Illinois notes

[ilpt4u]

Those are cool maps!

I like how Butterfield Rd/Present IL 56 used to be IL 55. Seems fitting it was changed, when I-55 became a thing

Any idea what the story is behind the US 54 shield, depicted on the 1948 map, around Alsip or so?

[SEWIGuy]

Those are cool maps!

I like how Butterfield Rd/Present IL 56 used to be IL 55. Seems fitting it was changed, when I-55 became a thing

Any idea what the story is behind the US 54 shield, depicted on the 1948 map, around Alsip or so?

US-54 used to run to downtown Chicago.

[brad]

One of the remnants of the planned West Suburban Expressway planned by IDOT.

This is IL-56 just west of IL-59.

Is the intersection of Butterfield and Highland also a remnant? It's so strange to see an overpass there. I vaguely recall when Butterfield Road went up the off ramps instead of going under Highland Ave.

Butterfield and Highland was a fully signalled intersection that met at grade.  Believe it or not, before the Yorktown Mall was built, it was a 4 way stop!

The Highland Overpass was built due to local congestion causing backups on the nearby tollway.  So Butterfiled was lowered and Highland raised a little in the early 90's to give you what you have today.

Historic aerials seem to indicate otherwise. The overpass was built sometime between 1970 and 1973. But Butterfield didn't go underneath until the late 80's. 

[tribar]

One of the remnants of the planned West Suburban Expressway planned by IDOT.

This is IL-56 just west of IL-59.

Is the intersection of Butterfield and Highland also a remnant? It's so strange to see an overpass there. I vaguely recall when Butterfield Road went up the off ramps instead of going under Highland Ave.

Butterfield and Highland was a fully signalled intersection that met at grade.  Believe it or not, before the Yorktown Mall was built, it was a 4 way stop!

The Highland Overpass was built due to local congestion causing backups on the nearby tollway.  So Butterfiled was lowered and Highland raised a little in the early 90's to give you what you have today.

Historic aerials seem to indicate otherwise. The overpass was built sometime between 1970 and 1973. But Butterfield didn't go underneath until the late 80's.

Where do you get aerials that go that far back?

[SEWIGuy]

One of the remnants of the planned West Suburban Expressway planned by IDOT.

This is IL-56 just west of IL-59.

Is the intersection of Butterfield and Highland also a remnant? It's so strange to see an overpass there. I vaguely recall when Butterfield Road went up the off ramps instead of going under Highland Ave.

Butterfield and Highland was a fully signalled intersection that met at grade.  Believe it or not, before the Yorktown Mall was built, it was a 4 way stop!

The Highland Overpass was built due to local congestion causing backups on the nearby tollway.  So Butterfiled was lowered and Highland raised a little in the early 90's to give you what you have today.

Historic aerials seem to indicate otherwise. The overpass was built sometime between 1970 and 1973. But Butterfield didn't go underneath until the late 80's.

Where do you get aerials that go that far back?

https://www.historicaerials.com/

[Revive 755]

Kane County has posted an updated set of plans for Section D of Longmeadow Parkway, which includes the intersection with IL 62.  Per Sheet 96 of the plans (~74 MB pdf file), there will be a non-overhead doghouse signal for eastbound Longmeadow.

General Longmeadow Parkway website
Direct link to plans for Section D

[edwaleni]

One of the remnants of the planned West Suburban Expressway planned by IDOT.

This is IL-56 just west of IL-59.

Is the intersection of Butterfield and Highland also a remnant? It's so strange to see an overpass there. I vaguely recall when Butterfield Road went up the off ramps instead of going under Highland Ave.

Butterfield and Highland was a fully signalled intersection that met at grade.  Believe it or not, before the Yorktown Mall was built, it was a 4 way stop!

The Highland Overpass was built due to local congestion causing backups on the nearby tollway.  So Butterfiled was lowered and Highland raised a little in the early 90's to give you what you have today.

Historic aerials seem to indicate otherwise. The overpass was built sometime between 1970 and 1973. But Butterfield didn't go underneath until the late 80's.

I just looked at those aerials. The 1988 pix shows the Highland Road overpass under construction. There was no overpass in 1970 or 1973. They met at grade.

[ET21]

Sign replacement continues on the Kennedy, particularly outbound between I-290 and the I-90/94 split. It seems the new signs are not showing the Chicago street codes anymore (5200N, 4800 W, etc).

[ChiMilNet]

Sign replacement continues on the Kennedy, particularly outbound between I-290 and the I-90/94 split. It seems the new signs are not showing the Chicago street codes anymore (5200N, 4800 W, etc).

Glad the signs are finally being replaced... way overdue. But that is incredibly shortsighted on IDOT's part. The street numbering is a big component of getting around Chicago, even on the expressways.

[tribar]

Sign replacement continues on the Kennedy, particularly outbound between I-290 and the I-90/94 split. It seems the new signs are not showing the Chicago street codes anymore (5200N, 4800 W, etc).

The news signs look terrible. They don't fit properly on the existing BGS's.

[ET21]

Sign replacement continues on the Kennedy, particularly outbound between I-290 and the I-90/94 split. It seems the new signs are not showing the Chicago street codes anymore (5200N, 4800 W, etc).

The news signs look terrible. They don't fit properly on the existing BGS's.

Especially the new Kennedy and Edens signs approaching the JCT. They look awful

[ChiMilNet]

Sign replacement continues on the Kennedy, particularly outbound between I-290 and the I-90/94 split. It seems the new signs are not showing the Chicago street codes anymore (5200N, 4800 W, etc).

The news signs look terrible. They don't fit properly on the existing BGS's.

Especially the new Kennedy and Edens signs approaching the JCT. They look awful

It's the same issue on IL 53 North of I-90 when they replaced those a few years ago. This just seems to be IDOT practice.

