Stevenson Expressway
Encyclopedia
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.
The eastern terminus of the Stevenson Expressway and I-55 for its full length is located at U.S. Highway 41, recognized to Chicagoans as Lake Shore Drive
. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation
, the "Stevenson Expressway" definition has its western terminus located at the DuPage County
line in Burr Ridge
. This is a distance of 17.95 miles (28.89 km).
The expressway opened on October 24, 1964 as the Southwest Expressway. It was renamed after Adlai Stevenson, the former governor of Illinois, on September 1, 1965 a month and a half after his death. The Stevenson's original termini were U.S. Highway 66 in DuPage County
to the west, and the Dan Ryan Expressway
to the east.
In 1999–2000, the expressway was completely rebuilt from Central Avenue north to Lake Shore Drive, including the ramps to the Dan Ryan. IDOT was criticized at the time for not adding a fourth lane in each direction to the highway.
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
highway leading southwest out of the city 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...
in 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,...
. It is signed as 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...
for the entire length.
The eastern terminus of the Stevenson Expressway and I-55 for its full length is located at U.S. Highway 41, recognized to Chicagoans as 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...
. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation
Illinois 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...
, the "Stevenson Expressway" definition has its western terminus located at the DuPage County
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...
line in 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 ....
. This is a distance of 17.95 miles (28.89 km).
History
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...
to the west, and the 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...
to the east.
In 1999–2000, the expressway was completely rebuilt from Central Avenue north to Lake Shore Drive, including the ramps to the Dan Ryan. IDOT was criticized at the time for not adding a fourth lane in each direction to the highway.