| Illinois Route 173 | ||||
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by IDOT | ||||
| Length: | 66.20 mi[2] (106.54 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1924[1] – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end: | Illinois Route 137/Lake CR 67 in Zion | |||
| IL 76 in Poplar Grove I-90 / I-39 / US 51 in Loves Park |
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| East end: | Illinois Route 251/Winnebago CR 17 in Machesney Park | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Illinois state highway system
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Illinois Route 173 is an east–west state road that runs from Illinois Route 251 in the Rockford suburb of Machesney Park east to Illinois Route 137 (Sheridan Road/Buckley) in Zion near the Illinois-Wisconsin border; this is a distance of 66.20 miles (106.54 km).[2] Illinois Route 173 is also one of the northernmost east-west state highways in Illinois. On Interstate 94 (Tri-State Tollway) traveling south from Wisconsin, it is the second road seen which has an interchange at that location. Similarly, when traveling south/east from Wisconsin on Interstate 39/90 (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway), Illinois Route 173 is only the third exit into Illinois. In 2008, the entirety of Illinois 173 has been designated the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway
Route 173 is a much traveled highway, because it stretches the width of the state, and sits right along the Illinois/Wisconsin border. It makes it popular for trucks, but the majority of the Route is littered with small, rural towns. Unfortunately, much, if not all, of the roadway is still only two lanes. A popular roadway, combined with truckers, and only two lanes, has become recipe for one of the most dangerous roadways in this country. In Lake County alone (the Eastern most stretch of the roadway) there were more than 30 deaths on Route 173, between 1994 and 2008. In 2007 a 20 year old Antioch resident was killed headed while headed west on this road. Since then her family, friends, and other local residents have joined together to make 173 safer for all of us. http://safetyonroute173.com/
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Illinois 173 travels across relatively hilly northern Illinois from the Rockford area to Zion. This area is more densely populated than other portions of rural Illinois.
In July 2007, a new interchange was constructed at Illinois 173 and Interstates 39/90 (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway).
From east to west, Illinois Route 173 is known by local road names through the towns it traverses.
SBI Route 173 originally ran from near downtown Rockford (along Forest Hills Road) to Zion. During the 1980s, when the village of Machesney Park was heavily developed and incorporated, Illinois Route 173 was scaled back and its western terminus moved to Illinois Route 251 (North 2nd Street). From 1972 to 1994 the highway also assumed a portion of what is now Illinois Route 137 north to the Wisconsin border. 3[1]