U.S. Route 6 in Illinois

U.S. Route 6 (US 6) in the state of Illinois is an east–west arterial surface road that runs 179.88 miles (289.49 km) from the city of Moline in the Quad Cities area to Lansing at the Indiana state line.

U.S. Route 6 marker

U.S. Route 6

Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Map
US 6 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by IDOT
Length179.88 mi[1] (289.49 km)
Existed1932[2]–present
Major junctions
West end I-74 / US 6 in Moline
Major intersections
East end I-80 / I-94 / US 6 at Lansing
Location
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountiesRock Island, Henry, Bureau, LaSalle, Grundy, Will, Cook
Highway system
IL 5 IL 6

Route description edit

Quad Cities to La Salle–Peru edit

US 6 crosses the I-74 Bridge from Bettendorf, Iowa, south into Moline, concurrent with Interstate 74 (I-74). It remains with I-74 for five miles (8.0 km) until the intersection with I-280 south of the Rock River, where it continues south, then turns east at Quad Cities International Airport. It intersects I-80 as it leaves the Quad Cities area and closely parallels I-80 for the rest of its length in Illinois.

From the Quad Cities, US 6 travels east through the city of Geneseo. At Sheffield, US 6 overlaps US 34 through to Princeton. After an interchange with I-180, US 6 runs with Illinois Route 89 (IL 89) to Spring Valley. In the La SallePeru area, US 6 intersects with IL 251, IL 351 and I-39/US 51.

La Salle–Peru to Joliet edit

US 6 then runs past Ottawa, intersecting with the concurrent IL 23/IL 71 before joining with IL 71 for four miles (6.4 km). Further east, US 6 runs through Marseilles and Seneca, where IL 170 terminates. It then runs through Morris and overlaps IL 47 for a slight northward jog. At Channahon, US 6 has an interchange with I-55.

Joliet to Indiana edit

 
US 6 at US 52 on the southwest side of Joliet

In the Joliet area, US 6 parallels the Des Plaines River and passes beneath the cantilever bridge carrying I-80 over the Des Plaines River. At this point, it is called Railroad Street, but it turns onto McDonough Street with US 52 as it crosses the river. It then turns north, overlapping IL 53 (Chicago Street) and then east with US 30 (Cass Street). Two blocks north of leaving US 30, US 6 intersects the southern terminus of IL 171 and turns east onto Maple Road. In New Lenox, it intersects with I-355 and becomes Southwest Highway.

US 6 turns off Southwest Highway in Orland Park, heads north on Wolf Road briefly, then turns east onto 159th Street, a major east–west arterial through that town and the southern suburbs of Chicago. In Calumet City, US 6 joins with IL 83 south to the I-80/I-94 (Kingery Expressway) and then follows the Kingery east into Indiana.

Although US 6 enters the Chicago metropolitan area, it never enters the city limits of Chicago.

History edit

US 6 first was shown on maps in 1932, mainly on its current routing except for a more southerly routing from Princeton to Spring Valley through DePue and at the Illinois–Indiana line.[3][4] In 1934, both portions were changed to its current routing, from Princeton to Spring Valley and in Lockport.[4] By 1939, US 6 was rerouted in the Quad Cities, briefly forming US 6 City.[5][6][7] By 1953, the route was rerouted to travel along Torrence Avenue and part of the Kingery Expressway (from US 30 Alternate to Indiana state line).[8][9]

Prior to the formation of US 6, the road west of Princeton was US 32. US 32 remained for several more years until the part east of Princeton became an extension of US 34.

