Interstate 55 in Illinois
Encyclopedia
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
(Lake Shore Drive
) near downtown Chicago
. This is a distance of 294.38 miles (473.75 km).
over the Mississippi River
at the Missouri-Illinois state line. and runs southwest to northeast through the state, ending in Chicago
at US Route 41 Lake Shore Drive
. Along the way, it goes through four metropolitan areas in the state: the Illinois portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area, the Springfield metropolitan area
, the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area
, and the southwestern suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area (also known as Chicagoland).
I-55 enters Chicago as the Stevenson Expressway
, and provides easy access to downtown Chicago via the I-90/I-94 Dan Ryan Expressway
interchange, and via US 41 Lake Shore Drive at the northern terminus of I-55.
by 1924. In 1926, IL 4 was designated as the route of the new US Route 66, and a new section of US 66 was built to bypass slower sections of IL 4 south of Springfield
by 1930. Through the 1950s US 66 was continually widened, straightened, and improved to handle its growing traffic, until its entire length was four lanes wide by 1957.
The roots of Interstate 55 could be traced back to the need of a national highway system. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
saw the need of a national network of highways that would help with the mobilization of the army. He had been impressed with the autobahn he saw in Germany during World War II. In 1956 he signed the Federal Aid Highway Act into existence. Although the act provided for a highway replacing Route 66, it was spared destruction for a while because of it being more modern than other routes at the time. Illinois would built its first new Interstate highways on other routes such as Interstate 80
, Interstate 57
, and Interstate 70
, before turning its attention once again to the St. Louis to Chicago route.
However during the 1970s, Route 66 was finally replaced by Interstate 55 as the fourth St. Louis to Chicago highway, serving most of the same communities along the way as the original Pontiac Trail. It was built in sections across Illinois, often on the original Route 66 roadbed. A common construction tactic where Route 66 was already four lanes wide, was to build new southbound lanes for I-55 west of the original road, then rebuild the original southbound lanes of US 66 to be the new northbound lanes for I-55, leaving the original northbound lanes of old US 66 as a two-way service road. One can find many signs posted for Historic Route 66, especially where it deviates from I-55.
The earliest stretch of I-55 was a portion of US 66 which had already been built as a freeway between Gardner
and Welco Corners
, and which was added to the Interstate system by simply erecting new signs in 1960. Later portions of the highway were built in the 1960s between East St. Louis and Hamel
, as bypasses of Springfield
and Bloomington
-Normal
, and as the Stevenson Expressway
into Downtown Chicago
. The rest of the road was completed in the 1970s.
(IDOT) must spend millions per year maintaining the roadway and adding lanes to increase the capacity of the highway. In addition, several bridges are slated for construction or revitalization, including plans for a new $560 million Interstate 70
bridge over the Mississippi river which will relieve congestion on I-55's Poplar Street Bridge.
, a widening project that expanded I-55 from two to three lanes in each direction between I-80
(exit 250) and Weber Road (exit 263) was recently completed. Preliminary bridge work for this project was completed in 2007, and mainline work was completed on October 29, 2008.
. It runs north from the intersection of Interstates 55
and Interstate 72
through downtown to Illinois Route 4
(Veterans' Parkway). It then runs northeast to Sherman
.
All of Business Loop 55 was part of U.S. Route 66
at some point.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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,...
, Interstate 55
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...
is a major north–south Interstate Highway that connects the St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and 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...
metropolitan areas. It runs from the Poplar Street Bridge
Poplar Street Bridge
The Poplar Street Bridge, officially the Bernard F. Dickmann Bridge, completed in 1967, is a long deck girder bridge across the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois...
in East St. Louis
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
to U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
(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...
) near downtown 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...
. This is a distance of 294.38 miles (473.75 km).
