Stevenson Expressway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Stevenson Expressway |
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| Length: | 17.95 mi[1] (28.89 km) |
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| Formed: | Mid to late 1960s |
| Direction: | East-west |
| From: |  Lake Shore Drive (US 41) in Chicago, Illinois |
| To: | County Line Road in Burr Ridge, Illinois[1] |
| Major cities: | Chicago, Illinois |
| System: | Interstate Highway system Illinois Tollway system |
The Stevenson Expressway is the major Interstate freeway leading southwest out of the city of Chicago in Illinois. It is signed as Interstate 55 for the entire length.
The eastern terminus of the Stevenson Expressway is located at U.S. Highway 41 (Lake Shore Drive). According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, its western terminus is located at the DuPage County line in Burr Ridge. This is a distance of 17.95 miles (28.89 km).[1]
[edit] History
The expressway opened on October 24, 1964 as the Southwest Expressway. It was renamed after Adlai E. Stevenson II,[2] the former governor of Illinois, on September 1, 1965 a month and a half after his death. The Stevenson's original termini were U.S. Highway 66 in DuPage County to the west, and the Dan Ryan Expressway to the east.
In 1999–2000, the expressway was completely rebuilt from Central Avenue north to Lake Shore Drive, including the ramps to the Dan Ryan. IDOT was criticized at the time for not adding a fourth lane in each direction to the highway.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2006). T2 GIS Data. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
- ^ Renamed Adlai E. Stevenson Expressway
- ^ Hilkevitch, John. Buckle up, it looks like a long ride. Chicago Tribune. Published March 26, 2006. Retrieved March 26, 2006.
