Interstate 155 Illinois - Interstate Travel Information
Interstate 155 Illinois
Routing
Interstate 155 links Interstate 55 and Springfield with Interstate 74 and Peoria, totaling about 32 miles to the west of Bloomington. The highway was approved by AASHTO in 1991 and signed in 1994, replacing the Illinois 121 designation. Illinois originally requested that the Illinois 121 freeway be designated as Interstate 37, but AASHTO rejected that request in 1990.1
History
Illinois initially submitted the designation of Interstate 37 for the Illinois 121 corridor. On December 8, 1990, AASHTO rejected Interstate 37 and suggested a three-digit designation in its place. Illinois resubmitted the route as Interstate 155 to AASHTO on June 9, 1991, and that designation was approved contingent upon the completion of the freeway route to Interstate standards.
Mileage
State
Mileage
Cities
Junctions
Illinois
32.13
Lincoln, Peoria
Interstate 55, Interstate 74
Source: October 31, 2002 Route Log and Finder List
Two-mile guide sign on Interstate 155 for Exit 0/Interstate 55. Control points utilize the major cities of Chicago and Saint Louis as opposed to the medium sized cities of Bloomington and Springfield. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Southbound Interstate 155 approaching its end at Junction Interstate 55. This is a rare instance where the terminus of an Interstate is signed as Exit 0. Other examples include the south ends of Interstate 65 and Interstate 69 and the west end of Interstate 265 in Indiana. Photos taken by Jeff Royston (11/01).
A third perspective of the one-mile sign bridge for Exits 0A/B on Interstate 155 south. The close proximity to Exit 126 of Interstate 55 south for Illinois 121 (the original route number assigned to Interstate 155) allows for inclusion on this guide sign. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Traffic defaults onto Interstate 55 southbound. However, access is still available to Interstate 55 north via Exit 0B from the left lane. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
It appears that although Illinois 121 was truncated upon the signing of Interstate 155, that the state highway still maintains a short overlap with Interstate 55 to this interchange. As Interstate 55 northbound traffic departs to the left, Interstate 155 prepares to merge with Interstate 55 south. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
An end Interstate 155 shield is posted on the Exit 0A ramp to Interstate 55 southbound. There are 126 miles to the city of Saint Louis and state of Missouri. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Close-up view of the end Interstate 155 shield depicted above. The guide sign in the background indicates that Illinois 121 via Exit 126 is the best route to the city of Decatur, 35 miles to the southeast. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (11/01).
Perspective from Interstate 155 north
Northbound Interstate 155 after its junction with Interstate 55. Tim Messer adds that one of the first shield assemblies features a rather unusual signage arrangement. The shield has a directional "NORTH" sign above it, and below it is a smaller sign that says "PEORIA". Another place we've seen this in our travels is a trailblazer north of Interstate 83 along southbound Pennsylvania 181, which has a plate that reads "YORK." Photo by Jeff Royston (11/01).
Perspective from Interstate 55 north
Interstate 55 northbound, approaching Exit 126 for Illinois 10 and 121 to nearby Lincoln. The first guide signage for the upcoming split with Interstate 55 is displayed as well. Illinois 121 was the predecessor for Interstate 55 on the freeway routing between Lincoln and Peoria. Photos taken by Brian Dowd (06/02 and 08/16/02).
Drawing near Interstate 155 on Interstate 55 north, Illinois 121 begins at this interchange. Originally the state highway overlapped three-quarters of a mile northward to Exit 127. Photos taken by Brian Dowd (06/02 and 08/16/02).
Visible in the background of the above photograph, this sign bridge prepares northbound Interstate 55 motorists for the split of Interstate 155 north. Interstate 55 turns briefly to the east north of Lincoln, and therefore sees a left-hand exit for the northerly pointed Interstate 155. Photos taken by Brian Dowd (06/02; 08/16/02).
Interstate 155 North Peoria guide sign on Interstate 55 north. This sign can be seen in the background of the above photograph. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/13/05).
In the background is the ramp from Interstate 155 south to Interstate 55 north. Meanwhile for northbound motorists, the last set of guide signs point the way for Peoria and the small town of Hartsburg via Interstate 155 north. Photos taken by Brian Dowd (06/02; 08/16/02).
A wider perspective of the Interstate 55/155 sign bridge before the split of the two highways. From this junction, Interstate 55 curves to the east for five miles, before turning northeast towards Bloomington. Photo taken by Stephen Summers (10/00).
Milepost 0 for Interstate 155 north is attached to the Exit 127 gore point sign on Interstate 155 north. The Interstate 155 northbound begin shield is visible in the background. The city of Peoria is only 40 miles to the north from this point. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (06/02).
Perspective from Interstate 55 south
Shifting focus to Interstate 55 southbound, the one-mile guide sign for Interstate 155 north/Exit 127. Hartsburg is accessible from Exit 6 on Interstate 155. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (06/02).
The driver of this convertible enjoys an unobstructed view of a sign bridge for the Interstate 155 and Illinois 10/121 exits on Interstate 55 southbound. Note that the left-hand panel erroneously displays Exit 127 instead of the actual Exit 126. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (06/02).
The departure of Interstate 155 northbound from Interstate 55 occurs in this southbound photograph. Note the southbound control city of Saint Louis in lieu of Springfield. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (06/02).
A tri-level stack interchange facilities the traffic movements between the two Interstate highways. This view is seen from southbound Interstate 55. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (06/02).
Interstate 155 northbound upcoming exits guide sign. The first entry is that of Illinois 98/Birchwood Street (Exit 31) and the second is for the northern terminus at Interstate 74. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/23/02).
Lane allocation guide sign on Interstate 155 for Interstate 74. This lone sign describes all traffic movements in lieu of a full sign bridge. The roadway in the background is that of Interstate 74. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/23/02).
Interstate 155 comes to an end as these Interstate 74 shields direct traffic to the respective east and westbound ramps. The lack of overhead signage is most likely temporary, as Don noticed overhead sign fixtures nearby. Downtown Peoria sits just eight miles to the northwest of this junction. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/23/02).
Perspective from Interstate 74 west
Posted just past Exit 112 for Illinois 117 at Goodfield, mileage sign with Interstate 155, ten miles out from the northern terminus. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
First exit sign of Interstate 155 (Exit 101) from westbound Interstate 74. A mile or so separates this guide sign from the actual interchange. The control city of Interstate 155 reflects Lincoln, the southern terminus of the route at Interstate 55, 34 miles to the south. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/23/02).
A second view of the one-mile guide sign of Exit 101 on Interstate 74 westbound. The construction present in the above photo has been completed. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Interstate 155 south/Exit 101 overhead at the ramp from Interstate 74 west. 62 miles to the south is the capital city of Springfield. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Perspective from Interstate 74 east
This mileage sign is the first indication of the junction with Interstate 155. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Interstate 74/155 (Exit 101) directional overhead on Interstate 74 east. Although the eastern control point is Indianapolis, the Illinois cities of Bloomington (62 miles) and Champaign-Urbana (80 miles) await motorists beforehand. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Directional overhead just ahead of the split of Interstate 155 south from Interstate 74 eastbound. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Eastbound Interstate 74 splits with Interstate 155 south at Exit 101. The right two lanes exit onto Interstate 155, while the two left lanes continue east toward Bloomington-Normal. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Exit 101 gore sign as Interstate 155 turns south from Interstate 74 east. The first southbound exit of Interstate 155 is situated nearby, serving the town of Morton near U.S. 150. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