Major intersections edit

CountyLocationmi[1][10]kmDestinationsNotes
Rock IslandMoline0.00.0 
 
 
 
I-74 west / US 6 west – Davenport
Iowa state line (I-74 Bridge over the Mississippi River)
see I-74 (exits 1-5)
4.57.2 
 
  I-74 east / I-280 – Peoria, Chicago, Des Moines
Eastern end of I-74 overlap; signed as exit 5A (I-280 west)
27th Street / Quad City Airport - Rock Island27th Street is state maintained
5.48.7 
 
US 150 east – Coal Valley
Western terminus of US 150
HenryColona Township12.019.3 
 
IL 84 north (400 East) – Colona
Colona13.121.1  
 
 
 
I-80 / IL 110 (CKC) to I-74 – Des Moines, Joliet
I-80 exit 9
Colona TownshipGreen River-Osco Road - Green River, Oscoformer US 6 west; state maintained
Geneseo22.736.5 
 
 
 
IL 82 north (Henry Street) to IL 92
Western end of IL 82 overlap
23.537.8 
 
IL 82 south (Oakwood Avenue) – Cambridge
Eastern end of IL 82 overlap
Atkinson 
 
To Spring Street / IL 92
former IL 82 spur; state maintained
Annawan36.959.4  IL 78 (Canal Street) – Prophetstown, Kewanee
BureauMineral Township45.272.7 
 
US 34 west – Kewanee
Western end of US 34 overlap
Concord Township49.078.9  
 
IL 40 to I-80 – Rock Falls, Buda, Peoria
Princeton60.697.5 
 
 
 
US 34 east / IL 26 north (Main Street) / Illinois River Road (Princeton Spur) / Ronald Reagan Trail – Mendota, Dixon
Eastern end of US 34 overlap; western end of IL 26/Illinois River Road/Ronald Reagan Trail overlap; former IL 89 spur to Tiskilwa (state maintained outside Princeton)
61.398.7 
 
IL 26 south (Sixth Street) / Illinois River Road (Princeton Spur) / Ronald Reagan Trail – Bureau Junction, Hennepin
Eastern end of IL 26/Illinois River Road/Ronald Reagan Trail overlap
Selby Township64.9104.4  
 
I-180 to I-80 – Hennepin
I-180 exit 3
Depue Road - DePueformer US 6 east; state maintained
Spring Valley73.6118.4 
 
IL 89 north – Ladd
Western end of IL 89 overlap
75.6121.7  IL 29 / Illinois River Road south – DePueWestern end of Illinois River Road overlap
76.8123.6 
 
IL 89 south (Spaulding Street)
Eastern end of IL 89 overlap
LaSallePeru81.0130.4  
 
IL 251 to I-80 – Mendota, Tonica
interchange
LaSalle82.2132.3I&M Canal Passage west (Marquette Street)Western end of I&M Canal Passage overlap
82.3132.4 
 
IL 351 south (Joliet Street) – Oglesby
Western end of IL 351 overlap
82.5132.8 
 
 
 
IL 351 north (Joliet Street) to I-80
Eastern end of IL 351 overlap
83.8134.9   I-39 / US 51 – Rockford, Bloomington, NormalI-39 exit 57
North Utica87.7141.1  IL 178 / Illinois River Road north / I&M Canal Passage east – North UticaEastern end of Illinois River Road / I&M Canal Passage overlap
Ottawa96.8155.8  
 
IL 23 / IL 71 west / Illinois River Road south / I&M Canal Passage west (Columbus Street) – DeKalb, Streator
Western end of IL 71 / Illinois River Road / I&M Canal Passage overlap
98.5158.5I&M Canal Passage east (2871st Road)Eastern end of I&M Canal Passage overlap
Rutland Township99.0159.3 
 
IL 71 east – Oswego
Eastern end of IL 71 overlap
Marseilles104.3167.9I&M Canal Passage west (Main Street) – Illini State ParkWestern end of I&M Canal Passage overlap
Seneca109.7176.5 
 
  IL 170 south (Main Street) / CR 25 (East 29th Road) – Ransom
GrundyMorris121.7195.9 
 
