Interstate 280 Iowa / Illinois

History

Western Terminus

Eastern Terminus

Routing

As the western and southern half of the Quad Cities (Moline, Rock Island, Bettendorf, and Davenport) beltway system, Interstate 280 travels 23 miles, connecting to Interstate 80 at either end. U.S. 6 overlaps from the western terminus at Interstate 80 to exit 1. At the Quad Cities International Airport, Interstate 74 merges with Interstate 280, and they multiplex eastward for the remaining five miles of Interstate 80 southeast of Moline.

History

The original layout of the Quad Cities Interstate system planned for Interstate 74 and Interstate 80 overlap from the current west end of Interstate 74 through the Quad Cities into Illinois. Interstate 80 as it is routed today from Interstate 74 to Interstate 280 was to be designated Interstate 274. This was altered to the current configuration before construction began as the Interstate 74/80 overlap seemed redundant.¹

In Iowa, Interstate 280 opened on October 25, 1973.²

A numbering change was proposed by the state of Illinois to renumber existing Interstate 280 as Interstate 80, change existing Interstate 80 to Interstate 74, and redesignate the north-south section of Interstate 74 (including the twin suspension bridges) as Interstate 174. This action was rejected by AASHTO on Jume 10, 1991, because the state of Iowa did not participate in the application of this numbering change. In fact, Iowa rejected the numbering proposal as well. As a result, none of these changes took place.

