U.S. 34
U.S. 34 travels eastward from Burlington, Iowa to Monmouth and Galesburg, then northeast to Kewaunee, Princeton and Mendota. Continuing into the Chicago area, U.S. 34 passes through Aurora and Naperville. The highway concludes at Illinois Route 43 (Harlem Avenue) between Lyons, Riverside and Berwyn.
East
A folded diamond interchange joins the east end of the Great River Bridge with Mellinger Avenue in the village of Gulfport.
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U.S. 34 makes an S-curve east across the BNSF Railroad / AMTRAK to Old Highway 34.
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The Illinois welcome sign stands along the limited access section of U.S. 34 extending 1.9 miles east from the Iowa line to Old Highway 34.
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Old Highway 34 spurs north to Stevenson Road for Stevenson Lake. The roadway is discontinuous with Old Highway 34 north of the BNSF Railroad.
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A signalized intersection follows along U.S. 34 eastbound with Carman Road.
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Carman Road stems south from U.S. 34 to the unincorporated community of Carman along the Mississippi River.
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Beyond Carman, Carman Road continues south 9.5 miles to IL 96 in the village of Lomax.
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West 
South
U.S. 67 combines with U.S. 34/IL 164 west and IL 110 (CKC) south to bypass Monmouth.
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IL 164 travels 18 miles west to the village of Oquakwa along the Mississippi River.
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U.S. 34/67 and IL 110 combine three miles around Monmouth between N Main Street and 180th Avenue.
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U.S. 34 splits with U.S. 67/IL 110 (CKC) 1.2 miles south of IL 164 / Broadway.
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Elevating across the BNSF Railroad / AMTRAK, U.S. 34/67 and IL 110 proceed south by Citizens Lake to 11th Avenue and their separation.
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180th Avenue extends east from the exchange with U.S. 34/67 to Monmouth at S Main Street.
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U.S. 34 branches west from a parclo interchange with U.S. 67/IL 110 (CKC) 26 miles to the Great River Bridge into Burlington, Iowa.
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Beyond Monmouth, 180th Avenue becomes County Route 5 east to the community of Cameron.
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West
U.S. 34 makes a gradual southwesterly curve from U.S. 67/IL 110 (CKC) toward Kirkwood. Biggsville lies 12 miles away.
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North Street branches west from U.S. 34 into the village of Kirkwood while U.S. 34 bypasses the community to the east and south.
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20th Street leads north to Harding Street in Kirkwood while County Route 11 lines the road southward to Smithshire.
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Confirming marker posted westbound after CR 11 (20th Street).
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U.S. 34 crosses into Henderson County 3.5 miles ahead of Biggsville.
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U.S. 34 widens into a four lane, divided highway beyond 1900E in Biggsville township.
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1800E links U.S. 34 with 1500 N (old U.S. 34) west into the village of Biggsville.
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The Biggsville bypass along U.S. 34 opened to traffic south of Biggsville in 2014. The four lane highway includes a diamond interchange with IL 94 and IL 116.
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IL 94 travels along a stair stepped route north from U.S. 34 to Rozetta, Aledo, Reynolds and U.S. 67 south of the Quad Cities.
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IL 94/116 overlap five miles south; IL 116 turns east there to the village of Media while IL 94 remains south into the village of Stronghurst.
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U.S. 34 narrows back into a two lane highway alongside Bogus Hollow Road (old U.S. 34).
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U.S. 34 converges with the west end of IL 164 just south of the village of Gladstone.
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The Henderson County seat of Oquawka lines the Mississippi River six miles to the north, where IL 164 turns east toward Monmouth.
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U.S. 34 winds southwest by the Henderson County Fish and Wildlife Area on the eight mile drive to Gulfport from IL 164.
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1150 East stems north from U.S. 34 along a Great River Road Spur to Gladstone Lake Recreation Area.
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A Great River Road historical marker is located at the Highway 34 Roadside Park just ahead of 900 East (CR 15).
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Great River Road trailblazer posted west at the intersection with 900 East (CR 15) north to Mississippi River Lock and Dam Number 18.
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Carman Road ties into U.S. 34 from the south just ahead of the Gulfport city limits.
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The Great River Road and Western Branch of the Lincoln Heritage Trail continue south along Carman Road from U.S. 34 to IL 96 at Lomax.
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2.2 miles of U.S. 34 in Illinois remain between Carman Road and the Iowa state line at the Great River Bridge.
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U.S. 34 navigates through an S-curve along the freeway leading west to Gulfport and Burlington, Iowa.
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A folded diamond interchange joins U.S. 34 with Mellinger Avenue. This is the only access point for the village of Gulfport.
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Spanning the Mississippi River into Burlington, Iowa, the Great River Bridge is a cable stay bridge supported by a single tower.
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A folded diamond interchange (Exit 263) connects the west end of the Great River Bridge with Main Street south into Downtown Burlington and north to CR X99.
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The Great River Bridge extends 2,268 feet across the Mississippi River. Four lanes are supported across a 78.1 foot wide deck.1
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The Great River Bridge tower tops out 370 feet from the Mississippi Riverbed.2
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U.S. 34 crosses the state line just beyond the Great River Bridge main tower. There Iowa 163, a 165.5 mile route to U.S. 69 in Des Moines, commences.
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The Great River Bridge was constructed from 1989 to 1993 at a cost of $60 million.2
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scenes
Carman Road is signed with Illinois state route blanks at the intersection with U.S. 34 outside Gulfport. Carman Road is part of both the Illinois Great River Road and the Lincoln Heritage Trail.
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Carman Road travels nine miles south from U.S. 34 to the village of Lomax by way of Carman.
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References:
- Great River Bridge. https://bridgehunter.com/ia/des-moines/great-river/ Bridgehunter.com.
- "Great River Bridge a visual gem." The Hawk Eye (Burlington, IA), January 27, 2018.
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman, Bill Gatchel: 03/25/16
- Alex Nitzman: 05/29/18
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Page Updated Sunday December 15, 2019.