Interstate 72

The original length of Interstate 72 stretched just 78.66 miles from I-55 at Clear Lake Avenue (former IL 97) in Springfield to I-57 at Champaign. I-72 was eventually extended 98.59 miles west from I-55 in Springfield to the state line along Mississippi River by Hannibal, Missouri. This included a 4.83 mile long overlap with I-55 south to the freeway taking U.S. 36 west from Business Loop I-55.

Entirely overlapped with U.S. 36, Interstate 72 runs east from the Missouri state line to Hull, Barry, Jacksonville and Springfield. I-172 connects with I-72 near Hannibal, Missouri south from Quincy.

I-72/U.S. 36 encircle Springfield to the south and east alongside Interstate 55. Resuming an eastward course, the two routes leave the Illinois capital city for Riverton and parallel a Norfolk Southern Railroad line to Buffalo, Illiopolis and Harristown.

Combining with U.S. 51, Interstate 72 parts ways with U.S. 36 to bypass Decatur to the north. The freeway follows the Sangamon River northeast to Argenta, Cisco and the Piatt County seat of Monticello. Turning east again, I-72 enters Champaign County ahead of Bondville and the city of Champaign. The freeway spurs 1.29 miles east from the cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 57 to the couplet of University Avenue east and Church Street west. Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) GIS Data omits the leg east of I-57 from the inventory of I-72.

Previous applications to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) by the IDOT sought to designate the link from I-57 into Champaign as I-72 (Spur) on October 17, 1984, and then as Business Spur I-72 on May 16, 1985. Both were denied, with the latter disapproved. Correspondence from AASHTO to IDOT on July 1, 1985 explained:

(1) a spur route designation should carry a three digit designation, (2) a business route designation should connect with a regular numbered route at both ends, and (3) trailblazer signing such as "TO I-72" or "TO State Road 10" could serve to mark this short segment of highway.

Interstate 72 Illinois Guides

East

Missouri to Pittsfield - 10 photos

Springfield - 16 photos

Decatur - 15 photos

Champaign - 13 photos

West

Champaign to Decatur - 64 photos

Harristown to Springfield - 56 photos

Curran to Jacksonville - 36 photos

Pittsfield to Missouri - 57 photos

Business Routes

Jacksonville - 30 photos

Plans for what ultimately became Interstate 72 originated in the early 1960s. An editorial published by the Illinois State Journal on October 17, 1961 promoted a "Springfield-Decatur-Champaign expressway with a Springfield-Jacksonville spur."¹ Originally the state of Illinois sought to designated Interstate 74 from Danville to Quincy, but requirements at that time disallowed it as the route did not connect with another Interstate, a city of more than 50,000⁶, or a major military base at Quincy. Instead the state shifted to an expressway alternative.²

The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) approved the designation of Interstate 72 from Springfield via Decatur to Champaign on June 23, 1969. The freeway between Springfield and November was completed in November 1976.¹ A ribbon cutting ceremony was held by state officials marking the completion of the 93-mile long section of I-72 between Springfield and Monticello on November 16, 1976 (Brown, 1976).

The initial application from IDOT to AASHTO for the extension of I-72 along the Central Illinois Expressway (CIE) was disapproved on May 26, 1987. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) eventually approved the designation of Interstate 72 for the CIE west from Springfield to Quincy on April 27, 1995.³

Marked solely as U.S. 36, I-72 was completed across the Mississippi River into Missouri on September 16, 2000, when the $58 million Mark Twain Memorial Bridge opened to traffic.⁴ The steel truss through deck bridge was constructed in multiple phases. Awarded in September 1996, the first contract built the substructure and approach girders. Work on the second contract, which was awarded in July 1997, included the fabrication and construction of the 640 foot main span truss. Building the roadway approach in Missouri was part of a contract awarded in October 1997. Costing $8.8 million, the final contract was awarded in November 1998. It included work on the 84 foot wide bridge deck and painting. Construction followed on the last phase in January 1999.⁵

Further east, work on the Springfield-to-Quincy stretch commenced in 1973, but stopped in June 1980 due to environmental concerns for a winter roosting area for eagles where the twin bridges were being built across the Illinois River. Construction resumed after a four year legal battle, with the state buying additional right of way to serve as a conservation area.⁶ The Valley City Eagles Bridge spanning the Illinois River opened on October 13, 1990 as part of 13 mile long stretch completed between IL 100 and IL 107. Costing $28 million, construction on the Central Illinois Expressway between Exits 35 and 46 got underway on March 17, 1986.⁷

Construction through Fall 1990 also completed an eight mile long stretch between IL 96 and Barry.² The final link along the Central Illinois Expressway at Hull was completed on November 15, 1991, when then-Governor Jim Edgar and former Governor James Thompson held a dedication ceremony at what was IL 79 spanning IL 336.¹

scenes

IL 47 runs 4.93 miles south from U.S. 150 (Oak Street) in the village of Mahomet to a rural diamond interchange (Exit 176) with Interstate 72.

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Interstate 72 heads 2.75 miles west from IL 47 before curving southward across the Piatt County line to White Heath and Monticello.

05/24/08

I-72 continues 5.43 miles east from the IL 47 overpass to Interstate 57 in the city of Champaign.

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Mattis Avenue separates commercial areas from the Champaign residential street grid north to the couplet of University Avenue east from I-72 and Church Street west to I-72.

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Church Street extends west as an arterial 0.25 miles from Mattis Avenue to the beginning of Interstate 72 at Country Fair Drive.

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Country Fair Drive north intersects Church Street west where Interstate 72 begins.

05/07/10

Trailblazers for I-57, I-72 and I-74 (since removed) along Church Street west at Country Fair Drive and the start of Interstate 72.

05/24/08

References:

1. "Realization of a Dream." State Journal-Register, The (Springfield, IL), November 22, 1991.
2. "Way Paved for Expressway to Open Early / Highway Through State's Midsection Will Open in 1991." State Journal-Register, The (Springfield, IL), March 30, 1990.
3. "Interstate 72 Extends Westward." St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO), May 1, 1995.
4. "Visionaries put their heads together to create a concept for new bridge." Hannibal Courier-Post (MO), September 16, 2000.
5. "Final bridge contract awarded." Hannibal Courier-Post (MO), November 17, 1998.
6. "At Last -- CIE Opening in Sight." State Journal-Register, The (Springfield, IL), September 27, 1991.
7. "Bridging the Gap in Pike County - Opening of Expressway Brings Mixed Reactions from Residents." State Journal-Register, The (Springfield, IL), October 14, 1990.
8. Brown, S. (1976, November 16). Illinois completes I-72 stretch. Arlington Heights Herald, Page 2.

Connect with:

Interstate 55

Interstate 57

Interstate 172

Business Loop I-72 - Jacksonville

Page Updated Tuesday January 16, 2024.