Interstate 172 Illinois

I-172 north of I-72/US 36 - Fall Creek, IL
Fall Creek, IL ↔ near Quincy, IL•19.69 miles

Overview

Interstate 172 connects I-72/U.S. 36 with the Adams County seat of Quincy and the expressway along IL 336 north to Macomb. The rural freeway passes east of Quincy along bluffs rising above the Mississippi River while the southern extent traverses the river flood plain in Pike County.

I-172 is also part of IL 110, the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Referred to as the CKC for short, the multi state route overlaps with other Interstates and U.S. highways as both an alternate route to I-55 and I-70 and an economic generator for cities located on the route.

IL 336 takes over from the ending Interstate 172 as an at-grade expressway north toward Carthage and east to Macomb. The expressway was cosigned as part of the CKC (IL 110) in 2010. Long range plans call for the IL 336 alignment to extend east beyond Macomb to Bardolph and Cuba; northeast around Canton; and east parallel to IL 116 to Interstate 474 at Bellevue. While incorporating some grade separations and interchanges, the overall route is not planned as an Interstate standard facility. More information is available at the IL 336 Peoria to Macomb Study web site.

Mileage by State

Illinois19.69 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

Illinois originally submitted Interstate 172 as the new designation for the Central Illinois Expressway to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The limited access highway was signed as U.S. 36 and completed in 1991 from I-55 at Springfield to IL 336 near Hull. AASHTO approved the numbering on June 9, 1991, with it contingent upon Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approval. No signs were erected however, and by 1995 a new numbering plan emerged.

As approved by AASHTO on April 22, 1995, the Central Illinois Expressway was renumbered instead as a westward extension of Interstate 72. The I-172 designation was then applied to the 17 mile long freeway spur for IL 336 north from the proposed I-72 to Quincy and U.S. 24.

The freeway along IL 336 completed within Adams County – 1983-84 Illinois Official Highway Map
The original freeway for IL 336 extended north from a two lane alignment (old IL 79) connecting with U.S. 36 at Shepherd. A portion of the old alignment remains along 130th Street and the frontage road along north side of I-72.
I-172 north at Adams County, IL
An older sign array for I-172 and the Great River Road that was posted ahead of the Adams County line on the freeway northbound. Photo by Jeff Royston (02/05/08).
I-172 south of US 24
Interstate 172 initially traverses flat agricultural areas south to Ewbanks. The shield assembly here was replaced when the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway was established in 2010. Photo by Jeff Royston (02/05/08).

North End U.S. 24 Illinois Route 110 Illinois Route 336 ‐ near Quincy, IL

Interstate 172 Illinois Route 110 North at U.S. 24 Illinois Route 336

I-172 north at US 24 - Quincy, IL

I-172/IL 110 (CKC) turn northwest ahead of the rural diamond interchange (Exit 19) with U.S. 24. 05/07/10

I-172 north at US 24 - Quincy, IL I-172 north at US 24 - Quincy, IL I-172 north at US 24 - Quincy, IL

Interstate 172 Illinois Route 110 North at U.S. 24 Illinois Route 336

IL 110/336 south at I-172/IL 24 - Quincy

IL 336 proceeds south from the intersection with County Road 1800 N near Bloomfield to become Interstate 172 at the diamond interchange (Exit 19) with U.S. 24. 05/07/10

IL 110/336 south at I-172/IL 24 - Quincy I-172/IL 110 south at US 24/IL 336 - Quincy

U.S. 24 East at Interstate 172 Illinois Route 110 Illinois Route 336

US 24 east at I-172/IL 110-336 - Quincy

U.S. 24 travels north from Downtown Quincy to overlap with IL 96 for 0.63 miles before turning due east to Interstate 172, IL 110 (CKC) and IL 336. Photo by Joseph Barnes (08/14/16).

US 24 east at I-172/IL 110-336 - Quincy US 24 east at I-172/IL 110-336 - Quincy US 24 east at I-172/IL 110-336 - 2008

U.S. 24 West at Interstate 172 Illinois Route 110 Illinois Route 336

US 24 west at I-172/IL 110-336 - Quincy

U.S. 24 travels 2.4 miles west from Fowler to meet Interstate 172 south, IL 336 north and the Chicago-Kansas City (CKC) Expressway. Photo by Joseph Barnes (08/14/16).

US 24 west at I-172/IL 110-336 - Quincy US 24 west at I-172/IL 110-336 - Quincy US 24 west at I-172/IL 110-336 - Quincy US 24 west at I-172/IL 110-336 - Quincy US 24 west at I-172/IL 110-336 - 2008

South End Interstate 72 U.S. 36 ‐ Fall Creek, IL

Interstate 172 South at Interstate 72 U.S. 36

I-172 south at I-72/US 36 - Fall Creek, IL

I-172/IL 110 (CKC) arc around the settlement of Fall Creek to meet Interstate 72 at a trumpet interchange (Exit 0) in one mile. Photo by Joseph Barnes (08/14/16).

I-172 south at I-72/US 36 - Fall Creek, IL I-172 south at I-72/US 36 - Fall Creek, IL I-172 south at I-72/US 36 - Fall Creek, IL I-172 south at I-72/US 36 - Fall Creek, IL

Interstate 72 U.S. 36 East at Interstate 172

I-72/US 36 east at I-172 - Fall Creek, IL

I-72/U.S. 36 angle northeast from the Mark Twain Bridge across agricultural areas to connect with Interstate 172 north to Quincy. Named the Purple Heart Memorial Highway, the freeway enters the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. 04/13/13

I-72/US 36 east at I-172 - Fall Creek, IL I-72/US 36 east at I-172 - Fall Creek, IL I-72/US 36 east at I-172 - Fall Creek, IL

Interstate 72 U.S. 36 West at Interstate 172

I-72/US 36 west at I-172 - Hull, IL

I-72/U.S. 36 head northwest from the village of Hull to Left Exit 4 to Interstate 172 north. 05/07/10

I-72/US 36 west at I-172 - Hull, IL I-72/US 36 west at I-172 - Hull, IL I-72/US 36 west at I-172 - Hull, IL

South End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 172 South at Interstate 72 U.S. 36

I-172 south at I-72/US 36 - 2002

Former exit numbers for Interstate 172 referenced the mileage from I-72 at the Missouri state. Photo by Brian Dowd (08/03/02).

I-172 south at I-72/US 36 - 2002 I-172 south at I-72/US 36 - 2002

Interstate 72 U.S. 36 East at Interstate 172

I-72/US 36 east at I-172 - 2002

Exit numbers were previously assigned to both I-172 north and the Interstate 72 eastbound mainline from when IL 336 traveled south to East Hannibal. Photo by Brian Dowd (08/03/02).

I-72/US 36 east at I-172 - 2002 I-72/US 36 east at I-172 - 2002 I-72/US 36 east at I-172 - 2002

Interstate 72 U.S. 36 West at Interstate 172

I-72/US 36 west at I-172 - 2008

Until September 2000, this exchange marked both the western end of I-72 and the southern end of I-172. With the completion of the new Mark Twain Bridge over the Mississippi River, Interstate 72 was extended into Missouri. Photo by Jeff Royston (02/05/08).

Updated July 19, 2021