Interstate 80 in Illinois

Interstate 80 (I-80) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey. I-80 enters Illinois from Iowa in the west, southwest of Rapids City, and runs generally eastward through East Moline, LaSalle, and Joliet, before entering Indiana in Lansing. The Interstate runs for approximately 163.52 miles (263.16 km) through the state.

This article is about the section of Interstate 80 in Illinois. For the entire route, see Interstate 80.

Interstate 80 marker

Interstate 80

I-80 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by IDOT and ISTHA
Length163.52 mi[1] (263.16 km)
Existed1967–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-80 at East Moline
Major intersections
East end I-80 / I-94 / US 6 at Lansing
Location
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountiesRock Island, Henry, Bureau, LaSalle, Grundy, Kendall, Will, Cook
Highway system
← IL 78→ IL 81

In the 1920s, two state highways followed the general alignment that I-80 takes. In 1932, US Route 6 (US 6) was extended through Illinois, paralleling the alignment that I-80 in Illinois takes today. Construction started in 1957, and I-80 was completed in 1968. In the early 1990s, Illinois wanted to reroute I-80 in the Quad Cities area. At the same time, the section of I-80 that is concurrent with I-294 was reconstructed. The portion of I-80 that is concurrent with the Kingery Expressway was rebuilt in the mid-2000s.

Route description

I-80 extends from west to east across the northern portion of the state through the population centers of the Quad Cities and south Chicago suburbs. The freeway is mostly maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT); the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) maintains the section of I-80 concurrent with the Tri-State Tollway. The busiest section of the freeway is between the I-94 and Illinois Route 83 (IL 83) interchanges in Lansing. Approximately 181,200 vehicles used the freeway on average each day in 2011; in contrast, the lowest traffic level was 16,400 vehicles between the IL 78 and IL 40 interchanges in Henry and Bureau counties.[2][3] I-80 contains between a minimum of four lanes and a maximum of 10 lanes total. The majority of the highway runs through farmland and urban areas.[4]

Iowa to Interstate 39

I-80 enters Illinois on the Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River, southwest of Rapids City. After leaving the bridge, the Interstate has a folded diamond interchange with IL 84. The highway heads south, as a four-lane Interstate, passing along the east side of the Quad Cities. Eastbound I-80 traffic has access to an Illinois Welcome Center. The road has a cloverleaf interchange with the western terminus of I-88. After the interchange with I-88, the highway crosses over Rock River. The Interstate has a diamond interchange with US 6, before having an interchange with I-74 in East Moline. At this interchange, I-80 turns easterly paralleling US 6 and leaving the Quad Cities area. East of the Quad Cities, the Interstate passes through rural farmland as a four-lane Interstate. The road passes south of Geneseo, with the city having one interchange at IL 82. The road passes south of Atkinson, before passing over US 6 and a railroad track.[4]

After crossing over the railroad tracks, the Interstate has an interchange with IL 78, north of Annawan. The Interstate continues toward the east having a folded diamond interchange with IL 40, before having rest areas on both sides of the roadway. The highway passes on the north side of Princeton, having an interchange with IL 26, near a commercial part of the city. I-80 passes over US 34, before leaving Princeton and having an interchange with the northern terminus of I-180. The Interstate has a rural interchange with IL 89, before entering LaSalle. In LaSalle, the highway has a diamond interchange with 103 Road, just north of the Illinois Valley Regional Airport. The highway has an interchange with IL 251, with commercial properties around the interchange. I-80 has an interchange with IL 351, just south of the Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve, before having an interchange with I-39/US 51.[4]

Interstate 39 to Indiana
Thornton Quarry with I-80/I-294/Tri-State Tollway above

After the interchange with I-39, I-80 leaves LaSalle, heading toward the east and passing through rural farmland. Between 12th road and 14th Road the Interstate passes the AASHO Road Test site, one of old test loops used for testing different types of road surfaces in the 1950s. The Interstate enters Ottawa and has an interchange with IL 23, near many commercial businesses. After IL 23, the freeway leaves Ottawa and crosses over the Fox River, before having an interchange with IL 71. The road passes through rural farmland, having a few rural interchanges before entering Morris. In Morris the roadway curves toward the northeast, having an interchange with IL 47, near many commercial properties. The highway leaves Morris, passing through farmland and having a rural interchange with a county road. Both directions of I-80 have a rest area before entering Minooka. In Minooka, the Interstate curves the east, before turning back toward the northeast and leaving the village. The road enters Will County by curving toward the northeast. The Interstate curves towards the east, before having an interchange with I-55.[4]