Highway Guides

• Iowa
• Illinois

	Western Terminus - Interstate 80 - near Davenport, Iowa Perspective from Interstate 280 west This mileage sign along westbound Interstate 280 provides the distance to Exit 1, Junction U.S. 6 east/County Route F58 (former Iowa 927) west, Kimberly Road. This begins the U.S. 6 overlap with Interstate 280. Iowa 927 was decommissioned on July 1, 2003. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Interstate 280 westbound approaches Exit 1, Junction U.S. 6 east/County Route F-58 west. The county route is the former alignment of Iowa 927 and before that U.S. 6. The route was removed from the state system on July 1, 2003. Continuing west (north) on Interstate 280, the final interchange is the junction with Interstate 80. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Westbound Interstate 280 reaches Exit 1, Junction U.S. 6 east/County Route F-58 west. The final exit along Interstate 280 is the junction with transcontinental Interstate 80. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Continuing west (north), Interstate 280 approaches its conclusion with Interstate 80. U.S. 6 westbound will follow Interstate 80 west for a 19-mile overlap. The overpass behind the sign bridge is of U.S. 6/County Route F-58/Kimberly Road. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Naturally, Interstate 280/U.S. 6 westbound defaults onto Interstate 80 westbound at freeway speeds. The two highways migrate westward to Iowa City in 44 miles and the state capital in 159 miles. Interstate 80 returns east to Davenport, Bettendorf, and Moline en route to Chicago. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). An Interstate 80 and U.S. 6 reassurance shield assembly is posted on the transition ramp from westbound Interstate 280 onto westbound Interstate 80. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Perspective from Interstate 80 east Interstate 80 eastbound as it splits with Interstate 280 and U.S. 6 at Exit 290. Interstate 80 continues east to U.S. 61 and Davenport Municipal Airport in five miles. Interstate 280 drops southward to Rock Island 11 miles away. Photo taken by Jim Teresco (07/01). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 80 east Interstate 74 8 miles near Bettendorf, IA Interstate 88 20 miles near Barstow, IL Interstate 74/ Interstate 280 26 miles near Colona, IL Perspective from Interstate 80 west Now looking west on Interstate 80, this mileage sign provides the distance to Exit 290, Junction Interstate 280/U.S. 6 east and the control city of Des Moines, the capital of Iowa. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). The ramp to Exit 290, Junction Interstate 280/U.S. 6 east is a left exit. Interstate 280 provides a bypass of the Quad Cities area, avoiding most of the urban areas (unlike Interstate 74). Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). This is the one-mile advance signage for the pending interchange at Exit 290, Junction Interstate 280/U.S. 6 east. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). U.S. 6 joins westbound Interstate 80 at this interchange, merging onto the freeway between Exit 290 and Exit 271 near Wilton. Through the state of Iowa, U.S. 6 closely parallels Interstate 80, offering a local alternate route to the freeway. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Westbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 290/Interstate 280/U.S. 6 east. There are four Davenport area interchanges on Interstate 280 and two from Interstate 80. U.S. 6 represents the first Interstate 280 Davenport interchange as the highway travels Kimberly Road into north Davenport and Bettendorf. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). This reassurance shield for Interstate 280 is posted on the transition ramp from westbound Interstate 80 to (southbound) Interstate 280 east and U.S. 6 east. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 80 west Interstate 380 51 miles at Tiffin, IA Interstate 35 overlap begin/ Interstate 235 152 miles at Norwoodville, IA Interstate 35 overlap end/ Interstate 235 167 miles at west Des Moines, IA Eastern Terminus - Interstate 80 - near Rock Island, Illinois Perspective from Interstate 74/280 east The final nine miles of Interstate 280 have an overlap with Interstate 74 from the Quad City International Airport to Interstate 80. This photograph shows the last interchange and departure of Interstate 74 from Interstate 280 to Interstate 80 east. Traffic that does not turn southeastward on Interstate 74 to Peoria will default onto Interstate 80 eastbound. The city of Chicago is over 150 miles to the east via Interstate 80. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). The interchange with Interstate 80 is a cloverleaf. After the ramp offering the continuation of eastbound Interstate 74 (see previous photobox), travelers are offered a loop ramp connection to westbound (northbound) Interstate 80 to Des Moines, Iowa. Straight ahead, Interstate 280 transitions directly onto Interstate 80 east. The incoming loop ramp from the right brings traffic from the eastbound Interstate 80 mainline. This connecting ramp marks the eastern terminus of Interstate 280. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Perspective from Interstate 80 east Now approaching the U.S. 6 interchange on eastbound (southbound) Interstate 80, the next two exits are Exit 9, Junction U.S. 6 and Exit 10A, Junction Interstate 74-280 west to Moline and Rock Island and Exit 10B, Junction Interstate 74 east to Peoria. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Eastbound (southbound) Interstate 80 reaches Exit 9, Junction U.S. 6. The next interchange is Exits 10A-B, Junction Interstate 74-280 west and Junction Interstate 74 east. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). The upcoming interchange with Interstate 74 and Interstate 280 is a cloverleaf, just like the Interstate 88/Illinois 5-92 interchange. As a result, the continuation of eastbound Interstate 80 is sent onto a loop ramp. All through traffic for eastbound Interstate 80 should merge into the right lane. Plans call for this interchange to be upgraded in the future to allow for a set of through lanes for Interstate 80 through this interchange so the loop ramp would not have to carry the mainline traffic. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Use Interstate 74-280 west to the Quad City Airport as well as downtown Moline, Rock Island, Bettendorf, and Davenport. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Continue straight ahead through this interchange to connect to eastbound Interstate 74 en route to Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Danville, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Eastbound (southbound) Interstate 80 reaches Exit 10A, Junction Interstate 74-280 west to the Quad Cities. The next ramp provides the continuation of eastbound Interstate 80 toward Chicago. The main lanes directly transition onto Interstate 74 east (which can be considered Exit 10B). Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). This graphical sign advises through traffic on Interstate 80 to use the loop ramp to continue east toward Chicago. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Reaching the loop ramp, eastbound Interstate 80 transitions onto the loop ramp. Interstate 74 continues south to Galesburg, then turns southeast through Peoria and Bloomington-Normal. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Perspective from Interstate 80 west Westbound Interstate 80 approaches the first Quad Cities interchange: Junction Interstate 74 and Interstate 280. These two routes provide the most direct route west to the Quad Cities: Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Bettendorf (first two cities are in Illinois, while second two cities are in Iowa). Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). For through traffic on westbound Interstate 80, either Interstate 80 or Interstate 280 will ultimately connect to Des Moines, Iowa. However, Interstate 74 is an often busy route that is not the best through route for long-distance travelers. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). The left two lanes connect directly onto Interstate 74 and Interstate 280 west to Moline and Rock Island, while the right lane carries the mainline of Interstate 80 around the eastern and northern edges of the urban area. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Use Interstate 74 and Interstate 280 west to the Quad City Airport; the airport is located near the U.S. 6 interchange south of Moline. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Through traffic for westbound Interstate 80 should exit at the next exit. However, through traffic to Des Moines may use Interstate 280 west. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). This diagrammatical sign shows a graphical illustration of the continuation of Interstate 80 west. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Interstate 80 westbound at the transition to Interstate 74 west and the beginning of Interstate 280. Considered Exit 10, these overheads received no exit numbers. The junction here is a full cloverleaf, with Interstate 74 and 280 sharing a 9.4 mile overlap west to Moline. There are no exits between the overlap begin here and split at Exit 5AB/18AB. Photos taken by Michael Summa (1976) and AARoads (09/04/05). Immediately after westbound Interstate 80 departs north toward Coloma and Barstow, this loop ramp offers a connection to eastbound Interstate 74 to Peoria. For traffic following the continuation of Interstate 74 west through this cloverleaf interchange, Interstate 74 essentially intersects itself. Follow Interstate 74 and Interstate 280 west to the Quad Cities -- Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Bettendorf -- and its suburbs. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Perspective from Interstate 74 west Now reaching the cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 80, this loop ramp offers the continuation of westbound Interstate 74 to Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Bettendorf. Cosigned with Interstate 280 for nine miles, the final segment of Interstate 74 is essentially north-south, crossing the Mississippi River before its final four miles within the Hawkeye State of Iowa. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). Perspective from Interstate 74-280 west This is the first reassurance shield for Interstate 280 west of the Interstate 80 interchange. Interstate 74 is cosigned with Interstate 280 for the first nine miles. Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05). After the first set of reassurance shields, this mileage sign provides the distance to Moline and Rock Island as well as the western end of Interstate 280, which is some 28 miles northwest of here in Iowa. (The connection to Interstate 80 via Interstate 74 is much shorter.) Photo taken by AARoads (09/04/05).

Sources:

1. Interstate 274 routing background obtained from Stephen Summers' Interstate system route numbering page.
2. Iowa Interstate - 50th Anniversary (web site no longer online)

Page Updated June 9, 2006.