Interstate 155 Illinois

Interstate 155 Illinois
Lincoln, IL ↔ Morton, IL•32.13 miles

Overview

Interstate 155 provides a cut off between the I-74 corridor at Peoria and the I-55 corridor north from Springfield. The linear freeway travels a rural route north from the Lincoln area to Morton, replacing the old alignment of Illinois Route 121.

Mileage by State

Illinois32.13 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

I-155 Illinois - 1989 Map
IL 121 under construction for I-155 – 1989 Illinois Official Highway Map

Illinois initially submitted the designation of Interstate 37 for the IL 121 corridor between Lincoln and Morton. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) deferred on the designation at the Route Numbering Committee Meeting held on December 8, 1990, with the suggestion of a three-digit designation instead. The state 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.

Work on the $120 million project to upgrade IL 121 and construct Interstate 155 was finished on October 30, 1992. Initial discussion surrounding the upgrade of IL 121 to four lane standards began in the early 1960s. The IL 121 intersection with newly built IL 98 gained the nickname "Killer Corner" when the two roads met south of Morton due 15 accident deaths that occurred at the intersection. That junction was replaced with an interchange in November 1989.1

An $86.6 million capital investment reconstructed Interstate 74 at both I-155 and adjacent Morton Avenue (Exit 102). The work zone upgraded I-74 between west of Pleasant Hill Road and west of Main Street and I-155 north of the Birchwood interchange. Work effecting I-155 improved the geometry of the trumpet interchange with I-74 and lowered Interstate 74 to grade level through the exchange, with new overpasses built for I-155. Construction commenced on April 1, 2013.2

The I-74 and I-155 Improvement Project was forecast to run through Summer 2015,2 but continued to October 2016. Ramps between I-155 north and I-74 west and from I-74 west to I-155 south reopened on November 14, 2015.3

North End Interstate 74 ‐ Morton, IL

Interstate 155 North at Interstate 74

I-155 north at I-74 - Morton, IL

I-155 north elevates across a Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway line between the east end of IL 98 and Interstate 74 in Morton. 05/24/18

I-155 north at I-74 - Morton, IL I-155 north at I-74 - Morton, IL I-155 north at I-74 - Morton, IL

Interstate 74 East at Interstate 155

I-74 east at I-155 - East Peoria, IL

One mile ahead of I-155 on Interstate 74 east by Cloverdale in East Peoria. 05/24/18

I-74 east at I-155 - East Peoria, IL I-74 east at I-155 - East Peoria, IL I-74 east at I-155 - Morton, IL

Interstate 74 West at Interstate 155

I-74 crosses U.S. 150 just ahead of I-155 south at Morton, IL

Traffic merges onto I-74 west from the commercialized stretch of Morton Avenue just ahead of Exit 101 to Interstate 155 south. 12/21/23

I-74 crosses U.S. 150 just ahead of I-155 south at Morton, IL I-74 west at I-155 south to Lincoln, IL

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 155 at Interstate 74

I-155 north at I-74 - 2002

Ground level guide signs were posted ahead of the trumpet interchange joining Interstate 155 with I-74. These were removed during the I-74 and I-155 Improvement Project. Photo by Don Hargraves (09/23/02).

I-155 north at I-74 - 2002 I-74 west at I-155 - 2008 I-74 west at I-155 - 2002 I-74 east at I-155 - 2005 I-74 east at I-155 - 2005 I-74 east at I-155 - 2005

South End Interstate 55 ‐ Lincoln, IL

Interstate 155 South at Interstate 55

I-155 south at I-55 - Lincoln, IL

I-155 angles southeast from the crossing of Sugar Creek on a 5.2 mile exit less stretch leading to Exit 0 with Interstate 55. All signs for I-55 on I-155 south were replaced by 2013 to use Clearview Font. 05/24/18

I-155 south at I-55 - Lincoln, IL I-155 south at I-55 - Lincoln, IL I-155 south a half mile ahead of I-55 near Lincoln, IL I-155 south at I-55 - Lincoln, IL I-155 south end shield

Interstate 55 North at Interstate 155

I-55 north at I-155 - Lincoln, IL

Interstate 55 leads due north from the split with Business Loop I-55 into Lincoln. The freeway next meets IL 10 and the north end of IL 121 at Exit 126, followed by the beginning of I-155 at Exit 127. 06/17/22

I-55 north at I-155 - Lincoln, IL I-55 north at I-155 - Lincoln, IL I-55 north at I-155 - Lincoln, IL I-55 north at I-155 - Lincoln, IL

Interstate 55 South at Interstate 155

I-55 south at I-155 - Lincoln, IL

The initial guide sign for Exit 127 to I-155 on I-55 south precedes the Old Route 121 overpass in West Lincoln township. 05/24/18

I-55 south at I-155 - Lincoln, IL I-55 south at I-155 - Lincoln, IL I-55 south at I-155 - Lincoln, IL

South End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 155 South at Interstate 55

I-155 south at I-55 - 2001

Previous guide signs for Exit 0 on I-155 south. This is an uncommon instance where an Interstate concludes at Exit 0. Other examples include the south end of I-65 and the west end of I-265 in Indiana. Photo by Jeff Royston (11/25/01).

I-155 south at I-55 - 2001 The south end shield for I-155 in 2001

Interstate 55 North at Interstate 155

I-55 north at I-155 - 2002

Approaching the succeeding interchanges with IL 10/121 and I-155 on Interstate 55 north along the west side of Lincoln. These signs were replaced with Clearview font based panels by 2015. Photo by Brian Dowd (06/02).

I-55 north at I-155 - 2002 I-55 north at I-155 - 2005 I-55 north at I-155 - 2018 I-55 north at I-155 - 2018 I-55 north at I-155 - 2018
Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 55 South at Interstate 155

I-55 south at I-155 - 2010

One mile ahead of I-155 north on I-55 south. This sign was replaced by 2016. 05/06/10

I-55 south at I-155 - 2010 I-55 south at I-155 - 2002

References

  1. 31-mile Superhighway Opens After 30-Year Drive for Safer Road. (1992, October 30). Journal Star.
  2. "Governor Quinn Announces $86 Million Capital Investment to Reconstruct I-74 and I-155 Interchange." Office of the Governor - Patt Quinn, press release. March 28, 2013.
  3. "I-74/I-155 Ramps Reopening." Office of the Governor - Bruce Rauner, press release. November 12, 2015.
Updated January 25, 2024