I-80 approaching the Des Plaines River Bridge

After I-55, I-80 enters Joliet, passing near many warehouses. The road has an interchange with IL 7, before passing near residential. The road crosses over the Des Plaines River on the Des Plaines River Bridge. After the river, the freeway has an interchange with US 52/IL 53. The Interstate has an interchange with a city street, before crossing over a railroad tracks. After the railroad tracks, the freeway has a diamond interchange with another city street. The road has a folded diamond interchange with US 30, before passing southeast of Potawatomi Woods County Forest Preserve. While passing through the preserve, the roadway becomes a six-lane Interstate. The Interstate has an interchange with the southern terminus of I-355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway). The residential properties end and the highway passes through a more industrial area, before passing through the Yankee Woods (Cook County Forest Preserve).[4]

After the preserve, the Interstate has an interchange with I-57. I-80 joins the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) heading toward the east as a 10-lane tollway. The tollway passes over a railyard, before having an interchange with IL 1. After IL 1, the roadway narrows to eight-lanes and passes through the Thornton Quarry. The Interstate passes under the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis, before passing north of Wampum Lake. After passing the lake, the tollway has an interchange with I-94. At this interchange with I-94 the Tri-State Tollway and I-294, both end, with I-94 running concurrent with I-80 toward the east. The concurrency between I-80 and I-94 travels on a freeway locally known as the Kingery Expressway. The Interstate has a single-point urban interchange (SPUI) with IL 83 and the western end of the US 6 concurrency. East of the US 6 exit, the freeway become a 10-lane Interstate, passing near residential properties. The road enters Indiana, and the freeway name becomes Borman Expressway.[4]

Services

The IDOT operates five rest areas and ISTHA operates one Oasis in 164 miles (264 km) of Interstate Highway. Along I-80, there are three locations that have facilities for each direction of traffic. Parking areas are divided so passenger automobiles are separated from semi trucks. Common among most of the rest stops are restrooms, payphones with TDD capabilities, weather information, picnic areas, and vending machines. The eastbound rest area near Rapid City does not allow large trucks and does not have vending machines or TDD capabilities.[5][6]

The Oasis is the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis, located in South Holland. Like most of the other Oasises, this location has several fast-food restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, visitor centers, and free wireless internet.[7] This Oasis is one of the few with an electric vehicle charging station.[8] The Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis was originally named Lincoln Oasis, ISTHA added Chicago Southland to the name. The change was made to better represent the area around the Oasis. The Oasis's name was changed in February 2006, changing the name officially to the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis.[9]

History
I-80 in Colona, Illinois

In 1917, there were many sections of named highways which made up the route that current I-80 takes through Illinois. The first was the Blue Line. It was routed between Rock Island and Princeton. The second section was named Sunset Trail, and it traveled between Princeton and Ottawa, passing through LaSalle. Illinois Valley Trail went from Ottawa to Orland Park. From Orland Park to the Indiana state line, no named highway was available.[10] The first state highways along the I-80 corridor were numbered IL 7 from the Rock Island east to the Orland Park area and IL 53 from Orland Park east to Indiana state line in 1923.[11][12] The US Numbered Highway System was approved on November 11, 1926,[13] and US 32 was routed between Rock Island and Princeton. East of Princeton, US 32 followed a route closer to current US 34.[14] US 6 was commissioned in Illinois in 1932, replacing US 32 west of Princeton, IL 7 between Princeton and Joliet, and IL 53 from Joliet to the Indiana state line.[15][16]

Construction of a test track for the Interstate Highway System between Utica and Ottawa began in 1952. The test track had six different segments of roadway, with different types of surfaces. One of the old test tracks can still be seen from I-80.[17] The first section of I-80 to open was the section that is known as the Kingery Expressway, this section open in 1957, as US 6.[18][19] In October 1958, the test track west of Ottawa opens to testing. The section of I-80 that is concurrent with the Tri-State Tollway was opened in 1958.[19][20] In November 1960, the testing at the test track was completed.[17] The Interstate opened between IL 71, near Ottawa, and I-55, near Joliet, in 1960.[21][22] The segment of roadway between IL 23 and IL 71, near Ottawa, open in 1961.[21][22] In 1962, the highway was extended west to IL 89, near LaSalle, replacing and paralleling the test track most of the way to Utica. Also in 1962, another section of road open between US 67 and IL 78.[22][23] During 1964 and 1965, the gap between IL 78 and IL 89 was completed and opened to traffic.[24][25][26][27] The north–south section of I-80 in Illinois was open in 1967.[27][28] The last section of I-80 to open was the section between I-55 and the Tri-State Tollway, with it opening 1968.[28][29]

