Interstate 88 (Western)

Interstate 88 Illinois
East Moline, IL ↔ Elmhurst, IL•140.60 miles•0 Branch Routes

Overview

Formerly IL 5, and before that IL 190, the western Interstate 88 is the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway from Interstate 80 near the Quad Cities east to the I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) interchange near Hillside. Until 2004, the toll road section from Sterling east to Hillside was known as the East-West Tollway.

Interstate 88 provides an alternative to I-80 between the Quad Cities area and Chicago, especially points north and west of the Loop. The tollway passes through Dixon, which is the boyhood home of former President Ronald Reagan.

Part of the I-80 Mississippi River Bridge Study underway through the end of 2023, alternatives are being evaluated for improving the interchange at the west end of Interstate 88. Alternative A expands the existing cloverleaf. Alternate B replaces the loop ramp from I-80 east to I-88 east with a directional ramp. Alternate C replaces the loop ramp from I-80 east to I-88 east with a flyover and makes modifications at the adjacent exchange with Old IL 2. Alternate D constructs a four level interchange while also modifying the exit for Old IL 2.

Mileage by State

Illinois140.60 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2025 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

Interstate 88 was commissioned in July 2, 1987,1 replacing former IL 5. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) previously approved the designation subject to concurrence from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on May 25, 1987. The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority indicated that the renumbering was necessary so that they could raise the speed limit to 65 MPH due to a federal law at the time that allowed states to increase speed limits on highways designated as Interstates. The limit was increased between Napierville and Rock Falls.4 A similar process occurred with the unnumbered portion of the Kansas Turnpike, which was designated Interstate 335 to allow for 65 MPH speed limits.

Additionally the application to AASHTO indicated

The access controlled 4-lane facility which was opened in 1979 provides a link between Chicago and several northern Illinois cities. An Interstate marking would provide motorists a route marking more consistent with this type of highway.

The section of Interstate 88 (East-West Tollway) from I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) west to Aurora was built between 1956 and 1958. The construction of the initial 28 mile long section of the East-West Tollway (and the other original tollways) was funded by a bond issuance in the amount of $415 million by the state tollway commission (which was created in 1953).2,3 All of the urban tollways (including the Northwest Tollway, the easternmost portion of the East-West Tollway, the Tri-State Tollway, and the Chicago Skyway) were open to traffic by 1958.

The second major section of the East-West Tollway opened was 69 miles long, from IL 56 in Aurora west to IL 40 near Sterling and Rock Falls. This portion was funded with a bond issuance by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority in 1970. This route was shown as under construction in the 1972 Rand McNally Road Atlas and as complete in 1974. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) built the remainder of the highway from the interchange with IL 40 west to the Quad Cities in the 1970s; this section is toll free.

East-West Tollway - 1964
The East-West Tollway ran 29.8 miles from Sugar Grove to Hillside in 1964. The toll road was designated U.S. 30 Toll until 1965, when it was renumbered to IL 190. The original west end of the tollway to Sugar Grove was eventually designated as IL 56.
Northwest Illinois - 1970
The original studies for the East-West Tollway included a route northwest to Clinton, Iowa. It was determined however that traffic on the proposed route would not be high enough to justify construction.5
IL 5 (East West Tollway) under construction – 1973 Illinois Official Highway Map.
IL 5 was extended west from Interstate 80 to Rock Island in 1975. The route within the Quad Cities remained after the 1987 commissioning of Interstate 88.

The first segment of the East-West Tollway (Aurora to Chicago) was originally designated as U.S. 30 Toll. It was changed to IL 190 in 1965 and renumbered again to IL 5 in 1972 (before the extension to the Quad Cities was completed).

East End Interstate 290 Interstate 294 Illinois Route 110 ‐ Elmhurst, IL

Interstate 88 Illinois Route 110 East at Interstate 290

I-88 east at I-294 - Oak Brook, IL

Continuing beyond the Meyers Road Plaza 52, the ensuing exits from I-88/IL 110 are for Midwest Road and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) southbound. 06/23/22

I-88 east at I-294 - Oak Brook, IL I-88 east at I-294 - Oak Brook, IL I-88 east at I-294 - Oak Brook, IL I-88 east at I-294 - Oak Brook, IL I-88 east at I-294 - Oak Brook, IL I-88 east at I-294 - Elmhurst, IL I-88 east at I-294 - Elmhurst, IL I-88 east at I-290 - Elmhurst, IL I-88 east at I-290 - Hillside, IL I-88 east at I-290 - Hillside, IL