Route description
Interstate 55 within Illinois carries heavy traffic, with an average of more than 20,000 vehicles per day for most of its length. Significant portions of Interstate 55 contain six lanes (3 lanes in each direction) and are heavily used by commuters. I-55 in Illinois begins in East Saint Louis on the Poplar Street BridgePoplar Street Bridge
The Poplar Street Bridge, officially the Bernard F. Dickmann Bridge, completed in 1967, is a long deck girder bridge across the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois...
over 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...
at the Missouri-Illinois state line. and runs southwest to northeast through the state, ending in 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...
at US Route 41 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...
. Along the way, it goes through four metropolitan areas in the state: the Illinois portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area, the Springfield metropolitan area
Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area
The Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Central Illinois, anchored by the city of Springfield...
, the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
Bloomington-Normal refers to the twin municipalities of Bloomington and Normal in McLean County, in Central Illinois. The combined population of the two communities in a special census in 2006 was 125,000.-Sports:...
, and the southwestern suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area (also known as Chicagoland).
I-55 enters Chicago as the Stevenson Expressway
Stevenson Expressway
The Stevenson Expressway is the major Interstate highway leading southwest out of the city of Chicago in Illinois. It is signed as Interstate 55 for the entire length....
, and provides easy access to downtown Chicago via the I-90/I-94 Dan Ryan Expressway
Dan Ryan Expressway
The Dan Ryan is an expressway in the city of Chicago that runs from the Circle Interchange with I-290 near downtown Chicago through the South Side of the city. It is designated as both Interstate 94 and Interstate 90 south to 66th Street, a distance of...
interchange, and via US 41 Lake Shore Drive at the northern terminus of I-55.
History
Interstate 55 in Illinois is the fourth road to connect St. Louis and Chicago. The first was the Pontiac Trail in 1915. This was largely improved and paved as the new Illinois Route 4Illinois Route 4
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 .-Route description:...
by 1924. In 1926, IL 4 was designated as the route of the new US Route 66, and a new section of US 66 was built to bypass slower sections of IL 4 south of 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...
by 1930. Through the 1950s US 66 was continually widened, straightened, and improved to handle its growing traffic, until its entire length was four lanes wide by 1957.
The roots of Interstate 55 could be traced back to the need of a national highway system. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
saw the need of a national network of highways that would help with the mobilization of the army. He had been impressed with the autobahn he saw in Germany during World War II. In 1956 he signed the Federal Aid Highway Act into existence. Although the act provided for a highway replacing Route 66, it was spared destruction for a while because of it being more modern than other routes at the time. Illinois would built its first new Interstate highways on other routes such as Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
, Interstate 57
Interstate 57
Interstate 57 is an Interstate Highway in Missouri and Illinois that parallels the old Illinois Central rail line for much of its route. It goes from Miner, Missouri, at Interstate 55 to Chicago, Illinois, at Interstate 94. I-57 essentially serves as a shortcut route for travelers headed between...
, and Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
, before turning its attention once again to the St. Louis to Chicago route.
However during the 1970s, Route 66 was finally replaced by Interstate 55 as the fourth St. Louis to Chicago highway, serving most of the same communities along the way as the original Pontiac Trail. It was built in sections across Illinois, often on the original Route 66 roadbed. A common construction tactic where Route 66 was already four lanes wide, was to build new southbound lanes for I-55 west of the original road, then rebuild the original southbound lanes of US 66 to be the new northbound lanes for I-55, leaving the original northbound lanes of old US 66 as a two-way service road. One can find many signs posted for Historic Route 66, especially where it deviates from I-55.
The earliest stretch of I-55 was a portion of US 66 which had already been built as a freeway between Gardner
Gardner, Illinois
Gardner is a village in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,463 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Gardner is located at .-Demographics:...
and Welco Corners
Welco Corners, Illinois
Welco Corners, Illinois is a populated place in northern Will County, Illinois.It is at the junction of Interstate 55 and Joliet Road, and is within the city limits and postal delivery zone of Bolingbrook, Illinois, though it existed before the founding of Bolingbrook.- History :Welco Corners was...
, and which was added to the Interstate system by simply erecting new signs in 1960. Later portions of the highway were built in the 1960s between East St. Louis and Hamel
Hamel, Illinois
Hamel is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 570 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Illinois Metro-East portion of the Greater St...