[adt1982]

Many of the street signs in Springfield indicate the block number after the street name.  Example: 11th St 1300N.  However, the ones at Capitol and 11th say 11th 400S St.  Oops!

[brad]

One of the remnants of the planned West Suburban Expressway planned by IDOT.

This is IL-56 just west of IL-59.

Is the intersection of Butterfield and Highland also a remnant? It's so strange to see an overpass there. I vaguely recall when Butterfield Road went up the off ramps instead of going under Highland Ave.

Butterfield and Highland was a fully signalled intersection that met at grade.  Believe it or not, before the Yorktown Mall was built, it was a 4 way stop!

The Highland Overpass was built due to local congestion causing backups on the nearby tollway.  So Butterfiled was lowered and Highland raised a little in the early 90's to give you what you have today.

Historic aerials seem to indicate otherwise. The overpass was built sometime between 1970 and 1973. But Butterfield didn't go underneath until the late 80's.

I just looked at those aerials. The 1988 pix shows the Highland Road overpass under construction. There was no overpass in 1970 or 1973. They met at grade.

Not sure what you're looking at, but that's not what is shown on the Historic Aerials site.

[edwaleni]

One of the remnants of the planned West Suburban Expressway planned by IDOT.

This is IL-56 just west of IL-59.

Is the intersection of Butterfield and Highland also a remnant? It's so strange to see an overpass there. I vaguely recall when Butterfield Road went up the off ramps instead of going under Highland Ave.

Butterfield and Highland was a fully signalled intersection that met at grade.  Believe it or not, before the Yorktown Mall was built, it was a 4 way stop!

The Highland Overpass was built due to local congestion causing backups on the nearby tollway.  So Butterfiled was lowered and Highland raised a little in the early 90's to give you what you have today.

Historic aerials seem to indicate otherwise. The overpass was built sometime between 1970 and 1973. But Butterfield didn't go underneath until the late 80's.

I just looked at those aerials. The 1988 pix shows the Highland Road overpass under construction. There was no overpass in 1970 or 1973. They met at grade.

Not sure what you're looking at, but that's not what is shown on the Historic Aerials site.

Well, you asked...here it is from the coveted Historic Aerials site as you wish....

Before the underpass was built, Butterfield (IL-56) and Highland met at grade with a signaled intersection.

1974  (No underpass)



1988 (Underpass under construction)



1992 (Underpass Complete)



I saw Star Wars in 1977 at the Yorktown Cinema a mile east of this intersection when it was just 2 screens.  I drove through here every week for some 30 years.

Have a nice day!   

[inkyatari]

So, does anybody know what's going on with the DDI project at I-55 and Weber Road?  A couple years ago they actually started on it, with some grading and roadbeds put in, but then the project stopped, and from what I understand, it had little to do with the state's budget.

[ILRoad55]

I found this article. http://www.wjol.com/weber-road-diamond-interchange-construction-expected-last-two-years/

Doesn't give much information but it's from July 2017.

[inkyatari]

I found this article. http://www.wjol.com/weber-road-diamond-interchange-construction-expected-last-two-years/

Doesn't give much information but it's from July 2017.

I think I noticed some subtle stuff going on.  There's an old car wash about a mile south of 55 that was torn down, and the plans I've seen show that as a staging area.  I noticed some utility flags around as well.

I'll be surprised if this gets started in earnest in the spring.

[machias]

Sign replacement continues on the Kennedy, particularly outbound between I-290 and the I-90/94 split. It seems the new signs are not showing the Chicago street codes anymore (5200N, 4800 W, etc).

The news signs look terrible. They don't fit properly on the existing BGS's.

Especially the new Kennedy and Edens signs approaching the JCT. They look awful

I haven't noticed any new awful looking signs. Which ones are you referring to?

[ET21]

Sign replacement continues on the Kennedy, particularly outbound between I-290 and the I-90/94 split. It seems the new signs are not showing the Chicago street codes anymore (5200N, 4800 W, etc).

The news signs look terrible. They don't fit properly on the existing BGS's.

Especially the new Kennedy and Edens signs approaching the JCT. They look awful

I haven't noticed any new awful looking signs. Which ones are you referring to?

I-90/94 westbound approaching the split

[inkyatari]

I just got to thinking, and having not seen this addressed via a quick search of the forums, why hasn't IL-394 ever been numbered I-394?

[tribar]

I just got to thinking, and having not seen this addressed via a quick search of the forums, why hasn't IL-394 ever been numbered I-394?

I don't really see the purpose of it. The freeway section of 394 is 4-5 miles at most and the section south of that would probably still be IL 394.

[Revive 755]

I just got to thinking, and having not seen this addressed via a quick search of the forums, why hasn't IL-394 ever been numbered I-394?

A few guesses:

1) Illinois general prefers interstates to end at other interstates?  Wouldn't account for I-172, I-180, and I-190 though.

2) There's nothing important enough near the end of the freeway to warrant an interstate number?  Again I-172 and I-180 would not fit this pattern.

3) As noted by Tribar, the freeway is not that long, and an IL 394 would still be required for the expressway section.

4) IDOT did try once for I-394 and was denied?

[tdindy88]

I suppose this may be dumb for asking, but why can't that stretch be Illinois 1? The control city already is Danville. I know Illinois 1 is nearby but is there any significance for running it up that way toward 95th Street rather than running it up into I-94?

[Brandon]

I suppose this may be dumb for asking, but why can't that stretch be Illinois 1? The control city already is Danville. I know Illinois 1 is nearby but is there any significance for running it up that way toward 95th Street rather than running it up into I-94?

It was IL-1 at one point.
http://www.n9jig.com/1-20.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Route_1