Interstate 280

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Interstate 280 travels 9.38 miles between its bridge across the Mississippi River to Interstate 80 (Exit 290). The freeway is generally rural through its Iowa portion.

Interstate 280 travels along the southern reaches of Moline and Rock Island before turning northwest across the Mississippi River bridge into Davenport, Iowa. The stretch through Illinois runs concurrent with Interstate 74 for 9.36 miles west from the Big X Interchange with I-80/IL 110 (Chicago Kansas City Expressway) to the cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 6 by Quad City International Airport (MLI) in Moline. I-280 continues another 8.21 miles west from I-74/U.S. 6 to the Iowa state line across the Sergeant John F. Baker, Jr. Bridge.

Interstate 280 Quad Cities Guides

East - Iowa - 29 photos

East - Illinois - 35 photos

West - Illinois - 36 photos

West - Iowa - 22 photos

Illinois proposed renumbering the loop in 1990 as Interstate 74, with the original alignment of I-74 north from I-280 in Moline to I-80 in Iowa redesignated as Interstate 174. This plan did not advance due to objections from the state of Iowa.¹

Eastward view of I-74/280 at the Big X interchange with I-80/IL 110 (CKC) outside Colona. - 03/11/2017

scenes

1st Avenue leads east from Milan to cross Mill Creek and become Airport Road ahead of the diamond interchange with Interstate 280.
Airport Road replaced the former alignment of IL 92 east to Quad City International Airport (MLI).

05/25/08

Interstate 280 loops south from Airport Road around central Milan to southwest Rock Island and western reaches of Davenport.

05/25/08

Passing under I-280, motorists along Airport Road approach the eastbound on-ramp to Chicago and Downtown Moline. Airport Road provides the connection between the freeway and U.S. 67 in Milan.

05/25/08