Illinois Route 64
Encyclopedia
Illinois Route 64 is an east–west road in north-central Illinois
. Its western terminus is at the Iowa
state line, connecting with U.S. Route 52
and Iowa Highway 64 via the Savanna-Sabula Bridge
at the Mississippi River
west of Savanna
. Route 64 then travels east through Mount Carroll
, Lanark
, Mount Morris
, Oregon
, Sycamore
, Lily Lake
, Saint Charles
and the western suburbs of Chicago
before terminating at Lake Shore Drive
(U.S. Highway 41) on the city's north side. Route 64 is 138.82 miles (223.41 km) long.
Illinois 64 overlaps U.S. Highway 52 between the Iowa state line and Brookville
— a distance of over 20 miles (32 km) — so that the Route 64 designation can carry over to Iowa. East of the Mississippi River
, Illinois Route 64 is largely a rural, undivided surface road from Savanna to the Fox River
in Saint Charles.
At St. Charles, Illinois 64 enters the Chicago metro area and becomes a 4 lane road, taking on the name of Main Street. Just east of St. Charles, Route 64 becomes North Avenue and retains this designation until just before its terminus in Chicago at U.S. 41 (Lake Shore Drive). At Illinois Route 59
, the road widens further from 4 lanes to 6 lanes and becomes a divided highway until its intersection with Illinois Route 83
in Elmhurst
. From Elmhurst to Interstate 294
it remains a 4-lane surface street, but it widens to a 6 lane divided highway once again through the towns of Stone Park
and Northlake
. At the Des Plaines River
and Illinois Route 43
, North Avenue becomes 4 lanes for the rest of its route through Chicago. One-half mile (0.8 km) west of U.S. 41, Illinois 64 turns north onto LaSalle Boulevard, and then east, before terminating at Lake Shore Drive
.
North Avenue is a main east–west artery in Chicago itself, and one of only seven state routes to enter the city. It is located at the 1600 North parallel of Chicago. Just east of the Kennedy Expressway
(Interstates 90
/94
), the North Avenue Bridge
carries Illinois 64 over the North Branch of the Chicago River. The hybrid suspension
/cable-stayed bridge
was built in 2006, replacing a bascule bridge
dating back to 1907.
Between Halsted and Sheffield Avenues, North Avenue has become a shopping destination, known as the Clybourn Corridor.
. Eastbound truck traffic is rerouted north along Illinois Route 83
, east along U.S. Highway 20 (Lake Street) and then onto Interstate 290
before being allowed to return to Illinois 64. Westbound truck traffic follows the same route in reverse.
As early as 1989, the city of Elmhurst had sought to block trucks from traveling on North Avenue through its city limits. For a time, Illinois House of Representatives
minority leader Lee Daniels supported a plan to reduce North Avenue from four lanes to two, prohibiting trucks from traveling through the residential neighborhood. By 1994, the village had agreed to reconstruct North Avenue and add a single set of left-turn lanes at Myrtle Avenue. Reconstruction of North Avenue in Elmhurst took place in 1997.
to Chicago. In 1937 it was extended west to what was then U.S. Route 51
(and is now Illinois Route 251
). Afterwards, it was extended further west to U.S. Route 52
, and then following it to the state line. Much like Illinois Route 92
, there is no particular reason for extending Route 64 through Iowa and Nebraska
, as existing U.S. Routes served any major cities on the State Route 64s better.
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,...
. Its western terminus is at the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
state line, connecting with U.S. Route 52
U.S. Route 52
U.S. Route 52 is a United States highway that runs across the northern, eastern and southeastern regions of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S...
and Iowa Highway 64 via the Savanna-Sabula Bridge
Savanna-Sabula Bridge
The Savanna–Sabula Bridge is a truss bridge and causeway crossing the Mississippi River and connecting the city of Savanna, Illinois with the island city of Sabula, Iowa. The bridge carries U.S. Highway 52 over the river. It is also the terminus of both Iowa Highway 64 and Illinois Route 64...
at 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...
west of Savanna
Savanna, Illinois
Savanna is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,062 at the 2010 census, down from 3,542 at the 2000 census. Savanna is located along the Mississippi River at the mouth of the Plum River. Going from north to south, the second automobile bridge between Iowa and...