IL 47 south (Division Street) – Dwight
Western end of IL 47 overlap
122.4197.0 
 
IL 47 north (Division Street) – Yorkville
Eastern end of IL 47 overlap
GrundyWill
county line
Channahon132.2212.8I&M Canal Passage west (Bell Road)Western end of I&M Canal Passage overlap
Will133.3214.5DuPage River Bridge
Illinois River Road ends
136.2219.2  I-55 – Chicago, BloomingtonI-55 exit 248
Joliet Township140.9226.8 
 
 
 
IL 7 north (Larkin Avenue) to I-80
142.0228.5I&M Canal Passage east (Brandon Road)East end of I&M Canal Passage overlap
Joliet143.2230.5 
 
US 52 west (McDonough Street)
Western end of US 52 overlap
143.7231.3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US 52 east / IL 53 south / Historic US 66 west (Chicago Street) to I-80
Eastern end of US 52 overlap; western end of IL 53 / Historic US 66 overlap
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US 30 west / Lincoln Highway west (Cass Street) / IL 53 north / Historic US 66 east (Scott Street)
eastern end of IL 53 / Historic US 66 overlap; western end of US 30 / Lincoln Highway overlap
 
 
 
 
US 30 east / Lincoln Highway east (Cass Street)
eastern end of US 30 / Lincoln Highway overlap
145.1233.5 
 
IL 171 north (Collins Street)
New Lenox150.6242.4 
 
 
 
I-355 Toll (Veterans Memorial Tollway) to I-80 – West Suburbs
I-355 exit 1
New Lenox TownshipCedar Road - New Lenoxstate maintained
CookOrland Park157.4253.3  IL 7 (159th Street / Wolf Road) – Orland Park, Lockport
159.4256.5  US 45 (LaGrange Road)
Tinley ParkOrland Park
village line
162.4261.4  IL 43 (Harlem Avenue)
Oak Forest165.4266.2  IL 50 (Cicero Avenue)
Markham166.8268.4  
 
 
 
I-57 to I-294 Toll north – Chicago, Kankakee
I-57 exit 348
168.3270.9 
 
 
 
I-294 Toll (Tri-State Tollway) to I-80 – Wisconsin, Indiana, Hammond
I-294 exit 6
HarveyWood Streetformer US 54; state maintained
170.6274.6  IL 1 (Halsted Street)
South Holland173.3278.9  I-94 (Bishop Ford Freeway) – Chicago, IndianaI-94 exit 73
Calumet City174.6281.0 
 
IL 83 north (Torrence Avenue)
Western end of IL 83 overlap
Lansing176.2283.6 
 
IL 83 south (Torrence Avenue)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I-80 west / I-94 west (Kingery Expressway) to I-294 Toll north
Eastern end of IL 83 overlap; western end of I-80/I-94 overlap; I-80 exit 161
178.0286.5 
 
 
 
 
 
I-80 east / I-94 east / US 6 east (Borman Expressway) – Toledo, Detroit
Indiana state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References edit

  1. ^ a b Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2007). "T2 GIS Data". Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  2. ^ Carlson, Rick (March 15, 2005). "Illinois Highways Page: Routes 1-20". Retrieved May 27, 2006.
  3. ^ Illinois Secretary of State (1932). Official Illinois Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:950,000 and c. 1:1,110,000]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  4. ^ a b Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1934). Official Road Map Illinois (Map). [c. 1:950,000 and c. 1:1,110,000]. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. OCLC 183709045. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  5. ^ Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1936). Road Map Illinois (Map). [c. 1:950,000 and c. 1:1,110,000]. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  6. ^ Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1939). Illinois Road Map (Map) (1939–1940 ed.). c. 1:918,720. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  7. ^ Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1940). Illinois Road Map (Map). c. 1:918,720. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  8. ^ Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1951). Illinois Road Map (Map). c. 1:918,720. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  9. ^ Illinois Division of Highways (1953). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:805,000]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  10. ^ Google Maps estimate

External links edit

KML is from Wikidata


  U.S. Route 6
Previous state:
Iowa
Illinois Next state:
Indiana