Interstate 55

I-55 south at SR 175 - Memphis, TN
I-69 north at I-55/269 - Hernando, MS
Ingram Bl south at I-40/55 - West Memphis, AR
La Place, LA ↔ Chicago, IL•964.25 miles•5 Branch Routes

Overview

I-55 Memphis-Arkansas Bridge
Interstate 55 and U.S. 61-64-70-79 cross the Mississippi River on the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge built in 1949. The cantilever truss bridge does not meet modern Interstate standards due to its lack of shoulders. However, this span is the only Interstate Highway bridge in Tennessee included in the National Register of Historic Places.1 I-55 crosses the Mississippi River again on the Poplar Street Bridge that connects St. Louis, Missouri, with East St. Louis, Illinois. 06/01/10

Interstate 55 parallels the Mississippi River for much of its length. The route originates at Interstate 10 outside the city of La Place, located west of New Orleans in the Delta region. The freeway runs northward along an isthmus between Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain between LaPlace and Ponchatola. This section of Interstate 55 is elevated. Beyond I-12 at Hammond, I-55 traverses timberland en route to McComb and Brookhaven in southern Mississippi.

I-55 Viaduct at Ruddock, LA
I-55/U.S. 51 southbound on the viaduct system at Ruddock, Louisiana. Photo by Peter Johnson (02/23/20).

Reaching the capital city of Jackson, I-55 dog legs east alongside Interstate 20 across the Pearl River. I-55 resumes a northward heading east of Downtown to Ridgeland, Madison and the north Jackson suburbs. Again a rural freeway, I-55 continues to Grenada, Senatobia, Hernando and the southern periphery of the Memphis metropolitan area.

As of May 6, 2008, Interstate 55 combines with I-69 from north of Hernando to the city of Memphis and the exchange with I-240. I-69 follows I-240 north to Downtown Memphis while I-55 turns westward to span the Mississippi River via the Memphis & Arkansas Bridge. Along this stretch is a cloverleaf interchange with Crump Boulevard that includes a turn off to stay on (TOTSO) mainline movement for I-55. Construction originally anticipated through 2019, and later forecast for Winter 2021, addresses this substandard connection. The letting for the project was March 25, 2022, with Bell & Associates Construction the low bidder at $141.2 million.8

Construction on the Interstate 55 / Crump Boulevard Interchange project may take as long as four and a half years. Work redesigns I-55 to bypass the substandard cloverleaf at Crump Boulevard along a sweeping curve. Work also replaces the exchange at Crump Boulevard and Riverside Drive with a five leg roundabout for local traffic. The east approach to the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge is being replaced, coinciding with a planned two week closure of the span.8

Interstate 40 combines with I-55 for two miles at West Memphis. The two trucking corridors partition with I-55 turning north to Marion and Blytheville and the Missouri state line. Remaining rural, Interstate 55 progresses northward to I-155 at Hayti, New Madrid, and I-57 near Sikeston. Some through traffic bound for Chicago diverts via Interstate 57 while I-55 stays west of the Mississippi to St. Louis.

I-55 north at I-72/US 36 - Springfield, IL
Interstate 72 east combines with I-55 north for 5.1 miles around the southeast side of Springfield, Illinois. The overlap is not acknowledged on the FHWA Route Log and Finder List. 05/24/18

Beyond Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Festus, all served by Interstate 55 business loops, travelers along I-55 enter the St. Louis suburbs to Mehlville and the exchange with I-270 and I-255. These routes double as bypasses and commuter routes while I-55 stays north into Downtown St. Louis.

Crossing the Mississippi River for a second time, I-55 joins I-64/U.S. 40 from near the Gateway Arch into East St. Louis. There I-70 ties in from the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, which opened to traffic in 2014, to replace I-64 as the northbound counterpart of I-55 to Troy.

The remainder of Interstate 55 through Illinois replaced U.S. 66. Most stretches of Old U.S. 66 are marked as an historical route, and sections through both Springfield and Lincoln double as Business Loop I-55. The freeway overlaps with Interstate 72 through the capital city of Springfield before angling northeast to Lincoln, Bloomington and Normal.

Interstate 74 combines with I-55 to the west of Bloomington while I-39 ends from the north at Normal. Interstate 55 continues northeast from there to Joliet (I-80) and the Stephenson Expressway leading into Chicago. The north end of I-55 is in Downtown Chicago at Lake Shore Drive (U.S. 41) near sprawling McCormick Place, the city's convention center.

