Interstate 280 (Illinois-Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 280 is a highway that makes up the western and southern portions of the beltway around the Quad Cities
of Illinois and Iowa. The freeway starts at I-80 near Davenport, Iowa
and ends at I-80 near Colona, Illinois
; its eastern part runs concurrent
with I-74 to return to I-80. I-280 forms the southern part of a circle around the Quad Cities
as well as forming part of a bypass (along with I-80) for U.S. Highway 61 around Davenport. This road is 26.98 miles (43.42 km) long.
. U.S. Route 6 (US 6) and US 61 join I-280 from opposite directions of I-80 at the interchange. It heads south along the western edge of Davenport. At the Kimberly Road exit, US 6 splits off to the east. It continues south for 4 miles (6.4 km), crossing Duck Creek
, towards a diamond interchange
with Scott County Road F65 (CR F65), which becomes Locust Street in Davenport.
Further south, I-280 passes the 620 acres (250.9 ha) West Lake Park. South of West Lake Park, US 61 splits away from the interstate on its way towards Muscatine
. In the other direction, U.S. Route 61 Business heads towards the Davenport riverfront. South of US 61, I-280 curves to the southeast towards the Mississippi River
. It drops into the river valley and meets Iowa Highway 22 (Iowa 22). It continues southeast and crosses the river via the I-280 Bridge
.
In Illinois, I-280 runs for 17.6 miles (28.32 km). It runs southeast from the I-280 Bridge to Milan
, where it parallels the Rock River
. I-280 joins with I-74 at the Quad Cities International Airport; this concurrency
continues for 9.4 miles (15.1 km) before terminating at the I-74/I-80 interchange.
On the SE corner of the Quad Cities (in Illinois) I-280 heading East ends and becomes I-80 while I-80 heads South from Le Claire, Rapids City, and Port Byron. I-80 heading South becomes I-74 which (after going through the center of the Quad Cities hooks up with I-280. This exchange is called The Big X.
One of the reasons Illinois pursued the matter was due to the configuration of the eastern terminus of I-280; as a simple cloverleaf interchange, through I-80 traffic (along the north and east branches) was required to exit on both directions. Thru I-74 traffic (along the west and south branches) is also required to exit on both directions. I-280 runs due west from the interchange.
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
of Illinois and Iowa. The freeway starts at I-80 near Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
and ends at I-80 near Colona, Illinois
Colona, Illinois
Colona is a city in Henry County, Illinois, along the Green River. It is part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area. The population was 5,099 at the 2010 census, down from 5,173 at the 2000 census....
; its eastern part runs concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with I-74 to return to I-80. I-280 forms the southern part of a circle around the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
as well as forming part of a bypass (along with I-80) for U.S. Highway 61 around Davenport. This road is 26.98 miles (43.42 km) long.
Route description
I-280 begins at a directional T interchange with Interstate 80 on the northwestern outskirts of DavenportDavenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
. U.S. Route 6 (US 6) and US 61 join I-280 from opposite directions of I-80 at the interchange. It heads south along the western edge of Davenport. At the Kimberly Road exit, US 6 splits off to the east. It continues south for 4 miles (6.4 km), crossing Duck Creek
Duck Creek (Quad Cities)
Duck Creek is a creek that runs through the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in the U.S. state of Iowa. The creek begins in the rural areas west of Davenport and it empties into the Mississippi River in southeast Bettendorf. It is the largest creek in the Quad Cities and is mainly used for storm...
, towards a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with Scott County Road F65 (CR F65), which becomes Locust Street in Davenport.
Further south, I-280 passes the 620 acres (250.9 ha) West Lake Park. South of West Lake Park, US 61 splits away from the interstate on its way towards Muscatine
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
. In the other direction, U.S. Route 61 Business heads towards the Davenport riverfront. South of US 61, I-280 curves to the southeast towards 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...
. It drops into the river valley and meets Iowa Highway 22 (Iowa 22). It continues southeast and crosses the river via the I-280 Bridge
I-280 Bridge
The Sergeant John F. Baker, Jr., Bridge, also the Baker Bridge or Interstate 280 Bridge, carries Interstate 280 across the Mississippi River between Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois. The bridge opened in 1973 with a blue and yellow color scheme, thought to be unique in the state. In...
.
In Illinois, I-280 runs for 17.6 miles (28.32 km). It runs southeast from the I-280 Bridge to Milan
Milan, Illinois
Milan is a village in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,257 at the 2000 census.The village is located near the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Before ceasing operations in 2003, Eagle Food Centers was based out of Milan....
, where it parallels the Rock River
Rock River (Illinois)
The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Illinois. It rises in southeast Wisconsin, in the Theresa Marsh near Theresa, Wisconsin in northeast Dodge County, Wisconsin approximately south of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin...
. I-280 joins with I-74 at the Quad Cities International Airport; this concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
continues for 9.4 miles (15.1 km) before terminating at the I-74/I-80 interchange.
On the SE corner of the Quad Cities (in Illinois) I-280 heading East ends and becomes I-80 while I-80 heads South from Le Claire, Rapids City, and Port Byron. I-80 heading South becomes I-74 which (after going through the center of the Quad Cities hooks up with I-280. This exchange is called The Big X.
History
Interstate 280 has been at the center of a few debates regarding its routing. In the early 1990s, the state of Illinois suggested, via AASHTO and ISTEA hearings, swapping the I-80 and I-280 designations around the Quad Cities. The plan would have also changed I-74 to I-174. This was challenged by the state of Iowa, and the idea was dropped.One of the reasons Illinois pursued the matter was due to the configuration of the eastern terminus of I-280; as a simple cloverleaf interchange, through I-80 traffic (along the north and east branches) was required to exit on both directions. Thru I-74 traffic (along the west and south branches) is also required to exit on both directions. I-280 runs due west from the interchange.