Why isn't I-57 in Chicago a named "expressway"?

[A.J. Bertin]

This came up on another thread. Almost all freeways ("expressways") in the Chicago area have a designated name to them: Kennedy, Eisenhower, Stevenson, Dan Ryan, etc. I was just wondering... why doesn't I-57 have a name?

Any ideas?

[kkt]

This came up on another thread. Almost all freeways ("expressways") in the Chicago area have a designated name to them: Kennedy, Eisenhower, Stevenson, Dan Ryan, etc. I was just wondering... why doesn't I-57 have a name?

Any ideas?

Maybe they're saving it for Obama?

[Brandon]

It is a named expressway, but the name, like that of I-80 (Moline Expy), is rarely used.

I-57 is the West Leg of the Dan Ryan Expressway.  It could be considered a southward extension of the Ryan, but the name is not used.  My guess is to differentiate between the main stem of the Ryan (I-90/94) and the West Leg (I-57), the name is never used.

[NE2]

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=9366.msg218571#msg218571

[US 41]

[/quote]

Maybe they're saving it for Obama?
[/quote]

God I hope not.

[Brandon]

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=9366.msg218571#msg218571

And AJ thought it would be better in its own thread after posting.  I agree.

[hobsini2]

Maybe they're saving it for Obama?
[/quote]

God I hope not.
[/quote]

There is already an "Obama Dr" in the area being used on 127th St in Calumet Park which does go over I-57.  The signage on I-57 does not reflect it but the actual surface street does with a very tiny "127th Street" in the top left corner of the sign.  So I highly doubt that the state, politics aside, will apply Obama Frwy to I-57 ever.

[N9JIG]

Maybe they're saving it for Obama?

God I hope not.
[/quote]

There is already an "Obama Dr" in the area being used on 127th St in Calumet Park which does go over I-57.  The signage on I-57 does not reflect it but the actual surface street does with a very tiny "127th Street" in the top left corner of the sign.  So I highly doubt that the state, politics aside, will apply Obama Frwy to I-57 ever.
[/quote]

Not that I support renaming I-57 or any other road after Obama (or any other president), there is no reason why naming a surface street after him would prevent the expressway from being named for him too.

[hobsini2]

N9JIG, think of it this way. How many times does that already exist where a freeway name has an interchange or an overpass  with an arterial street that has the same name. I can't think of any off hand. This would be an interesting question to answer in the general talk section.

[SEWIGuy]

Chicago's first President is going to have a bunch of stuff named after him in that city when all is said and done.  I wouldn't doubt that a highway of some sort is one of those things. 

[Henry]

Chicago's first President is going to have a bunch of stuff named after him in that city when all is said and done.  I wouldn't doubt that a highway of some sort is one of those things. 

It'll be very hard to disagree with that statement!

[Rick Powell]

N9JIG, think of it this way. How many times does that already exist where a freeway name has an interchange or an overpass  with an arterial street that has the same name. I can't think of any off hand. This would be an interesting question to answer in the general talk section.

Oswego IL has a Douglas Street and a Douglas Road, both of substantial length.  I wonder if anyone ever gets their mail mixed up? 

[N9JIG]

Heck, Illinois even had 2 routes with the same number crossing each other for a while. When IL-5 was rechristened I-88 on the East-West Tollway (Now the Reagan...) it crossed IL-88 for a couple years before IL-88 was changed to IL-40.

President Reagan has 2 highways named after him in Illinois, US-14 from Chicago to Harvard and the aforementioned I-88. They don't cross however.

[Revive 755]

President Reagan has 2 highways named after him in Illinois, US-14 from Chicago to Harvard and the aforementioned I-88. They don't cross however.

Isn't there also a "Ronald Reagan Trail" somewhere in IL?

[3467]

Yes I am not sure exactly where it goes but it runs through Galesburg and ends in Monmouth

[NE2]

Nothing for Bonzo though.

[kphoger]

N9JIG, think of it this way. How many times does that already exist where a freeway name has an interchange or an overpass  with an arterial street that has the same name. I can't think of any off hand. This would be an interesting question to answer in the general talk section.

Close, but no cigar:  http://goo.gl/maps/p7w5Q
Technically, the Turnpike has an interchange with Turnpike Drive, but the exit is signed for K-15.

[N9JIG]

Isn't there also a "Ronald Reagan Trail" somewhere in IL?

Yes, this is one of those brown-signed routes that runs N-S thru north central IL, partly on IL-26. It is not a route designation in the numbering sense, more like the Great River Road etc.

[hobsini2]

Rick, Douglas St and Douglas Rd in Oswego is not the type of case I was asking for.  There are several instances were minor roads with the same name cross. Hell I even know of (also in Oswego) where Manhattan Circle meets Manhattan Circle at a 4 way intersection.

N9JIG, as far as highway numbers that are the same, again, not what I was asking for. That also occurs in several places.

KP has come the closest with what I was looking for.