U.S. 50

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U.S. 50 crosses southern Illinois between the Jefferson Barracks Bridge across the Mississippi River alongside I-255 and the Wabash River by Vincennes, Indiana. U.S. 50 overlaps with I-255 for 12.81 miles from the Missouri state line to Interstate 64 at Caseyville and with I-64 east from there 11.46 miles to IL 158 at O'Fallon. The remainder of the route in the Land of Lincoln travels independent of the Interstate Highway System.

U.S. 50 Illinois Guides

U.S. 50 branches northeast from I-64 and O'Fallon to Lebanon. Within the city, U.S. 50 dog legs north alongside IL 4 (Madison Street) for 0.62 miles to St. Louis Street. U.S. 50 resumes an eastward heading from Lebanon to Trenton, Aviston, Breese and Carlyle. The highway originally passed through those cities and villages directly, but was relocated northward to bypass them.

Within the city of Carlyle, U.S. 50 shifts 1.03 miles southward along IL 127 (12th Street) to rejoin the original alignment on Franklin Street. The route proceeds east by Carlyle Lake to the village of Sandoval. Following a 0.29 mile overlap with U.S. 51 (Mine Street) north in Sandoval, U.S. 50 continues east to Odin, Salem and Iuka.

Gradually shifting northward, U.S. 50 bypasses Xenia while Old US Highway 50 passes through the village to the south. The realignment continues east along the north side of Flora, where U.S. 45 joins U.S. 50 for 3.87 miles. U.S. 50 converges with Old US Highway 50 east ahead of Clay City.

IL 250 separates from U.S. 50 north to the village of Noble along the former route. U.S. 50 was relocated southward onto a controlled access route as part of the planned alignment for Interstate 64 east from St. Louis to Vincennes, Indiana. I-64 was eventually constructed to the south to serve Evansville, but several upgrades to U.S. 50 in anticipation of I-64 were already made.

U.s. 50 circumvents Olney to the south before overtaking the old alignment along Main Street east into Lawrence County. Another section of IL 250 separates from U.S. 50 south to the city of Sumner while U.S. 50 stays to the north along a controlled access alignment.

Once at Lawrenceville, U.S. 50 upgrades to a two lane freeway. Parallel IL 250 ties into U.S. 50 Business, which loops south into the city along a 3.81 mile course overtaking State Street. U.S. 50 continues east onto a freeway bypassing Vincennes while the former alignment ties into IL 33 north of Vigo Street and SR 441 in the Hoosier State.

U.S. 50 scenes
Looking north at the western end of IL 33 at the U.S. 50 freeway that connects Vincennes to Lawrenceville. Those same two communities are the control cities for U.S. 50. 11/06/10



Photo Credits:

11/06/10 by Thomas Decker

Connect with:
Interstate 57
Interstate 64
Interstate 255
Route 1

Page Updated 11-29-2012.

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