 66 designation was then removed from IL 4 between Staunton and Springfield. Illinois Route 4 and US Route 66 remained as cosigned routes between the Mississippi River
and Staunton, and between Springfield and Chicago until 1935, when the IL 4 designation was dropped from portions where it overlapped US 66, leaving only the portion from Staunton to Springfield as IL 4. This left IL 4A as an orphan alternate route of IL 4 from Joliet to Lyons until it was renumbered as IL 171 in 1967.
The section of modern IL 4 from Staunton to its southern end near Murphysboro
was originally IL 43. In 1964, IL 4 was extended on this highway and the number IL 43 was eventually reused in the Chicago area.
as "Illinois Route 4-North of Auburn". It was added in 1998 as structure #98000979 and consists of two c.1920 bridges over Little Panther Creek and portions of Curran and Snell roads. One section is a c.1932 1.53 mile long brick road and the other is a c.1921 Portland cement
road 16 feet (4.9 m) wide and 1277 ft (389.2 m) long.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Junction
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Jackson
|
|0.0
|
|
|-
|Ava
|10.8
|
|
|-
|Perry and Randolph
|
|21.7
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 150
|-
|rowspan=3|Randolph
|
|28.0
|
|End of concurrency with IL 150
|-
|Sparta
|35.7
|
|
|-
|
|41.8
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 13
|-
|rowspan=8|St. Clair
|Marissa
|45.3
|
|End of concurrency with IL 13
|-
|St. Libory
|53.7
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 15
|-
|Fayetteville
|58.3
|
|End of concurrency with IL 15
|-
|Mascoutah
|66.2
|
|
|-
|
|68.7
|
|
|-
|
|70.7
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Lebanon
|73.7
||
|Beginning of concurrency with US 50
|-
|74.3
|
|End of concurrency with US 50
|-
|rowspan=5|Madison
|
|82.2
|
|
|-
|
|85.4
|
|
|-
|
|87.1
|
|
|-
|
|94.1
|
|
|-
|
|97.1
|
|
|-
|rowspan=6|Macoupin
|rowspan=2|Benld
|109.1
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 138
|-
|109.7
|
|End of concurrency with IL 138
|-
|rowspan=2|Gillespie
|112.0
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 16
|-
|112.5
|
|End of concurrency with IL 16
|-
|rowspan=2|Carlinville
|124.0
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 108
|-
|124.7
|
|End of concurreny with IL 108
|-
|rowspan=5|Sangamon
|Auburn
|149.5
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|Springfield
|161.2
|
|
|-
|166.3
|
|
|-
|168.7
|
|
|-
|170.44
|
|
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
business loop around Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
south to Illinois Route 13
Illinois Route 13
Illinois Route 13 is a major east–west state route in southern Illinois. Illinois 13 has its western terminus at Centreville at Illinois Route 157 and its eastern terminus at the Kentucky state line and the Ohio River, at Kentucky Route 56. This is a distance of .- Route description :Illinois...
just north of Murphysboro
Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-Geography:Murphysboro is located at ....
. This is a distance of 170.44 miles (274.3 km).
Route description
Illinois 4 starts at Illinois 13 and Illinois 127 at a point about eight miles (13 km) north of Murphysboro. It zigzags through small southern Illinois towns such as Steeleville, Sparta, and Marissa before straightening out near Mascoutah. Illinois 4 is an important road in St. Clair and Madison Counties since it connects many towns on the outskirts of the St. Louis area. From Carlinville to Springfield, the route is also important since it connects many good-sized towns in Macoupin and Sangamon Counties. Illinois 4 passes through Chatham, a fast-growing city outside of Springfield, before reaching the state's capitol.Illinois 4 in Springfield is known as Veterans Parkway. It completes the western loop around the city of Springfield, and is a divided four-lane highway that serves Springfield commercial areas such as White Oaks Mall
White Oaks Mall (Springfield, Illinois)
White Oaks Mall is a shopping center in Springfield, Illinois, United States. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 4 and Wabash Avenue...
.
It is also worth noting that the northbound lane of IL 4 is in Washington County for less than one mile (1.6 km), on its southwest corner near the unincorporated town of Clarmin, where it runs concurrently with IL 13.
History
Illinois State Bond Issue Route 4 was the first numbered through route between ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and St. Louis, as shown on the 1924 Illinois Road Map. As such it was the forerunner of more famous routes US 66
U.S. Route 66 in Illinois
U.S. Route 66 connected St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois. The highway had previously been Illinois Route 4 and the road has now been largely replaced with Interstate 55 . Parts of the road still carry traffic and sixseparate portions of the roadbed have been listed on the U.S...
and Interstate 55
Interstate 55 in Illinois
In the U.S. state of Illinois, Interstate 55 is a major north–south Interstate Highway that connects the St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago metropolitan areas. It runs from the Poplar Street Bridge in East St. Louis to U.S. Route 41 near downtown Chicago...
.
In 1926, a new alignment for Route 4 was opened between Joliet and Lyons, on the north side of the Des Plaines River
Des Plaines River
The Des Plaines River is a river that flows southward for through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois in the U.S. Midwest, eventually meeting the Kankakee River west of Channahon to form the Illinois River, a tributary of the Mississippi River....
. The old alignment on the south side of the river through Lemont
Lemont, Illinois
Lemont is a village located in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, and is roughly southwest of Chicago. The population was 16,625 at the 2007 Special Census.-History:...
was renamed Illinois Route 4A and then renamed again in 1967 as Illinois Route 171
Illinois Route 171
Illinois Route 171 is a north–south state road in northeastern Illinois. It runs from U.S. Route 6 in Joliet north to Illinois Route 72 at the Chicago/Park Ridge border...
