Interstate 24 in Illinois

Interstate 24
Route information
Maintained by Illinois DOT
Length: 38.73 mi[1] (62.33 km)
Major junctions
West end: I-57 near Pulleys Mill
  US 45 in Vienna
US 45 in Metropolis
East end: I-24 near Metropolis
Highway system

Main route of the Interstate Highway System
Main • Auxiliary • Business

Illinois state highway system
Illinois Tollway system

← IL 23 US 24 →

In the U.S. state of Illinois, Interstate 24 is a remote, four-lane freeway that travels through hilly rural southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest. I-24 is 38.73 miles (62.33 km) in length in Illinois.[1] There are only five mainline exits; of those five, four have services. Interstate 24 crosses into Kentucky via the Interstate 24 Bridge over the Ohio River from Metropolis, Illinois to Paducah, Kentucky.

Contents

Route description

Interstate 24 begins at Exit 44A of Interstate 57 in southern Williamson County, near the community of Pulleys Mill.[2] The highway heads southeast into rural Johnson County, bypassing Goreville to the east. It reaches an exit at Tunnel Hill Road, which serves Goreville and Tunnel Hill. The highway continues south to its next exit at U.S. Route 45 north of Vienna. It reaches its next exit at Illinois Route 146 in eastern Vienna. I-24 heads southeast from Vienna into Massac County.[3] Its first exit in Massac County is at Big Bay Road, which serves the communities of Big Bay and New Columbia. I-24 continues southward, bypassing the community of Round Knob before entering Metropolis. The highway meets U.S. Route 45 again in Metropolis and passes west of Fort Massac State Park. It leaves Metropolis to the south by crossing the Interstate 24 Bridge over the Ohio River, continuing into Kentucky.[4][5]

History

Interstate 24 was part of the original Interstate Highway System plan enacted in 1956.[6] The section of Interstate 24 in Illinois was authorized for engineering by 1966 and authorized for construction by 1968.[7][6] The highway opened to traffic by 1977.[8]

Exit list

County Location Mile[5] # Destinations Notes
Williamson 0.0 0 I-57 – Memphis, Chicago Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; signed as exits 44A (south) and 44B (north)
Johnson 7.1 7 Tunnel Hill, Goreville
13.6 14 US 45 – Vienna, Harrisburg
Vienna 15.9 16 IL 146 – Vienna, Golconda
Massac 26.5 27 New Columbia, Big Bay No services
Metropolis 37.1 37 US 45 – Metropolis, Brookport
Ohio River 38.7 Interstate 24 Bridge
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
Interstate 24
Previous state:
Terminus		 Illinois Next state:
Kentucky

References

  1. ^ a b United States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration (2002-10-31). "Route Log- Main Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 1". http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-12. 
  2. ^ Illinois Department of Transportation (2010). Williamson County General Highway Map (Map). http://www.dot.state.il.us/maps/county/williamson.pdf. Retrieved 2011-1-9. 
  3. ^ Illinois Department of Transportation (1994). Johnson County General Highway Map (Map). http://www.dot.state.il.us/maps/county/johnson.pdf. Retrieved 2011-1-9. 
  4. ^ Illinois Department of Transportation (2001). Massac County General Highway Map (Map). http://www.dot.state.il.us/maps/county/massac.pdf. Retrieved 2011-1-9. 
  5. ^ a b Google, Inc. Google Maps – Overview map of Interstate 24 Distances Between Interchanges (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=I-24+E&daddr=I-24+E+to:I-24+E+to:I-24+E+to:I-24+E+to:I-24+E+to:I-24+E&hl=en&geocode=FT_uPQIdfhGy-g%3BFTq3PAIdTSCz-g%3BFSJjOwId5rCz-g%3BFejoOgIdKe-z-g%3BFcwqOQIdlLu1-g%3BFV8KNwIdbs62-g%3BFfmxNgIdMMW2-g&mra=mi&mrcr=5&mrsp=6&sz=16&sll=37.13774,-88.683593&sspn=0.008981,0.01929&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16. Retrieved 2011-1-8. 
  6. ^ a b Illinois Blue Book, 1967-1968. State of Illinois. 1967. p. 746. http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/bb/id/20934. Retrieved January 9, 2011. 
  7. ^ Illinois Blue Book, 1965-1966. State of Illinois. 1965. p. 720. http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/bb/id/16489. Retrieved January 9, 2011. 
  8. ^ "1977 Official Illinois Highway Map". Illinois Digital Archives. Illinois State Library. http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/isl9/id/156. Retrieved January 9, 2011.