, as bypasses of 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...
and Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
-Normal
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, and as the Stevenson Expressway
Stevenson Expressway
The Stevenson Expressway is the major Interstate highway leading southwest out of the city of Chicago in Illinois. It is signed as Interstate 55 for the entire length....
into Downtown 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...
. The rest of the road was completed in the 1970s.
Construction efforts
Because of the heavy traffic on Interstate 55 mentioned above, the Illinois Department of TransportationIllinois Department of Transportation
The Illinois Department of Transportation is a state agency in charge of state-maintained public roadways of the U.S. state of Illinois. In addition, IDOT provides funding for rail, public transit and airport projects and administers fuel tax and federal funding to local juridictions in the...
(IDOT) must spend millions per year maintaining the roadway and adding lanes to increase the capacity of the highway. In addition, several bridges are slated for construction or revitalization, including plans for a new $560 million Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
bridge over the Mississippi river which will relieve congestion on I-55's Poplar Street Bridge.
Recent Upgrades
In northeastern Illinois near JolietJoliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
, a widening project that expanded I-55 from two to three lanes in each direction between I-80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
(exit 250) and Weber Road (exit 263) was recently completed. Preliminary bridge work for this project was completed in 2007, and mainline work was completed on October 29, 2008.
Exit list
| County | Location | Mile | # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
East St. Louis East St. Louis, Illinois East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950... |
Poplar Street Bridge Poplar Street Bridge The Poplar Street Bridge, officially the Bernard F. Dickmann Bridge, completed in 1967, is a long deck girder bridge across the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois... over 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... (Missouri–Illinois state line) |
|||||
| 1 | South end of IL 3/GRR overlap | ||||||
| 13th Street, Tudor Avenue | |||||||
| Fourth Street – East St. Louis Business District | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||||||
| 2A | Third Street – Eads Bridge Eads Bridge The Eads Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis, connecting St. Louis and East St. Louis, Illinois.... |
Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||
| 2BC | Martin Luther King Bridge Martin Luther King Bridge (St. Louis) The Martin Luther King Bridge in St. Louis is a cantilever truss bridge of about in total length across the Mississippi River, connecting St. Louis with East St. Louis, Illinois. The bridge serves as traffic relief connecting the concurrent freeways of Interstate 55, Interstate 70, Interstate... – Downtown St. Louis |
Southbound exit and northbound entrance; left exit is signed as exit 2B and right exit as 2C | |||||
| 2 | – Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096... |
North end of I-64/IL 3 overlap | |||||
| 3 | Exchange Avenue | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||
| 4 | Signed as exits 4A (south) and 4B (north) southbound | ||||||
| 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... |
Fairmont City Fairmont City, Illinois Fairmont City is a village in St. Clair and Madison Counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,436 at the 2000 census. Fairmont City holds the highest percentage of Hispanics in the entire St... |
6 | North end of GRR overlap | ||||
| Collinsville Collinsville, Illinois Collinsville is a city located mainly in Madison County, and partially in St. Clair County, both in Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 26,016. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is considered part of that city's Metro-East area... |
9 | Black Lane | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||||
| 10 | – Memphis Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers.... |
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| 11 | |||||||
| Maryville Maryville, Illinois Maryville is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,651 at the 2000 census. The population grew to 5,899 in 2004, according to a special census.-Geography:Maryville is located at .... |
15 | Signed as exits 15A (south) and 15B (north) | |||||
| 17 | North end of US 40 overlap | ||||||
| Troy Troy, Illinois Troy is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,524 at the 2000 census.Troy is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
18 | ||||||
| 20A | – Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
North end of I-70 overlap | |||||
| 20B | – Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties... |
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| 23 | |||||||
| Rest area available both directions between exit 23 and 30; full handicap facilities, phone, picnic tables, trash cans, vending, pet area | |||||||
| Hamel Hamel, Illinois Hamel is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 570 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Illinois Metro-East portion of the Greater St... |
30 | ||||||