.
When US 66 was first designated in 1926, it overlapped IL 4 for its entire length, however the section from just south of Staunton
Staunton, Illinois
Staunton is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Staunton is located at ....
to Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
was originally shown only as "Temporary US 66" while the permanent routing of US 66 is shown as proposed or under construction on a more eastern route away from IL 4 through Litchfield
Litchfield, Illinois
Litchfield is a city in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,815 at the 2000 census, and 6,588 in 2009. It is located in south central Illinois, south of Springfield and on the northern edge of the Greater St. Louis Metro-East area.-Attractions:The Ariston Cafe is one of...
. The new route of US 66 was completed as SBI 16 and SBI 126 in 1930, and the US 66 designation was then removed from IL 4 between Staunton and Springfield. Illinois Route 4 and US Route 66 remained as cosigned routes between the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and Staunton, and between Springfield and Chicago until 1935, when the IL 4 designation was dropped from portions where it overlapped US 66, leaving only the portion from Staunton to Springfield as IL 4. This left IL 4A as an orphan alternate route of IL 4 from Joliet to Lyons until it was renumbered as IL 171 in 1967.
The section of modern IL 4 from Staunton to its southern end near Murphysboro
Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-Geography:Murphysboro is located at ....
was originally IL 43. In 1964, IL 4 was extended on this highway and the number IL 43 was eventually reused in the Chicago area.
Historical designation
A bypassed portion of old route 4 north of Auburn is listed in the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as "Illinois Route 4-North of Auburn". It was added in 1998 as structure #98000979 and consists of two c.1920 bridges over Little Panther Creek and portions of Curran and Snell roads. One section is a c.1932 1.53 mile long brick road and the other is a c.1921 Portland cement
Portland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
road 16 feet (4.9 m) wide and 1277 ft (389.2 m) long.
Major intersections
{| class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Junction
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Jackson
Jackson County, Illinois
Jackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 2000...
|
|0.0
|
|
|-
|Ava
Ava, Illinois
Ava is a city in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 662 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ava is located at ....
|10.8
|
|
|-
|Perry and Randolph
Randolph County, Illinois
Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 33,476, which is a decrease of 1.2% from 33,893 in 2000. Its county seat is Chester....
|
|21.7
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 150
|-
|rowspan=3|Randolph
Randolph County, Illinois
Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 33,476, which is a decrease of 1.2% from 33,893 in 2000. Its county seat is Chester....
|
|28.0
|
|End of concurrency with IL 150
|-
|Sparta
Sparta, Illinois
Sparta is a city in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,486 at the 2000 census.The city was the principal filming location for the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night.-Geography:Sparta is located at ....
|35.7
|
|
|-
|
|41.8
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 13
|-
|rowspan=8|St. Clair
St. Clair County, Illinois
St. Clair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau placed the mean center of U.S. population in St. Clair County. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 270,056, which is an increase of 5.5% from 256,082 in 2000. Its county seat is...
|Marissa
Marissa, Illinois
Marissa is a village in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,141 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Marissa is located at ....
|45.3
|
|End of concurrency with IL 13
|-
|St. Libory
St. Libory, Illinois
St. Libory is a village in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 583 at the 2000 census.-Geography:St. Libory is located at ....
|53.7
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 15
|-
|Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Illinois
Fayetteville is a village on the Kaskaskia River in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 384 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fayetteville is located at ....
|58.3
|
|End of concurrency with IL 15
|-
|Mascoutah
Mascoutah, Illinois
Mascoutah is a small town in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,483 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Mascoutah is located at ....
|66.2
|
|
|-
|
|68.7
|
|
|-
|
|70.7
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Lebanon
Lebanon, Illinois
Lebanon is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,523 at the 2000 census. Like many other places in "Little Egypt" or Southern Illinois, Lebanon was named after the Middle Eastern country of the same name. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St...
|73.7
||
|Beginning of concurrency with US 50
|-
|74.3
|
|End of concurrency with US 50
|-
|rowspan=5|Madison
Madison County, Illinois
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Madison County is part of the Metro-East region of the St. Louis Metro Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 269,282, which is an increase of 4.0% from 258,941 in 2000. The county seat is Edwardsville, home to...
|
|82.2
|
|
|-
|
|85.4
|
|
|-
|
|87.1
|
|
|-
|
|94.1
|
|
|-
|
|97.1
|
|
|-
|rowspan=6|Macoupin
Macoupin County, Illinois
Macoupin County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 47,765, which is a decrease of 2.6% from 49,019 in 2000. The county seat is Carlinville. Macoupin County is an outlying county of the Metro-East region...
|rowspan=2|Benld
Benld, Illinois
Benld is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,541 at the 2000 census. The name derives from founder Benjamin L. Dorsey ....
|109.1
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 138
|-
|109.7
|
|End of concurrency with IL 138
|-
|rowspan=2|Gillespie
Gillespie, Illinois
Gillespie is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,412 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gillespie is located at ....
|112.0
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 16
|-
|112.5
|
|End of concurrency with IL 16
|-
|rowspan=2|Carlinville
Carlinville, Illinois
Carlinville is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 5,685, and 5,912 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Macoupin County, and so it is an outlying part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St...
|124.0
|
|Beginning of concurrency with IL 108
|-
|124.7
|
|End of concurreny with IL 108
|-
|rowspan=5|Sangamon
Sangamon County, Illinois
Sangamon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,465, which is an increase of 4.5% from 188,951 in 2000...
|Auburn
Auburn, Illinois
Auburn is a city in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census, and 4,445 in 2009. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Auburn is located at ....
|149.5
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
|161.2
|
|
|-
|166.3
|
|
|-
|168.7
|
|
|-
|170.44
|
|