Mileage by State

Louisiana65.81 mi
Mississippi290.41 mi
Tennessee12.28 mi
Arkansas72.29 mi
Missouri210.45 mi
Illinois313.08 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

ArDOT All Roads Linear Referencing System (ARNOLD). https://gis.ardot.gov/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=fd605a71a499436db1d07e8cbb34d2e1

Parallel U.S. Routes

Interstate 55 parallels U.S. 51 from New Orleans north to Memphis, then follows U.S. 61 from Memphis north to St. Louis. Between Memphis and St. Louis, U.S. 51 remains east of the Mississippi River, while Interstate 55 stays west of the river. Once at St. Louis, I-55 replaced U.S. 66 all the way to Chicago. U.S. 51 and I-55 meet again at Bloomington-Normal, and U.S. 51 north of that city has been largely subsumed by Interstate 39.

History

The first section of Interstate 55 approved for construction in Mississippi was a 27 mile long segment through Hernando, Coldwater and Senatobia. The contract was advertised in late 1956, and groundbreaking for construction followed in July 1957 in Coldwater.2

Interstate 55 was completed between Exit 49 / U.S. 61, north of New Madrid, Missouri, to U.S. 60 at Sikeston on September 1, 1960. An eight mile stretch of freeway opened that day, tieing in with a preexisting seven mile stretch.3 Further north in St. Louis, Interstate 55 was completed between the Jefferson County line and Downtown by 1967.4

Interstate 55 in Chicago, Illinois, follows the Stevenson Expressway. Originally known as the Southwest Expressway, this freeway extends northeast from the Cook-DuPage County Line to I-90/94 (Dan Ryan Expressway). The expressway opened to traffic on September 1, 1964. Exactly one year later, the Southwest Expressway was renamed the Adlai E. Stevenson Expressway, in memory of the former Illinois state Governor. The last section of I-55 completed in Chicago was the short extension from I-90/94 (Dan Ryan Expressway) east to U.S. 41 (Lake Shore Drive) in 1966.5,6

Interstate 55 corridor between Jackson and Grenada, Mississippi, 1967
The portion of I-55 between MS 16 north of Canton (Exit 124) and Vaiden (Exit 174) was the last section of Interstate 55 opened in Mississippi. It was completed in 1973.7
Southeastern Missouri – 1965 Missouri Official Highway Map
Through southeastern Missouri, Interstate 55 was completed initially at the Arkansas state line and from Sikeston north to Jackson.

North End U.S. 41 (Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore) ‐ Chicago, IL

Interstate 55 North at U.S. 41 Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore

I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL

I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) advances east from Chinatown 0.75 miles to U.S. 41 (Lake Shore Drive) by McCormick Place, Chicago’s convention center. Photo by Peter Johnson (01/18/21).

I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL I-55 north at US 41/Lake Shore Dr - Chicago, IL

U.S. 41 Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore - South at Interstate 55

US 41/Lake Shore Dr south at I-55 - Chicago, IL

One mile ahead of the directional T interchange with Interstate 55 (Stevenson Expressway) on U.S. 41 (Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive) south. 06/24/22

US 41/Lake Shore Dr south at I-55 - Chicago, IL US 41/Lake Shore Dr south at I-55 - Chicago, IL US 41/Lake Shore Dr south at I-55 - Chicago, IL

U.S. 41 Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore - North at Interstate 55

US 41/Lake Shore Dr north at I-55 - Chicago, IL

U.S. 41 (Jean Baptiste DuSable Lake Shore Drive) runs north from the Kenwood and Oakland neighborhoods along Lake Michigan to Interstate 55 by McCormick Place. Photo by Peter Johnson (01/18/21).

US 41/Lake Shore Dr north at I-55 - Chicago, IL US 41/Lake Shore Dr north at I-55 - Chicago, IL

Interstate 55 South

I-55 south at US 41 - Chicago, IL

A begin shield for Interstate 55 stands where the two flyovers from U.S. 41 (Lake Shore Drive) converge by McCormick Place. Photo by Peter Johnson (01/18/21).