. Route 64 then travels east through Mount Carroll
Mount Carroll, Illinois
Mount Carroll is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States-History:Shimer College was established in Mt. Carroll in 1853, but mounting debts forced a move to Waukegan, Illinois in 1979. The campus now is home to several organizations, most notably the Campbell Center for Historic...
, Lanark
Lanark, Illinois
Lanark is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,457 at the 2010 census, down from 1,584 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Mount Morris
Mount Morris, Illinois
Mount Morris is a village in Mount Morris Township, Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,998 at the 2010 census, down from 3,013 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mount Morris is located at ....
, Oregon
Oregon, Illinois
Oregon is a city located in Ogle County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 3,721, down from 4,060 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ogle County.- History :...
, Sycamore
Sycamore, Illinois
Sycamore is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. It has a commercial district based and centered on Illinois Route 64. The population was 17,519 at the 2010 census, up from 12,020 at the 2000 census.-Early settlement:...
, Lily Lake
Lily Lake, Illinois
Lily Lake is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The town is 11 miles southwest of Elgin and 43 miles west of Chicago. The village is part of the Chicago metro area. It was incorporated as a village on November 6, 1990...
, Saint Charles
St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles is a Chicago suburb in Kane and DuPage counties of Illinois, United States, and is roughly west of Chicago on Illinois Route 64. According to a 2004 census estimate, the city has a total population of 32,134. The official city slogan is Pride of the Fox, after the Fox River that runs...
and the western suburbs of Chicago
Chicago
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...
before terminating at Lake Shore Drive
Lake Shore Drive
Lake Shore Drive is a mostly freeway-standard expressway running parallel with and alongside the shoreline of Lake Michigan through Chicago, Illinois, USA. Except for the portion north of Foster Avenue , Lake Shore Drive is designated as part of U.S...
(U.S. Highway 41) on the city's north side. Route 64 is 138.82 miles (223.41 km) long.
Route description
Brookville Township, Ogle County, Illinois
Brookville Township is one of twenty-four townships in Ogle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 253.-History:Brookville Township was one of the original twenty townships that were created when township government was adopted by the county; these townships were defined...
— a distance of over 20 miles (32 km) — so that the Route 64 designation can carry over to Iowa. East of 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...
, Illinois Route 64 is largely a rural, undivided surface road from Savanna to the Fox River
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
in Saint Charles.
At St. Charles, Illinois 64 enters the Chicago metro area and becomes a 4 lane road, taking on the name of Main Street. Just east of St. Charles, Route 64 becomes North Avenue and retains this designation until just before its terminus in Chicago at U.S. 41 (Lake Shore Drive). At Illinois Route 59
Illinois Route 59
Illinois Route 59 is a north–south state highway in northeastern Illinois. It runs south from Illinois Route 83 in Antioch to Interstate Highway 55 in Shorewood, spanning the north–south width of Chicago's western suburbs...
, the road widens further from 4 lanes to 6 lanes and becomes a divided highway until its intersection with Illinois Route 83
Illinois Route 83
Illinois Route 83 is a major north–south state road in northeast Illinois. It stretches from U.S. Highway 30 by Lynwood and Dyer, Indiana north to the Wisconsin border by Antioch at Highway 83. Incidentally, this alignment is concentric with Interstate 294...
in Elmhurst
Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. The population is 46,013 as of the 2008 US Census population estimate.-History:...
