Illinois Route 159

Illinois Route 159 is a north–south state road in southwestern Illinois. Its southern terminus is at Illinois Route 3 and Illinois Route 154 in Red Bud and its northern terminus at Illinois Route 16 in Royal Lakes. This is a distance of 64.90 miles (104.45 km).[1]

Illinois Route 159
IL 159 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by IDOT
Length64.90 mi[1] (104.45 km)
Existed1926[2]–present
Major junctions
South end IL 3 / IL 154 in Red Bud
  I-64 / US 50 in Fairview Heights
I-55 / I-70 / US 40 in Collinsville
I-270 in Glen Carbon
North end IL 16 in Royal Lakes
Location
CountiesRandolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Madison, Macoupin
Highway system
IL 158 IL 160
IL 111 IL 113

Route description

IL 159

Illinois 159 is a major north–south artery through the eastern portion of the metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri area. Illinois 159 overlaps Illinois Route 143 in Edwardsville.

Widening of a stretch of Illinois 159 to five lanes took place around 2006; the highway is now five lanes from Fairview Heights to Edwardsville, with the exception of downtown Collinsville, where a similar widening project was completed in 2012.

History

SBI Route 159 ran from Red Bud to Alton. In 1964, the Edwardsville to Alton segment was changed to Illinois Route 143, and Illinois 159 was run north through Edwardsville to Royal Lakes, replacing Illinois Route 112. This created an unusual 3 way multiplex in downtown Edwardsville where you went north on 157, south on 159, and east on 143 for 2 blocks. This multiplex was not signed, however. In 2003 Illinois 159 was rerouted through Edwardsville, which eliminated that multiplex.

An Alternate Illinois Route 159 was proposed by Edwardsville on the old Illinois 159 alignment on Troy Road, but was never implemented.[2]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[3]kmDestinationsNotes
RandolphRed Bud0.00.0 IL 3 / IL 154 / Great River Road (Market Street, Main Street)
MonroeHecker6.610.6 IL 156 west (Monroe Street)South end of IL 156 overlap
St. Clair7.812.6 IL 156 eastNorth end of IL 156 overlap
Belleville20.232.5 IL 15 East St. Louis, Mt. Vernon
20.533.0 IL 13 / IL 158 (South Belt)
Swansea22.736.5 IL 161 (North Belt)
Fairview Heights27.243.8 I-64 (US 50) Mt. Vernon, St. Louis
MadisonCollinsville35.356.8 I-55 / I-70 (US 40) Chicago, St. Louis
Maryville37.460.2 IL 162
Glen Carbon38.662.1 I-270 Effingham, St. Charles
Edwardsville42.668.6 IL 143 east / IL 157 (Vandalia Street)South end of IL 143 overlap
43.970.7 IL 143 west (Edwardsville Road)North end of IL 143 overlap
49.379.3 IL 140
Macoupin61.799.3 IL 138 east
Royal Lakes64.9104.4 IL 16
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2006). "T2 GIS Data". Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  2. Carlson, Rich (2005-04-15). "Illinois Highways Page: Routes 141 thru 160". Retrieved 2006-07-02.
  3. Google (July 9, 2012). "Illinois Route 159" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
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