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Interstate 70 (I-70) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that travels from Cove Fort, Utah, to Baltimore, Maryland. In the US state of Illinois, the highway travels 160 miles (260 km) from the Missouri state line at the Mississippi River in Brooklyn east to the Indiana state line near Marshall. I-70, which travels in a generally east-northeast direction across the state parallel to and sometimes concurrent with U.S. Route 40 (US 40), connects St. Louis and the Metro East region of Illinois with the Indiana cities of Terre Haute and Indianapolis, as well as many small towns along the northern edge of Southern Illinois and the southern tier of the Central Illinois region. Within Metro East, I-70 has interchanges with I-64 in East St. Louis and I-55 near Troy. I-70 also has interchanges with the two Interstates that form St. Louis's beltway: I-255 near Collinsville and I-270 at the I-55 junction near Troy. East of the Metro East region, I-70 meets US 51 in Vandalia and both I-57 and US 45 in Effingham. Like all Interstate Highways, I-70 is a part of the National Highway System for its entire length in Illinois.[2]

Route description

I-70 enters Illinois from St. Louis by crossing the Mississippi River on the four-lane Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge into the village of Brooklyn in St. Clair County. The first interchange is for Illinois Route 3 (IL 3), which heads south toward Cahokia; the Interstate has an interchange with I-64 toward Fairview Heights and I-55, which it joins and heads northeast.[1] Previously, I-70 ran together with I-55 and I-64 across the Poplar Street Bridge downstream, crossing into East St. Louis; when it was realigned to the current routing, the section through Downtown was absorbed into another Interstate.

I-55/I-70 have an interchange with IL 203 before entering Madison County. The Interstate has a diamond interchange with IL 111 just north of Fairmont City and a partial one with Black Lane before the highway's interchange with I-255 west of Collinsville. I-55/I-70 curve northeast around Collinsville and leave the floodplain of the Mississippi River at the interchange with IL 157 (Bluff Road), where the highway reduces to four lanes. The Interstate passes between Collinsville and Maryville, which are both served by the next interchange with IL 159 (Vandalia Street/Maryville Road). US 40 leaves the freeway at a trumpet interchange southwest of Troy. I-55/I-70 curve to the north and meet IL 162 (Edwardsville Road) before they diverge at their interchange with I-270. The interchange, exit 20, is a full cloverleaf except for a flyover ramp for westbound I-70 to join southbound I-55. Westbound I-70's interchange is exit 15; the exits east of that are numbered as if I-70 had run along I-270 for the first few miles in Illinois.[1]

I-70 meets IL 4 and IL 143 to the south and east of Marine before crossing Highland Silver Lake. US 40 rejoins I-70 near Pierron, and the two highways travel concurrently into Bond County, where they separate at Pocahontas. Here, I-70 crosses Shoal Creek. US 40 continues to closely parallel I-70 until the next interchange, which is a connector to US 40 southwest of Greenville. The two highways pass to the south of Greenville, which is also served via an interchange with IL 127. East of Mulberry Grove, I-70/US 40 cross to the north side of the east–west rail line and again closely parallel each other into Fayette County. I-70 passes along the northern edge of Vandalia, with access to the county seat of Fayette County provided by an interchange with US 40 on the west side and US 51 (Kennedy Boulevard) to the north. Just east of US 51, I-70 crosses the Kaskaskia River. I-70 crosses to the south side of both the rail line and US 40 (Cumberland Road) between Bluff City and Brownstown. The Interstate passes to the south of St. Elmo before entering Effingham County to the west of an interchange with IL 128 at Altamont.[1]

Immediately after crossing the Little Wabash River, I-70 joins I-57 in a concurrency to pass around the west and north sides of Effingham. The two Interstates use I-57's exit sequence during the concurrency. I-57/I-70 have interchanges with Fayette Avenue, IL 32 and IL 33 (Keller Drive), and US 45 (Third Street) before diverging near Teutopolis. Just east of Montrose, I-70 enters Cumberland County, where the Interstate has one interchange with IL 130 (Haughton Highway) at Greenup, where the highway crosses the Embarras River. The Interstate continues into Clark County for an interchange with IL 49 north of Casey. I-70 crosses the North Fork Embarras River north of Martinsville, then has an interchange with IL 1 north of the county seat of Marshall. Northeast of Marshall, US 40 rejoins I-70 in a concurrency. The highways then cross the Indiana state line west of Terre Haute, Indiana, while closely paralleling the original alignment of US 40, Illiana Drive.[1]

History

In 1957, the first section of I-70 was built near Troy. However, initially, it was not signed as I-70. Instead, it was signed as US 66.[3] In 1960, the expressway extended southwest to Collinsville. In a 1960 highway map, both I-55 and I-70 appeared for the first time.[4] In 1961, I-70 also appeared between Effingham and Montrose.[5] In 1962, both I-55 and I-70 further extended southwest to Exchange Avenue. Also, I-70 extended southwest from Effingham to IL 128 near Altamont.[6] In 1964, it extended further southwest from IL 128 to US 40 in between Bluff City and Brownstown. In East St. Louis, I-55/I-70 extended southwest even further to directly connect to the Veterans Memorial Bridge.[7] In 1965, an I-55/I-270 interchange was made.[8] This would later be used for connecting I-70 eastward to Highland since 1966. That same year, I-70 extends west from US 40 near Bluff City to US 51 and then back to US 40.[9] In 1968, the Poplar Street Bridge, a beam bridge, opened. That same year, the eastern portion of I-70 extended further west to IL 127 near Greenville. The western portion of I-70 extended east to Pocahontas.[10] In 1969, both long sections were connected.[11] In 1970, part of I-70 appeared nine miles (14 km) west from Indiana.[12] In 1972, a final connection in Illinois (from Montrose to IL 1 north of Marshall) was made.[13]