Interstate 290 Illinois Route 110 West at

I-290/IL 110 west at I-88 - 2008

The Outbound Eisenhower Expressway advances 1.5 miles from U.S. 12-20-45 / Mannheim Road (Exit 17) to the split with Interstate 88. The forthcoming exchange is commonly known as the Hillside Strangler due to commute hour delays and back-ups. 05/24/08

I-290/IL 110 west at I-88 - 2008 I-290/IL 110 west at I-88 - Hillside, IL I-290/IL 110 west at I-88 - Hillside, IL I-290/IL 110 west at I-88 - Hillside, IL

Interstate 88 Illinois Route 110 West

I-88/IL 110 west at IL 83 - Oak Brook

The first confirming marker for Interstate 88 west appears after the ramps with I-294 (Tri-State Tollway). Photo by Steve Hanudel (05/14/06).

East End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 88 Illinois Route 110 East at Interstate 290

I-88 east at I-294 - 2002

I-88 (East-West Expressway) east at the wye interchange with the connect to I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) southbound. Photo by Don Hargraves (09/02).

I-88 east at I-294 - 2002 I-88 east at I-294 - 2002 I-88 east at I-294 - 2002 I-88 east at I-294 - 2002 I-88 east at I-290 - 2002 I-88 east at I-290 - 2002 I-88 east at I-290 - 2002

West End I-80 IL 5 IL 92 IL 110 ‐ East Moline, IL

Interstate 88 Illinois Route 92 Illinois Route 110 West at Interstate 80 Illinois Route 5

I-88/IL 92-110 west at I-80 - Zuma Twp

I-88/IL 92-110 (Chicago Kansas City Expressway) west parallel Zuma Creek across an agricultural area in Zuma township ahead of Exits 1 B/A with Interstate 80. 06/20/22

I-88/IL 92-110 west at I-80 - Zuma Twp I-88/IL 92-110 west at I-80 - Zuma Twp I-88/IL 92-110 west at I-80 - East Moline I-88/IL 92-110 west at I-80 - East Moline I-88/IL 92-110 west at I-80 - East Moline I-88/IL 92-110 west at I-80 - East Moline I-88/IL 92 west at IL 5 - East Moline

Illinois Route 5 Illinois Route 92 East at Interstate 80 Interstate 88 Illinois Route 110

IL 5/92 east at I-80/88 - East Moline

Heading northeast through East Moline, IL 5/92 advance one mile east to the cloverleaf interchange (Exits 1 A/B) joining I-88 with I-80/IL 110 (CKC). 06/21/22

IL 5/92 east at I-80/88 - East Moline IL 5/92 east at I-80/88 - East Moline IL 5/92 east at I-80/88 - East Moline I-88/IL 5-92 east at I-80/IL 110 - East Moline I-88/IL 92 east at I-80/IL 110 - East Moline I-88/IL 92-110 east at Old IL 2 - East Moline I-88/IL 92 east at 226th St N - East Moline, IL

Interstate 80 East at Interstate 88 Illinois Route 5 Illinois Route 92 Illinois Route 110

I-80 east at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline

One mile north of Exits 4 A/B with I-88 and IL 5, IL 92 and IL 110 (CKC). IL 92 is part of a multi state route beginning in Torrington, Wyoming and ending at U.S. 34 near La Moille, Illinois. IL 5 west encircles southern reaches of Moline and Rock Island from East Moline to U.S. 67. 06/23/22

I-80 east at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline I-80 east at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline I-80 east at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline I-80 east at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline I-80 east at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline

Interstate 80 West Illinois Route 110 East at Interstate 88 Illinois Route 5 Illinois Route 92

I-80 west at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline, IL

The first sign for the interchange with I-88 and IL 5/92 precedes the Rock River and the Rock Island County line along I-80 west / IL 110 (CKC) east. 06/21/22

I-80 west at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline, IL I-80 west at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline, IL I-80 west at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline, IL I-80 west at I-88/IL 5-92 - East Moline, IL

References

  1. Personal Email from Jason Hancock on 07/09/06, citing an article from the Moline Daily Dispatch on 7/29/87.
  2. McClendon, D. Encyclopedia of Chicago: Expressways. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/440.html
  3. Young, D.M. Encyclopedia of Chicago: Tollways. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1257.html
  4. "East-West Tollway now I- 88 - speed 65 in one area." Chicago Sun-Times, July 2, 1987.
  5. "Motor Club To Hear Study On Tollway." Chicago Tribune, September 26, 1963.
Updated June 28, 2022