95th Street (Chicago)

95th Street is a major east–west street on Chicago's South Side and in the southwest suburbs, designated as 9500 South in Chicago's address system. 95th Street is 11 miles (18 km) south of Madison Street.

Route

It begins at 248th Avenue in Naperville and Wheatland Township in Will County and runs until reaching Eagle Brook Lane. It continues east of the Des Plaines River at Archer Avenue (Illinois Route 171) in Palos Township and runs through Spears Woods Forest Preserve. Just before exiting the forest preserve, it intersects La Grange Road (US 12/US 20/US 45). US 12 and 20 turn onto 95th Street, making it a much bigger road. Route 45 continues south as La Grange Road. Continuing east, 95th Street crosses major interstate and state routes, including: Interstate 294 (Tri-State Tollway, Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43), Cicero Avenue (Illinois Route 50), and Halsted Street (Illinois Route 1). At State Street, 95th crosses Interstate 94 (the Dan Ryan Expressway). It is just south of 95th that Interstate 57 joins I-94. Continuing east, 95th Street crosses Interstate 90 (Chicago Skyway), the Calumet River, before ending at Ewing Avenue/Avenue L (US 41) on Lake Michigan.

Communities and sites

95th Street passes through the southwest suburbs of Naperville in Wheatland Township, Hickory Hills, Palos Hills and Bridgeview in Palos Township, and Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park in Worth Township.

In the City of Chicago, it passes through the neighborhoods of Beverly, Washington Heights and Roseland, then marks the borders between Burnside and Pullman and between Calumet Heights and South Deering before crossing the Calumet River to enter the East Side neighborhood. Chicago State University is located on 95th Street between Cottage Grove and King Drive.

Transportation

Taking into account its entire length, 95th Street is the longest east–west road on Chicago's South Side, and is served by a number of trains and buses. The 95th/Dan Ryan train stop on the Red Line is one of the busiest in the system. It is the station furthest south, and is therefore a transfer point for many people living further south or in the suburbs. The CTA 95E and 95W and Pace (transit) 381 and 395 buses run along 95th Street. Additionally, the #34, 103, 106, 111, 112, and 119 buses, as well as the Pace 352, 353, and 359 buses, start at 95th/Dan Ryan station and then continue south. A number of Metra lines cross 95th Street, including: two stops on the Rock Island District line at Longwood and 95th Street - Beverly Hills, the Electric Main and Blue Island Lines at 95th Street (Chicago State University), and the SouthWest Service line at Oak Lawn. The South Shore Line (NICTD) also crosses 95th Street at the Metra Electric Station but does not stop there.

Movie History

The 95th Street bridge over the Little Calumet River is the one used for the "Draw Bridge Jump" scene in Blues Brothers right at the beginning of the movie.