. From Elmhurst to Interstate 294
Interstate 294
Interstate 294 is a tolled Interstate Highway in northeastern Illinois, U.S.A.. It forms the southern portion of the Tri-State Tollway in Illinois. I-294 runs from South Holland at Interstates 80 and 94, and Illinois Route 394 to Northbrook at I-94. Interstate 294 is long; are shared with I-80....
it remains a 4-lane surface street, but it widens to a 6 lane divided highway once again through the towns of Stone Park
Stone Park, Illinois
Stone Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,127 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stone Park is located at ....
and Northlake
Northlake, Illinois
Northlake is a city in suburban Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,878 at the 2000 census. The city's moniker is "The City of Friendly People".-Geography:...
. At 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....
and Illinois Route 43
Illinois Route 43
Illinois Route 43 is a major north–south state road in the U.S. state of Illinois. It runs from U.S. Route 30 in Frankfort north to the large intersection of Illinois Route 120 and U.S...
, North Avenue becomes 4 lanes for the rest of its route through Chicago. One-half mile (0.8 km) west of U.S. 41, Illinois 64 turns north onto LaSalle Boulevard, and then east, before terminating at Lake Shore Drive
Lake Shore Drive
Lake Shore Drive is a mostly freeway-standard expressway running parallel with and alongside the shoreline of Lake Michigan through Chicago, Illinois, USA. Except for the portion north of Foster Avenue , Lake Shore Drive is designated as part of U.S...
.
North Avenue is a main east–west artery in Chicago itself, and one of only seven state routes to enter the city. It is located at the 1600 North parallel of Chicago. Just east of the Kennedy Expressway
Kennedy Expressway
The John F. Kennedy Expressway is a long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. The expressway is named for the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90...
(Interstates 90
Interstate 90 in Illinois
In the U.S. state of Illinois, Interstate 90 runs roughly northwest through the northern end of the state, from the Indiana border to Wisconsin. I-90 traverses a variety of settings, from farmland west of the Fox River Valley to medium-density suburban west of O'Hare International Airport, to the...
/94
Interstate 94 in Illinois
In the U.S. state of Illinois, Interstate 94 generally runs north–south through the northeastern portion of the state, in Lake and Cook Counties. It is marked east–west in Illinois in accordance with its general alignment across the country, although some entrances on the Tri-State...
), the North Avenue Bridge
North Avenue Bridge
The North Avenue Bridge can refer to one of three bridges that has carried North Avenue over the North Branch of the Chicago River on the north side of Chicago, Illinois...
carries Illinois 64 over the North Branch of the Chicago River. The hybrid suspension
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
/cable-stayed bridge
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
was built in 2006, replacing a bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
dating back to 1907.
Between Halsted and Sheffield Avenues, North Avenue has become a shopping destination, known as the Clybourn Corridor.
Illinois Truck Route 64
Illinois 64 has one alternate route; Illinois Truck Route 64, a bypass around a truck-prohibited, residential section of ElmhurstElmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. The population is 46,013 as of the 2008 US Census population estimate.-History:...
. Eastbound truck traffic is rerouted north along Illinois Route 83
Illinois Route 83
Illinois Route 83 is a major north–south state road in northeast Illinois. It stretches from U.S. Highway 30 by Lynwood and Dyer, Indiana north to the Wisconsin border by Antioch at Highway 83. Incidentally, this alignment is concentric with Interstate 294...
, east along U.S. Highway 20 (Lake Street) and then onto Interstate 290
Interstate 290 (Illinois)
Interstate 290 is a main Interstate freeway that runs westwards from the Chicago Loop. A portion of I-290 is officially called the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway. In short form, it is known as "the Ike" or the Eisenhower...
before being allowed to return to Illinois 64. Westbound truck traffic follows the same route in reverse.
As early as 1989, the city of Elmhurst had sought to block trucks from traveling on North Avenue through its city limits. For a time, Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
minority leader Lee Daniels supported a plan to reduce North Avenue from four lanes to two, prohibiting trucks from traveling through the residential neighborhood. By 1994, the village had agreed to reconstruct North Avenue and add a single set of left-turn lanes at Myrtle Avenue. Reconstruction of North Avenue in Elmhurst took place in 1997.