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 55 North at U.S. 41 Lake Shore Drive

I-55 north at US 41 - 2005

Button copy guide signs for Exit 293D and U.S. 41 (Lake Shore Drive). 09/03/05

I-55 north at US 41 - 2005 I-55 north at US 41 - 2005 I-55 north at US 41 - 2005 I-55 north at US 41 - 2005

U.S. 41 Lake Shore Drive - North at Interstate 55

US 41 north at I-55 - 2003

U.S. 41 (Lake Shore Drive) northbound passes under the 35th Street Pedestrian Bridge one mile ahead of Interstate 55. Photo by Dan Garnell (08/28/03).

US 41 north at I-55 - 2003 US 41 north at I-55 - 2005

U.S. 41 Lake Shore Drive - South at Interstate 55

US 41/Lake Shore Dr south at I-55 - 2005

U.S. 41 (Lake Shore Drive) heads one mile south from Roosevelt Road to the north end of Interstate 55. 09/03/05

US 41/Lake Shore Dr south at I-55 - 2005 US 41/Lake Shore Dr south at I-55 - 2005 US 41/Lake Shore Dr south at I-55 - 2005

South End Interstate 10 U.S. 51 ‐ La Place, LA

Interstate 55 South at Interstate 10 U.S. 51

I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - LaPlace, LA

Six miles separate Rudduck from the southbound split of U.S. 51 from Interstate 55 to LaPlace. Photo by Peter Johnson (02/23/20).

I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - LaPlace, LA I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - LaPlace, LA I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - LaPlace, LA I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - LaPlace, LA

Interstate 10 West at Interstate 55

I-10 west at I-55 - LaPlace, LA

Crossing over southwestern reaches of Lake Pontchartain, Interstate 10 advances two miles west to Exit 210 with I-55 north. Interstate 55 commences along a viaduct, continuing the stretch of elevated highway along I-10 another 23 miles to Pontchatoula. 05/09/15

I-10 west at I-55 - LaPlace, LA I-10 west at I-55 - LaPlace, LA I-10 west at I-55 - LaPlace, LA

Interstate 10 East at Interstate 55 U.S. 51

I-10 east at I-55/US 51 - LaPlace, LA

Interstate 10 passes just north of suburban areas of LaPlace to a diamond interchange (Exit 209) with U.S. 51. U.S. 51 extends northeast from U.S. 61 along an arterial route to adjacent ramps with I-55. 05/09/15

I-10 east at I-55/US 51 - LaPlace, LA I-10 east at I-55/US 51 - LaPlace, LA I-10 east at I-55/US 51 - LaPlace, LA US 51 north at I-55 - LaPlace, LA

Interstate 55 North

I-55 north at I-10 - LaPlace, LA

The first confirming marker for Interstate 55 north appears along the ramp from I-10 west at Exit 210. 11/20/08

South End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 55 South at Interstate 10

I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - 2003

Previous overheads for Interstate 10 and U.S. 51 along I-55 south. Photo by Chris Patriarca (05/13/03).

I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - 2003 I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - 2003 I-55 south at I-10/US 51 - 2003

References

  1. Tennessee Interstate System at 50: Facts and Trivia. Retrieved from http://www.tninterstate50.com/Tnfacts.htm
  2. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System: Previous Interstate Facts of the Day. Retrieved from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/previousfacts.cfm
  3. "New Highway Stretch Open." The Southeast Missourian, September 2, 1960.
  4. Vintage St. Louis, online posting. Facebook.com. July 14, 2013.
  5. Chicago Timeline: 1964 Southwest Expressway Opened; September 1, 1965--Renamed Adlai E. Stevenson Expressway, Chicago Public Library, updated August 1997 Retrieved from http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/timeline/stevensonx.html
  6. McClendon, D. Encyclopedia of Chicago: Expressways. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/440.html
  7. Froehlig, A. (2005, May 23). Interstate Highway 55. AJFroggie.com. Retrieved from http://www.ajfroggie.com/roads/msroutes/i055.htm
  8. Whatever Happened To: the I-55/Crump Blvd. Interchange. (2022, March 29). Memphis Flyer. Retrieved from https://www.memphisflyer.com/whatever-happened-to-the-i-55-crump-blvd-interchange?fbclid=IwAR2KCSgaND9YZB3wist-4l_RNkgN8wWUZzJyBA31i-ZZaJlBy4bQ2eYzxvc
Updated June 29, 2022