| 33 | |||||||
| Livingston Livingston, Illinois Livingston is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 825 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Livingston is located at .... |
37 | Livingston Livingston, Illinois Livingston is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 825 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Livingston is located at .... , New Douglas New Douglas, Illinois New Douglas is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 369 at the 2000 census. It is a community that was centered around the local coal mines and farming in the early 1900s. When need for coal dropped in the 1950s the town fell back on its farming roots. Mostly... |
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| 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... |
41 | 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 .... |
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| White City | 44 | ||||||
| Montgomery | 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... |
52 | |||||
| 60 | |||||||
| Rest area available both directions between exits 60 and 63; full handicap facilities, phone, picnic tables, trash cans, vending, pet area | |||||||
| 63 | |||||||
| Farmersville Farmersville, Illinois Farmersville is a village in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 768 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Farmersville is located at .... |
72 | Farmersville Farmersville, Illinois Farmersville is a village in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 768 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Farmersville is located at .... , Girard Girard, Illinois Girard is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,245 at the 2000 census, and 2,152 at a 2009 estimate.-Geography:Girard is located at .... |
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| 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... |
Divernon Divernon, Illinois Divernon is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,201 at the 2000 census, and 1,131 at a 2009 estimate. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
80 | Divernon Divernon, Illinois Divernon is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,201 at the 2000 census, and 1,131 at a 2009 estimate. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
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| 82 | |||||||
| 83 | Glenarm Glenarm, Illinois Glenarm is an unincorporated community in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. Glenarm is located along Interstate 55 south of Springfield. Glenarm has a post office with ZIP code 62536.-Education:... |
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| 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... |
88 | East Lake Drive – Chatham Chatham, Illinois Chatham is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,500 as of the 2010 census. The village lies along the original alignment of historic U.S... |
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| 90 | Toronto Road | ||||||
| 92A | |||||||
| 92B | South end of I-72/US 36 overlap | ||||||
| 94 | Stevenson Drive, East Lake Drive | ||||||
| 96 | Signed as exits 96A (south) and 96B (north) | ||||||
| 98A | North end of I-72/US 36 overlap | ||||||
| 98B | |||||||
| 100 | Signed as exits 100A (east) and 100B (west) | ||||||
| Southbound Rest Area between exits 105 and 100; full handicap facilities, phone, picnic tables, trash cans, vending, pet area | |||||||
| Northbound Rest Area between exits 100 and 105; full handicap facilities, phone, picnic tables, trash cans, vending, pet area | |||||||
| 105 | Sherman Sherman, Illinois Sherman is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,871 at the 2000 census, and 3,873 at a 2009 estimate. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sherman is located at .... |
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| Williamsville Williamsville, Illinois Williamsville is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,439 at the 2000 census, and 1,387 at a 2009 estimate... |
109 | Williamsville Williamsville, Illinois Williamsville is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,439 at the 2000 census, and 1,387 at a 2009 estimate... (IL 123) |
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| Logan Logan County, Illinois Logan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 30,305, which is a decrease of 2.8% from 31,183 in 2000... |
Elkhart Elkhart, Illinois Elkhart is a village in Logan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 443 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elkhart is located at .... |
115 | Elkhart Elkhart, Illinois Elkhart is a village in Logan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 443 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elkhart is located at .... |
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| 119 | Broadwell Broadwell, Illinois Broadwell is a village in Logan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 169 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Broadwell is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.... |
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| 123 | |||||||
| Lincoln | 126 | ||||||
| 127 | |||||||
| 133 | |||||||