In 1990 and 1991, IDOT proposed rerouting I-80 onto present day I-280, with current I-80 becoming I-74. IDOT listed safety concerns and cost savings as reasons to reroute I-80. Iowa officials challenged the reroute of I-80 and the routes of I-74 and I-80 never changed.[30] Between 1991 and 1992, the section of I-80 that is concurrent with the Tri-State Tollway was reconstructed and widened to eight-lanes.[31] Between 2003 and 2007, construction to widen the Kingery Expressway was done and the project cost $460 million (equivalent to $588 million in 2021[32]). This was the first major project on the Kingey Expressway since it was opened in the 1950s.[33] In early 2011, IDOT began construction to widen a section of freeway to six-lanes between US 30 and US 45. This project had an opening ceremony on October 24, 2012, with the project costing $26 million (equivalent to $30.8 million in 2021[32]).[34][35]

Exit list
CountyLocationmi[36]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Mississippi River0.000.00
 I-80 west – Davenport, Des Moines		Continuation into Iowa
Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge; Illinois–Iowa state line
Rock IslandHampton Township0.360.581 IL 84 / Great River Road – East Moline, Savanna
East Moline3.495.624A

 IL 5 west / IL 92 west – Silvis, East Moline		Eastern terminus of IL 5
4B



 I-88 east / IL 92 east / IL 110 (CKC) east (Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway) – Sterling, Rock Falls		Western end of IL 110 (CKC) concurrency; I-88 exit 1; western terminus of I-88
HenryColona6.6010.627Colona
8.8714.279 US 6
Colona Township10.1116.27—

 I-74 west / I-280 west – Moline, Rock Island, Quad City Airport



 I-74 east / IL 110 (CKC) east – Peoria, Galesburg		Big X; eastern end of IL 110 (CKC) concurrency; eastern terminus of I-280; no exit numbers
Geneseo19.2430.9619 IL 82 – Cambridge, Geneseo
Atkinson27.0343.5027Atkinson, Galva
Annawan33.2653.5333 IL 78 – Prophetstown, Kewanee, Annawan
BureauConcord Township44.8572.1845 IL 40 – Sterling, Peoria
Princeton56.4290.8056 IL 26 – Princeton, Dixon
Selby Township60.9098.0161
 I-180 south – Hennepin		Northern terminus of I-180
Ladd70.04112.7270 IL 89 – Ladd, Spring Valley
LaSallePeru73.53118.3473Plank Road
74.91120.5675 IL 251 – Peru, Mendota, La Salle
La Salle76.55123.2077 IL 351 – La Salle
LaSalle–Dimmick
township line		78.54126.4079 I-39 / US 51 – Normal, Bloomington, RockfordI-39 exit 59; signed as exits 79A (south) & 79B (north).
North Utica81.10130.5281 IL 178 – Utica, La SalleStarved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park
Ottawa90.28145.2990 IL 23 (Columbus Street) – De Kalb, Ottawa, Streator
Rutland Township93.26150.0993 IL 71 – Ottawa, Oswego, Yorkville
Rutland–Miller
township line		97.03156.1597East 24th Road/Rutland St – Marseilles
GrundyErienna Township104.78168.63105
 Seneca Road to US 6 – Seneca
Morris112.01180.26112 IL 47 (Division Street) – Yorkville, Morris
Saratoga–Aux Sable
township line		115.73186.25116
 Brisbin Road to US 6
Grundy–Kendall
county line		Minooka121.63195.74122Ridge Road – Minooka
WillTroy Township126.16203.03126 I-55 (Barack Obama Presidential Expressway) – St. Louis, ChicagoI-55 exit 250; signed as exits 126A (south) & 126B (north)
Joliet127.74205.58127Houbolt RoadHollywood Casino; currently being rebuilt from a diamond interchange to a diverging-diamond interchange (DDI)
130.54210.08130 IL 7 (Larkin Avenue) – RockdaleSigned as exits 130A (south) & 130B (north)
131.92212.30131Center Street, Meadow Avenue – RockdaleCenter Street becomes Meadow Avenue immediately south of interchange; no eastbound exit to or westbound entrance from Meadow Avenue; to US 6
Des Plaines RiverDes Plaines River Bridge
WillJoliet132.78213.69132 Historic US 66 / US 52 / IL 53 (Chicago Street) – Preston Heights, Wilmington, ManhattanSigned as exits 132A (east/south) & 132B (west/north) eastbound; Downtown Joliet, Harrah's Casino, Chicagoland Speedway
133.25214.45133Richards Street
Joliet Township134.82216.97134Briggs Street – Manhattan
New Lenox137.63221.49137 US 30 / Lincoln Highway (Maple Street) – Joliet
140.00225.31140


 I-355 Toll north (Veterans Memorial Tollway) to US 6 (Southwest Highway) – Rockford		I-355 exit 0
Frankfort Township145.61234.34145 US 45 (La Grange Road)
Will–Cook
county line		Tinley Park148.84239.53148 IL 43 (Harlem Avenue)Signed as exits 148A (south) & 148B (north)
CookCountry Club Hills151.69244.12151


