Interstate 24 in Illinois
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by IDOT | ||||
| Length: | 38.73 mi[1] (62.33 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end: |
 I-57 in Pulleys Mill | |||
 US 45 in Vienna US 45 in Metropolis | ||||
| East end: |
 I-24 at the Kentucky state line in Metropolis | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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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; all but one have services. Interstate 24 crosses into Illinois via the Interstate 24 Bridge over the Ohio River near Metropolis. The freeway ends in Illinois at a junction with Interstate 57.
Route description
Interstate 24 begins at Exit 44 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.[6][7] The highway opened to traffic by 1977.[8]
Exit list
| County | Location | mi[5] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson | 0.0 | 0.0 | 44 | I-57 – Memphis, Chicago | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; western terminus and signed as exits 44A (south) and 44B (north); uses I-57's exit numbers | |
| Johnson | 7.1 | 11.4 | 7 | Tunnel Hill, Goreville | ||
| 13.6 | 21.9 | 14 | US 45 – Vienna, Harrisburg | |||
| Vienna | 15.9 | 25.6 | 16 |  IL 146 – Vienna, Golconda | ||
| Massac | 26.5 | 42.6 | 27 | New Columbia, Big Bay | No services | |
| Metropolis | 37.1 | 59.7 | 37 | US 45 – Metropolis, Brookport | ||
| Ohio River | 38.7 | 62.3 | Interstate 24 Bridge | |||
| McCracken | I-24 east – Paducah | Continuation into Kentucky | ||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | ||||||
| Interstate 24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous state: Terminus |
Illinois | Next state: Kentucky |
References
- 1 2 United States Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration (October 31, 2002). "Route Log- Main Routes of the Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways – Table 1". Retrieved 2006-07-12.
- ↑ Williamson County General Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Illinois Department of Transportation. 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ Johnson County General Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Illinois Department of Transportation. 1994. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ Massac County General Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Illinois Department of Transportation. 2001. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- 1 2 Google (January 8, 2011). "Overview map of Interstate 24 Distances Between Interchanges" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
- 1 2 Illinois Blue Book, 1967–1968. State of Illinois. 1967. p. 746. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ Illinois Blue Book, 1965–1966. State of Illinois. 1965. p. 720. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ "1977 Official Illinois Highway Map". Illinois Digital Archives. Illinois State Library. Retrieved January 9, 2011.