History
SBI Route 64 was Illinois 64 from SycamoreSycamore, Illinois
Sycamore is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. It has a commercial district based and centered on Illinois Route 64. The population was 17,519 at the 2010 census, up from 12,020 at the 2000 census.-Early settlement:...
to Chicago. In 1937 it was extended west to what was then U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,286 miles from the western suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana to within of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Much of the highway in Illinois and southern Wisconsin runs parallel to or overlaps Interstate 39...
(and is now Illinois Route 251
Illinois Route 251
Illinois Route 251 is a north–south state road that runs on the former alignment of U.S. Route 51 before Interstate 39 was built in central Illinois. It runs from U.S. 51 at the border with Wisconsin to I-39 and U.S. 51 south of Kappa. Illinois 251 is long.- Route description :Illinois 251...
). Afterwards, it was extended further west to U.S. Route 52
U.S. Route 52
U.S. Route 52 is a United States highway that runs across the northern, eastern and southeastern regions of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S...
, and then following it to the state line. Much like Illinois Route 92
Illinois Route 92
Illinois Route 92 is an east–west state highway in northwest Illinois. It runs from Iowa Highway 92 at the Norbert F. Beckey Bridge across the Mississippi River to Muscatine, Iowa east to U.S. Route 34 in La Moille. This is a distance of ....
, there is no particular reason for extending Route 64 through Iowa and Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, as existing U.S. Routes served any major cities on the State Route 64s better.
Major Junctions
| County | Location | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook Cook County, Illinois Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than... |
Chicago | (Lake Shore Drive) | Eastern Terminus |
| (Cicero Ave.) | |||
| (Harlem Ave.) | |||
| Melrose Park Melrose Park, Illinois Melrose Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a "near-in" suburb of Chicago. The population was 23,171 at the 2000 census. Melrose Park has long been home to a large Italian-American population, though now it is majority Mexican-American. It was the home of Kiddieland... |
(1st Ave.) | ||
| Northlake Northlake, Illinois Northlake is a city in suburban Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,878 at the 2000 census. The city's moniker is "The City of Friendly People".-Geography:... |
No direct access | ||
| DuPage 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... |
Elmhurst Elmhurst, Illinois Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. The population is 46,013 as of the 2008 US Census population estimate.-History:... |
Use for 290 east | |
| No direct access - use I-290 west | |||
| (Kingery Hwy.) | |||
| Lombard Lombard, Illinois Lombard, "The Lilac Village", is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County, Illinois. The population was 42,322 at the 2000 census. The United States Census Bureau estimated the population in 2004 to be 42,975.-History:... |
(Rohlwing Rd.) | ||
| West Chicago West Chicago, Illinois West Chicago is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,469 at the 2000 census. It was formerly named Turner Junction after its founder, John B. Turner, president of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad in 1855... |
|||
| Kane 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 :... |
St. Charles St. Charles, Illinois St. Charles is a Chicago suburb in Kane and DuPage counties of Illinois, United States, and is roughly west of Chicago on Illinois Route 64. According to a 2004 census estimate, the city has a total population of 32,134. The official city slogan is Pride of the Fox, after the Fox River that runs... |
||
| Lily Lake Lily Lake, Illinois Lily Lake is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The town is 11 miles southwest of Elgin and 43 miles west of Chicago. The village is part of the Chicago metro area. It was incorporated as a village on November 6, 1990... |
|||
| DeKalb DeKalb County, Illinois DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 105,160, which is an increase of 18.2% from 88,969 in 2000. Its county seat is Sycamore. DeKalb County is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.-History:DeKalb County... |
Sycamore Sycamore, Illinois Sycamore is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. It has a commercial district based and centered on Illinois Route 64. The population was 17,519 at the 2010 census, up from 12,020 at the 2000 census.-Early settlement:... |
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