 I-57 to I-294 Toll north – Memphis, Chicago, Wisconsin		Signed as exits 151A (south) & 151B (north); I-57 exit 345
Hazel Crest154.26248.26154Kedzie AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance; last free exit eastbound
Western end of Toll Road
154.95249.37155

 I-294 Toll north (Tri-State Tollway north) – Wisconsin		Western end of I-294 concurrency; I-294 exit 5; tollway concurrency uses the I-294's exit numbers
Tri State Tollway Barrier
East Hazel Crest156.11251.234Dixie HighwayEastbound exit and westbound entrance
157.58253.602 IL 1 (Halsted Street)Signed exits 2A (north) & 2B (south); toll on northound exit and southbound entrance
South Holland159.37256.48Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis
South Holland–Thornton Township line160.40258.140
 I-94 west (Bishop Ford Freeway) – Chicago

 IL 394 south (Calumet Expressway) – Danville		Southern terminus of Tri-State Tollway; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-94 east exit 74A
Lansing161.62260.10161
 US 6 west / IL 83 (Torrence Avenue)		Western end of US 6 concurrency; last free exit westbound
162.51261.53160
 I-94 west (Bishop Ford Freeway) – Chicago

 IL 394 south (Calumet Expressway) – Danville


 I-294 Toll ends		Western end of I-94 concurrency; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; eastern end of I-294 concurrency; southern terminus of I-294; western end of Kingery Expressway
163.41262.98


 I-80 east / I-94 east / US 6 east (Borman Expressway) – Toledo, Detroit		Continuation into Indiana; eastern end of Kingery Expressway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. December 31, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  2. Average Daily Total Traffic Statewide (PDF) (Map). Illinois Department of Transportation. 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  3. Average Daily Total Traffic Chicago and Vicinity (PDF) (Map). Illinois Department of Transportation. 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  4. Google (November 15, 2013). "Overview of Interstate 80 in Illinois" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  5. "Rest Area Locations". Illinois Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  6. "Illinois' Interstate Rest Area System". Illinois Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  7. "Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis". Illinois State Highway Toll Authority. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  8. "Rest and Refuel at a Tollway Oasis". Illinois State Highway Toll Authority. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  9. Treiber, Rachelle (February 12, 2006). "Say hello to the Southland". Daily Southtown. Chicago. OCLC 28299027.
  10. Illinois State Highway Department (1917). Map Showing Marked Through Routes in Illinois (Map). Scale not given. Springfield: Illinois State Highway Department. Retrieved November 16, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  11. Illinois Secretary of State (1922). Map Showing Marked Through Routes in Illinois (Map). Scale not given. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 16, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  12. Illinois Secretary of State (1923). Illinois Official Auto Trails Map (Map). [c. 1:950,000 and c. 1:1,110,000]. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State.
  13. Weingroff, Richard F. (October 17, 2013). "From Names to Numbers: The Origins of the US Numbered Highway System". Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  14. Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved November 7, 2013 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  15. Illinois Secretary of State (1931). Official Illinois Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:950,000 and c. 1:1,110,000]. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved November 16, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  16. Illinois Secretary of State (1932). Official Illinois Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:950,000 and c. 1:1,110,000]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 16, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  17. "Illinois Interstates: Crossroads of the Nation". Illinois Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on October 27, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  18. Illinois Division of Highways (1956). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:805,000]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  19. Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1957). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:805,000]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  20. Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1958). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:805,000]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  21. Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1960). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  22. Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1961). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  23. Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1962). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  24. Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1963). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  25. Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1964). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:757,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  26. Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1965). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:757,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  27. Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1966). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  28. Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1967). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  29. Illinois Division of Highways (1968). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 15, 2013 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  30. "Illinois Is Trying to Grab A Part of Iowa's Interstate". Omaha World-Herald. July 1, 1991. p. 8. OCLC 1585533. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  31. McCoppin, Robert (September 29, 2000). "No pain, no gain: Tri-State drivers to suffer roadwork". The daily herald. Arlington Heights. p. 10. OCLC 18030507. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  32. Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved January 1, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the Measuring Worth series.
  33. Tridgell, Guy (June 29, 2007). "$460M Kingery project rolls to complete finish". Post-Tribune. Gary. p. A15. OCLC 61322821. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  34. "Governor Quinn Celebrates Completion of Interstate 80 Expansion Project" (Press release). Illinois Government News Network. October 24, 2012. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  35. "Interstate 80 Expansion Project Complete". Minneapolis, Minnesota: KMSP-TV. October 25, 2012. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  36. Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2012). "T2 GIS Data". Retrieved November 2, 2013.
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