On February 9, 2014, the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge opened. After the opening, I-70 was moved further north from the Poplar Street Bridge.[14]

Exit list

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
Mississippi River0.000.00
I-70 west – Kansas City
Continuation into Missouri
Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge
Illinois-Missouri line
St. ClairFairmont City1.52–
1.74
2.45–
2.80
2
Fairmont City Boulevard to IL 3 – East St. Louis
East St. Louis2.423.893
I-64 east – Louisville
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-64 exit 3B
2.604.18




I-55 south / I-64 west / US 40 west / IL 3 south / Great River Road south – St. Louis
Western end of I-55/US 40/Great River Road concurrency; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; former I-70 west; I-55 exit 3B
2.754.433C Exchange AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; access to Emerson Park MetroLink station
Fairmont City3.756.044 IL 203 (Collinsville Road) – Granite City, Fairmont CitySigned as 4A (south) and 4B (north) westbound
Madison6.099.806 IL 111 / Great River Road – Wood River, Washington Park
Nameoki Township8.6313.899Black LaneEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Collinsville Township9.6315.5010 I-255 – Interstate 270, MemphisI-255 exit 25
10.7717.3311 IL 157 (Bluff Road) – Collinsville, Edwardsville
Maryville14.3323.0615 IL 159 (Vandalia Street/Maryville Road) – Collinsville, MaryvilleSigned as exits 15A (south) and 15B (north)
Troy16.7026.8817
US 40 east – St. Jacob, Highland
Eastern end of US 40 concurrency
17.6828.4518 IL 162 (Edwardsville Road) – Troy
Pin Oak Township18.7030.09
I-55 north – Chicago, Springfield
Eastern end of I-55 concurrency; I-55 exit 20A; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
19.2230.93
I-270 west – Kansas City
Eastern terminus of I-270; eastbound access to I-270 is via I-55 north
Marine Township24.7539.8321 IL 4 – Staunton, Lebanon
28.1545.3024 IL 143 – Marine, Highland
Saline Township34.4055.3630
US 40 west / IL 143 (Steiner Road) – Pierron, Highland
Western end of US 40 concurrency
BondOld Ripley Township40.0664.4736
US 40 east (Pokey Road) – Pocahontas
Eastern end of US 40 concurrency
Central Township45.5173.2441
To US 40 / Millersburg Road – Greenville
49.2879.3145 IL 127 – Greenville, Carlyle
Pleasant Mound Township56.3290.6452Mulberry Grove Road – Mulberry Grove, Keyesport
FayetteVandalia Township64.75104.2161 US 40 – Vandalia
Vandalia66.95107.7563 US 51 (Kennedy Boulevard) – Vandalia, Pana
Otego Township71.98115.8468 US 40 (Cumberland Road) – Brownstown, Bluff City
St. Elmo80.29129.2176Interstate Drive – St. Elmo
EffinghamAltamont86.56139.3082
IL 128 north (Main Street) – Altamont
Summit Township96.16154.7592
I-57 south – Memphis
Western end of I-57 concurrency; I-57 exit 157
Effingham98.13157.92159Fayette Avenue – EffinghamExits use I-57 exit numbers
99.16159.58160 IL 32 / IL 33 (Keller Drive)Access to Lake Shelbyville and Convention Center
100.93162.43162 US 45 (3rd Street) – Sigel, EffinghamAccess to Lake Land College and Kuthe Center
Teutopolis Township102.35164.7298
I-57 north – Chicago
Eastern end of I-57 concurrency; I-57 exit 163
Montrose109.38176.03105Spring Creek Road – Montrose
CumberlandGreenup123.05198.03119 IL 130 (Haughton Highway) – Greenup, Charleston
ClarkCasey Township133.51214.86129 IL 49 – Casey, Kansas
Martinsville139.60224.66136Cleone Road – Martinsville
Marshall Township150.75242.61147 IL 1 – Marshall, Paris
Wabash Township157.97254.23154
US 40 west
Western end of US 40 concurrency
159.75257.09

I-70 east / US 40 east – Terre Haute, Indianapolis
Continuation into Indiana
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes

I-70 has one auxiliary route in Illinois:

  • I-270: Forms the northern and western two-thirds of the beltway around Greater St. Louis (the eastern third is signed as I-255)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Google (January 24, 2011). "Interstate 70 in Illinois" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  2. ^ National Highway System: Illinois (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. July 2003. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  3. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1957). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:805,000]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  4. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1960). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  5. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1961). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  6. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1962). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  7. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1964). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:757,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  8. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1965). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:757,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  9. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1966). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  10. ^ Illinois Division of Highways (1968). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  11. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1969). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  12. ^ Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1970). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  13. ^ Illinois Department of Transportation (1972). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  14. ^ Leiser, Ken. "New Mississippi River bridge opens to traffic". STLtoday.com.

External links

KML is from Wikidata


Interstate 70
Previous state:
Missouri
Illinois Next state:
Indiana