
Interstate 39 in Illinois
I-39 | |||
Begin | Normal | ||
End | South Beloit | ||
Length | 141 mi | ||
Length | 227 km | ||
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Interstate 39 or I -39 is an Interstate Highway in the US state of Illinois. The highway forms a north-south connection in the north of the state, running from Normal on Interstate 55 to South Beloit on the Wisconsin border. The portion from Rockford is double-numbered with Interstate 90. The highway is 227 kilometers long.
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Travel directions
I-39 at Rockford.
The highway starts at the town of Normal, a twin city of Bloomington. Here, I-39 begins at Interstate 55, the highway from St. Louis to Chicago. The highway passes through a flat barren agricultural area. Near the village of El Paso you cross the US 24, which runs from Peoria to Watseka. The underlying road network is built in a grid pattern of 1 by 1 mile. At La Salle one crosses the Illinois River, the largest river in the state that is not a border river, like the Ohio and Mississippi. After this, a cloverleaf crosses Interstate 80, which runs from Moline to Chicago.
It then continues north, and I-39 also functions as a major westbound Chicago bypass, allowing north-south traffic to Milwaukee to bypass the city. At Troy Grove you cross the US 52, which leads to Joliet. Not far afterwards, at Mendota, one crosses US 34, which runs from Princeton to Aurora. Several “wind farms” can be seen from the road, wind farms. One then crosses US 30, which runs from Sterling to Aurora. Not far afterwards, at the town of Rochelle, one crosses Interstate 88, the highway from Moline to Chicago. This is a toll road. One then passes further north, through barren meadows.
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Then you reach Rockford, a larger city of 155,000 inhabitants in northern Illinois. Here it intersects with US 20, a highway that forms Rockford’s southern bypass, and runs west to Dubuque. On the east side of Rockford, I-39 merges with Interstate 90, the highway to Chicago. This road is a toll road, and so is I-39. This route then continues to South Beloit, on the Wisconsin border. Here, Interstate 39 in Wisconsin continues to Madison, along with I-90.
History
The oldest section of what is now I-39 is the Jane Addams Tollway, the double-numbered section of Interstate 90 between Rockford and the Wisconsin border. This section opened to traffic on 20 August 1958. The oldest section after that is Rockford’s South Bypass, which dates back to the 1970s. The rest of I-39 is considerably newer. The section between I-88 and Rockford opened to traffic in 1984. In 1986, a southbound extension to I-80 opened at La Salle. In December 1987, the La Salle bypass opened, including a bridge over the Illinois River. In the fall of 1991, a southward extension to State Highway 18 opened at Magnolia. During 1992, the remainder of I-39 opened up to Normal, with the last section opening to traffic in the fall of 1992. The highway was not built directly as I-39, this number was used by AASHTO. in 1993approved, but only between Normal and Rockford. It wasn’t until 1998 that the number was extended north to Wisconsin.
Lane Configuration
Van | Unpleasant | Lanes |
Exit 0 | Wisconsin state line | 2×2 |
Congestion
I-39 is generally a very quiet highway, with mostly light traffic. Only the part along Rockford is a bit busier. Congestion is rare and usually the result of accidents or road works.
Connections & traffic intensities
I-39 north of Bloomington.
# | destination | AADT |
0 | Decatur, Chicago, Peoria, Indianapolis, St. Louis | 12.200 |
2 | Bloomington, Normal | 19.900 |
5 | Hudson | 18.800 |
8 | Lake Bloomington Road | 16.000 |
14 | El Paso, Peoria | 14.100 |
22 | Peoria, Pontiac | 14.500 |
27 | Minon | 14.300 |
35 | Lacon, Wenona | 15.000 |
41 | Henry, Streator | 17.100 |
48 | Toned | 18.400 |
51 | Hennepin, Oglesby | 18.400 |
52 | Peru, La Salle | 18.400 |
54 | Oglesby | 18.400 |
57 | La Salle, Peru, Ottawa | 18.400 |
59 | Chicago, Des Moines | 18.200 |
66 | Troy Grove | 17.900 |
72 | Mendota, Earlville | 16.000 |
82 | Paw Paw | 17.800 |
87 | Sterling, Rock Falls, Aurora | 16.700 |
93 | Steward | 17.700 |
97 | Moline, Rock Island, Chicago | 31.100 |
99 | DeKalb, Rochelle | 28.500 |
104 | Sycamore, Oregon | 28.300 |
111 | Genoa, Byron | 31.400 |
115 | Baxter Road | 33.100 |
122A | Dubuque, Belvidere | 48.200 |
122B | Cherry Valley, Harrison Avenue | 48.200 |
17 | Chicago | 52.800 |
15 | Rockford, State Street | 52.800 |
12 | Rockford, Riverside Boulevard | 49.000 |
9 | Machesney Park | 39.700 |
3 | South Beloit, Rockton Road | 39.700 |
1 | South Beloit | 39.700 |
Interstate 490 in Illinois
I-490 | |||
Begin | Franklin Park | ||
End | Elk Grove Village | ||
Length | 6 mi | ||
Length | 10 km | ||
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Interstate 490, also known as the Elgin O’Hare Western Access (EOWA), is a planned Interstate Highway and toll road in the U.S. state of Illinois. The highway is to form a western bypass of Chicago ‘s O’Hare International Airport. The highway will be 10 kilometers long.
Travel directions
The highway begins at an interchange with Interstate 294 at Franklin Park and then continues west of O’Hare International Airport. Halfway through is an interchange with State Route 390, also known as the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway. The highway then continues north and ends at an interchange with Interstate 90 in Elk Grove Village.
Future
The highway is being constructed to improve accessibility around the Chicago airport. O’Hare International airport will then be surrounded on all sides by motorways. It is not yet known when the construction will start exactly, in 2013 people spoke of ‘after 2018’. On November 20, 2014, the number I-490 was approved by the AASHTO. On December 14, 2018, the Des Plaines Oasis of I-90 was permanently closed to make way for the interchange with I-490. Work on I-490 started in June 2019. The project should be completed by mid-2025.
Tol
The highway will become a toll road, with electronic toll collection.