| 140 | Atlanta Atlanta, Illinois Atlanta is a city in Logan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,649 at the 2000 census, and 1,635 at a 2009 estimate.-Geography:Atlanta is located at .... , Lawndale Lawndale, Illinois Lawndale is a community in Logan County, Illinois, United States which lies northeast of Springfield. The town lies on Interstate 55, part of the old Route 66, between Atlanta and Lincoln. The town lies just south of Kickapoo Creek... |
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| McLean McLean County, Illinois McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is... |
145 | ||||||
| Rest area available both directions; full handicap facilities, phone, picnic tables, trash cans, vending, pet area | |||||||
| 154 | Shirley Shirley, Illinois Shirley is a small unincorporated municipality located in southwestern McLean County. It sits right off Interstate 55. It was founded in 1854 and currently has a population of 378. Shirley is home to the Funk Prairie Home & Rock Museum.-History:... |
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| 157A | – Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... , Decatur Decatur, Illinois Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,... |
South end of I-74/US 51 overlap | |||||
| Bloomington Bloomington, Illinois Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area... |
157B | Signed as exit 134B (north) southbound | |||||
| 160 | |||||||
| 163 | North end of I-74 overlap | ||||||
| 164 | North end of US 51 overlap | ||||||
| Normal | 165 | Signed as exits 165A (south) and 165B (north) northbound | |||||
| 167 | |||||||
| 171 | Towanda Towanda, Illinois Towanda is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 480 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area.... |
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| Lexington Lexington, Illinois Lexington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,060 at the 2010 census. There are two theories of its name. One says it was named for the Battle of Lexington, where General Gridley's father fought... |
178 | Lexington Lexington, Illinois Lexington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,060 at the 2010 census. There are two theories of its name. One says it was named for the Battle of Lexington, where General Gridley's father fought... |
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| Chenoa Chenoa, Illinois Chenoa is a city in McLean County, Illinois, USA. The population was 1,785 at the 2010 census. Located at the intersections of Interstate 55, Historic Route 66, and U.S. Route 24.Founded in 1854 by Mathew T. Scott, Chenoa was created to provide a retail and trade center for his farm tenants as well... |
187 | ||||||
| Livingston Livingston County, Illinois Livingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 38,950, which is a decrease of 1.8% from 39,678 in 2000. Its county seat is Pontiac.... |
Pontiac Pontiac, Illinois Pontiac is a city in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,931 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Livingston County... |
Rest area available both directions between exits 187 and 197; full handicap facilities, phone, picnic tables, trash cans, vending, pet area | |||||
| 197 | |||||||
| 201 | |||||||
| 209 | Odell Odell, Illinois Odell is a village in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census.-Media:In October 2006, Odell was featured on the USA Food Network's "Riding Old Route 66", which visited the Standard Oil station-Geography:... |
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| 217 | Exits in Dwight | ||||||
| Grundy | 220 | ||||||
| 227 | |||||||
| 233 | Reed Road – Braidwood | ||||||
| Will Will County, Illinois As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile... |
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| 236 | |||||||
| 238 | |||||||
| 240 | Lorenzo Road | ||||||
| 241 | Wilmington Wilmington, Illinois Wilmington is the name of two places in the U.S. state of Illinois:*Wilmington, Greene County, Illinois*Wilmington, Will County, Illinois... |
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| 245 | Arsenal Road | ||||||
| 247 | Bluff Road | ||||||
| Channahon Channahon, Illinois Channahon is a village in Grundy and Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 12,560 at the 2010 census. Channahon is also the name of the township in which most of the village resides... |
248 | ||||||
| 250 | – 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... , Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... |
Signed as exits 250A (east) and 250B (west) | |||||
| Shorewood Shorewood, Illinois Shorewood is a village in Troy Township, Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,686 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 15,521 as of 2008.- Presidents :... |
251 | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 253 | |||||||
| Joliet Joliet, Illinois Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing... |
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| 257 | |||||||
| Plainfield Plainfield, Illinois Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County... |
261 | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||
| Romeoville Romeoville, Illinois Romeoville is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,153 at the 2000 census. As of 2006 the population has grown to 36,837. It is located in the southwest suburban area of Chicago near the newly constructed I-355 extension south from the Stevenson Expressway to I-80... |
263 | Weber Road | |||||
| Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, Illinois Bolingbrook is a large village in Will and DuPage Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 US Census, the population is 73,366... |
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| 267 | |||||||
| 268 | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||||||
| 269 | – Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs | ||||||
| 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... |
Darien Darien, Illinois Darien is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, USA. The population was 22,086 at the 2010 census.A suburb of Chicago, Darien was named after a town in Connecticut.-Popular culture:... |
271 | Lemont Avenue | Signed as exits 271A (south) and 271B (north) | |||
| 273 | Cass Avenue | Signed as exits 273A (south) and 273B (north) | |||||
| Willowbrook | 274 | ||||||
| Burr Ridge Burr Ridge, Illinois Burr Ridge is a suburb of Chicago, in Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois. The population was 11,560 at the 2008 census.-Geography:Burr Ridge is located at .... |
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| 276 | County Line Road | Signed as exits 276A (south) and 276B (north) | |||||
| 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... |
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| Indian Head Park Indian Head Park, Illinois Indian Head Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois slightly north of the intersection of Interstate 294 and Interstate 55. The village is south of Western Springs, north of Burr Ridge, and west of Countryside. The population was 3,685 at the 2000 census... |
276C | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 277 | – Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... , Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... |
Signed as exits 277A (north) and 277B (south); southbound exit to I-294 south is via exit 279A | |||||
| Countryside | |||||||
| 279 | Signed as exits 279A (east/south) and 279B (west/north) | ||||||
| Hodgkins | |||||||
| Summit Summit, Illinois Summit is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,637 at the 2000 census. The village is best known as the setting to Ernest Hemingway's 1927 short story "The Killers".-Geography:... |
282 | Signed as exits 282A (south) and 282B (north) northbound | |||||
| 283 | |||||||
| Chicago | |||||||
| 285 | Central Avenue (5600 West) | ||||||
| 286 | |||||||
| 287 | Pulaski Road Pulaski Road (Chicago) Pulaski Road is a major north-south thoroughfare in the city of Chicago, at 4000 W., or exactly five miles west of State Street. It is named after revolutionary war hero Casimir Pulaski... (4000 West) |
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| 288 | Kedzie Avenue (3200 West) | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||
| 289 | California Avenue (2800 West) | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 290 | Damen Avenue (2000 West) | ||||||
| 290 | Ashland Avenue (1600 West) | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 292 | – Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... , Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... |
Signed as exits 292A (west) and 292B (east) northbound, and as exits 292 (west) and 293B (east) southbound | |||||
| 293A | Cermak Road Cermak Road Cermak Road, formerly 22nd Street, is a major east-west artery on Chicago's south side and western suburbs. It is named for assassinated Chicago mayor Anton Cermak.-Points of interest:... – Chinatown (2200 South) |
Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 293C | State Street State Street (Chicago) State Street is a large south-north street in Chicago, Illinois, USA and its south suburbs. It begins on the Near North Side at North Avenue. For much of its course, it lies between Wabash Avenue on the east and Dearborn Street/Lafayette Avenue on the west... (0 East/West) |
Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||
| 293D | Martin L. King Drive (400 East) | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 294.38 | Freeway Begins/Ends; Northbound exit to and southbound exit from Lake Shore Drive North/South | ||||||
| Beginning of I-55 Southbound to I-10, end of I-55 Northbound. Roadway continues north to Ft. Wilkins State Park, Michigan via Lake Shore Drive. | |||||||
Related routes
Business Loop 55 refers to a major arterial surface street that serves downtown Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, 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...
. It runs north from the intersection of Interstates 55
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...
and Interstate 72
Interstate 72
Interstate 72 is an Interstate Highway in the midwestern United States. Its western terminus is in Hannibal, Missouri, at an intersection with U.S. Route 61; its eastern terminus is at Country Fair Drive in Champaign, Illinois. In 2006, the Illinois General Assembly dedicated all of Interstate 72...
through downtown to Illinois Route 4
Illinois Route 4
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 .-Route description:...
(Veterans' Parkway). It then runs northeast to Sherman
Sherman, Illinois
Sherman is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,871 at the 2000 census, and 3,873 at a 2009 estimate. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sherman is located at ....
.
All of Business Loop 55 was part of U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
at some point.