Interstate 57

Representing the longest Interstate highway in Illinois at 364 miles, I-57 travels nearly the height of the state from the Mississippi River near Cairo to Champaign and the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-94) in south Chicago. Throughout most of Illinois, the freeway traverses rural and agricultural areas, including a swath through Shawnee National Forest. The route also connects smaller regional cities, including Marion, Mattoon and Kankakee among others. Two overlaps add cross country traffic to I-57 as well, with a 5.59 mile shared alignment with I-70 through Effingham and a 4.14 mile overlap with I-64 at Mount Vernon.

Interstate 57 Illinois Guides

Estimated to cost $74.3 million in 2016,¹ the $251.8 million Interstate 57/74 Interchange Reconstruction project upgrades the exchange joining I-57 and I-74 northwest of Champaign. Designed in 1958 and built in 1965, construction replaces the cloverleaf interchange between the two freeways with a high speed cloverstack interchange. Costing $21.1 million, Project 1, replacing the overpasses taking Mattis Avenue over both I-57 and I-74 started in Summer 2020 and was completed on September 9, 2021. Project 2, replacing the U.S. 150 overpass above I-57, was also replaced during the same time frame at a cost of $8.4 million.

Project 3 involving the I-57 and I-74 ramp reconstruction broke ground on August 23, 2021. The $125.8 million project runs through 2023. Project 4 got underway in 2022 and will be completed in 2025. The estimated $125 million phase reconstructs the pavement along both I-57 and I-74.

scenes

County Road 37 marker posted east of the exchange with Interstate 57 outside the village of Chebanse. 05/24/08

Ashland Avenue comprises a northbound side frontage street from Calumet Park north to West 112th Street at the West Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. A diamond interchange with West 119th Street utilizes Ashland to make the connections with Interstate 57 below. Pictured here is the northbound on-ramp ahead of Exit 355. 09/04/05

Trombone style mast-arm signal assemblies at Hamlet Avenue north and 112th Place, just beyond the off-ramp from Interstate 57 north at Exit 355. 09/04/05

Signs for northbound on-ramps to Interstate 57 in Far Southeast Side Chicago direct traffic toward the Chicago Loop. 09/04/05

Original trailblazers for Interstate 57 were posted along 112th Place west ahead of the Hamlet and Marshfield Avenue on-ramps in the Morgan Park neighborhood of Far Southeast Side Chicago. 09/04/05

Hamlet Avenue provides northbound access from 112th Place to the final three miles of Interstate 57. 09/04/05

112th Place becomes Monterey Avenue west of Interstate 57 to West 111th Street within Morgan Park. Marshfield Avenue comprises the southbound side frontage street for I-57. 09/04/05

An on-ramp drops onto Interstate 57 south from Marshfield Avenue near 112th Place and Monterey Avenue for Calumet Park, Markham and Kankakee. 09/04/05

Photo Credits:

09/04/05, 05/24/08 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 24
Interstate 64
Interstate 70
Interstate 72
Interstate 74
Interstate 80
Interstate 90
Interstate 94

Page Updated 11-09-2023.