U.S. Route 36 in Illinois on:
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In the
Initially, US 36 followed part of IL 106, IL 36, IL 3, IL 10, and IL 121 (which is newly built back then). A couple of portions were under construction. In 1935, these state routes were either truncated or removed due to confusion (like IL 36) and redundancy. In 1936, US 36 moved from the Wabash Bridge (now used by railroad) to the old Mark Twain Memorial Bridge.
From 1942 to 1971, US 54 ran concurrently with US 36 from New Hartford to Chicago via US 36 and several other routes.
Until around 1977, no significant changes to US 36 were made. Then, Interstate 72 (and another part of the freeway that would later become I-72) extended from Monticello to Jacksonville. As a result, US 36 moved to a part of I-72 from Decatur to Jacksonville. By 1979, the freeway then extended west near Riggston. By 1988, it extended west to IL 100. At this point, the Valley City Eagle Bridges were completed. However, by 1992, the twin spans, as well as the freeway west to IL 336, opened. By 1996, the Interstate 72 designation extends west using the new US 36 freeway and ends abruptly as soon as US 36 leaves the freeway. Also, Interstate 172 acquired the whole of the IL 336
freeway portion. In 2000, I-72 extended west to connect to Hannibal, Missouri, after a new
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
, U.S. Route 36 (US 36) is an east–west highway that runs across the central portion of the state. It runs east from Missouri
Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...
over the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge
The Mark Twain Memorial Bridge is a bridge over the Mississippi River at Hannibal, Missouri, childhood home of Mark Twain, for whom the bridge is named. The bridge, north of the original bridge, was finished in 2000. The bridge carries traff ...
over the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it fl ...
with Interstate 72
Interstate 72 (I-72) is an Interstate Highway in the midwestern United States. Its western terminus is in Hannibal, Missouri, at an intersection with U.S. Route 61 (US 61); its eastern terminus is at Country Fair Drive in Champ ...
. The eastern terminus of U.S. 36 in Illinois is located near the unincorporated area of Raven near the Illinois-Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
state line. This is a distance of .
Route description
U.S. 36 parallels the oldWabash Railroad
The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including track in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri and the province of Ontario. Its primary co ...
from the Mississippi River at Hannibal, MO east to Decatur, IL. Norfolk Southern Railway operates on this route today.
U.S. 36 is overlapped with Interstate 72
Interstate 72 (I-72) is an Interstate Highway in the midwestern United States. Its western terminus is in Hannibal, Missouri, at an intersection with U.S. Route 61 (US 61); its eastern terminus is at Country Fair Drive in Champ ...
for more than half its routing in Illinois, . At Decatur, I-72 separates from it and travels around the city to the north, while US 36 enters the city and passes through downtown on the four-lane Eldorado Street. Just beyond 19th Street, US 36 turns to the southeast on a four-lane divided alignment paralleling a railroad, exiting Decatur on the southeast side. The road crosses Lake Decatur
Lake Decatur is a reservoir located in the city of Decatur, Illinois, USA, east of downtown. The city and lake both share the name of U.S. Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur. The lake is above sea level and has a watershed of or reaching into pa ...
and narrows to two lanes before turning due east. After turning east, U.S. 36 runs largely in a straight line, mostly through open country, until it exits the state.
History
Initially, US 36 followed part of IL 106, IL 36, IL 3, IL 10, and IL 121 (which is newly built back then). A couple of portions were under construction. In 1935, these state routes were either truncated or removed due to confusion (like IL 36) and redundancy. In 1936, US 36 moved from the Wabash Bridge (now used by railroad) to the old Mark Twain Memorial Bridge.
From 1942 to 1971, US 54 ran concurrently with US 36 from New Hartford to Chicago via US 36 and several other routes.
Until around 1977, no significant changes to US 36 were made. Then, Interstate 72 (and another part of the freeway that would later become I-72) extended from Monticello to Jacksonville. As a result, US 36 moved to a part of I-72 from Decatur to Jacksonville. By 1979, the freeway then extended west near Riggston. By 1988, it extended west to IL 100. At this point, the Valley City Eagle Bridges were completed. However, by 1992, the twin spans, as well as the freeway west to IL 336, opened. By 1996, the Interstate 72 designation extends west using the new US 36 freeway and ends abruptly as soon as US 36 leaves the freeway. Also, Interstate 172 acquired the whole of the IL 336
freeway portion. In 2000, I-72 extended west to connect to Hannibal, Missouri, after a new Mark Twain Memorial Bridge
The Mark Twain Memorial Bridge is a bridge over the Mississippi River at Hannibal, Missouri, childhood home of Mark Twain, for whom the bridge is named. The bridge, north of the original bridge, was finished in 2000. The bridge carries traff ...
opened. As a result, US 36 moved northward to get onto the new bridge. After that, the old bridge was demolished.
Major intersections
References
External links
* {{state detail page browse, type=US, route=36, state=Illinois, stateafter=Indiana, statebefore=Missouri Illinois 36 Transportation in Pike County, Illinois Transportation in Scott County, Illinois Transportation in Morgan County, Illinois Transportation in Sangamon County, Illinois Transportation in Macon County, Illinois Transportation in Piatt County, Illinois Transportation in Douglas County, Illinois Transportation in Edgar County, Illinois