Illinois Route 37

Illinois Route 37, Illinois 37 or IL 37, is a 155.07-mile-long (249.56 km) northsouth state highway in southern Illinois. IL 37's southern terminus is at U.S. Route 51 (US 51) and IL 3 in Cairo and the northern terminus is at US 45 in Watson.[1]

Illinois Route 37
IL 37 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by IDOT
Length155.07 mi[1] (249.56 km)
ExistedNovember 5, 1918[2]–present
Major junctions
South end US 51 / IL 3 in Cairo
  I-64 in Mt. Vernon
US 50 in Salem
North end US 45 in Watson
Location
CountiesAlexander, Pulaski, Johnson, Williamson, Franklin, Jefferson, Marion, Fayette, Clay, Effingham
Highway system
US 36 IL 38

Route description

Between Effingham and a point near Watson, a segment in which it shared a route with U.S. Route 45, Illinois 37 has been decommissioned in favor of US 45. Between Watson and just north of Salem, it angles westward and toward the south before meeting US 50 at Salem, Illinois 15 and Illinois 142 at Mount Vernon, Interstate 64 south of Mount Vernon, Illinois 14 and Illinois 34 at Benton, Illinois 149 at West Frankfort, Illinois 13 at Marion, and US 51 and Illinois 3 at its current southern terminus at Urbandale. Both of Illinois Route 148's termini branch from Route 37, the north terminus at Mount Vernon, and the southern terminus just north of Pulley's Mill. It has no direct connection to Interstate 24, which is far better approached from Interstate 57.

All of Illinois 37 is an undivided surface route.

History

Originally connecting Effingham to Cairo, it was a heavily-traveled highway before Interstate 57 was opened. That Interstate, which lies very close to most of Illinois 37 (indeed the entire route north of Pulleys Mill), supplanted it as a through route. Illinois 37 was long a part of the most direct route between Chicago and Memphis. Despite its obvious significance in pre-Interstate times, it was never part of the U.S. Highway system. Illinois 37 has become a route of local significance instead of the busy, long-distance, inter-city highway that it was until the 1970s. As a town-to-town route, it especially serves communities which have no access to Interstate 57.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[3]kmDestinationsNotes
Pulaski0.00.0
US 51 / IL 3 north / Great River Road (National Route) Cairo
Moundsformer US 51 north
21.434.4 IL 169 east Karnak
JohnsonWest Vienna32.051.5 IL 146 Anna, Vienna
Williamson45.673.4 IL 148 north to I-57 Herrin
Marion55.188.7 IL 13 (Deyoung Street) to I-57 Carbondale, Harrisburgshort 4 lane section at intersection with Illinois 37 in Marion
Johnston City To I-57 / Broadway Boulevard Herrin, Business District
FranklinWest Frankfort65.9106.1 IL 149 (Main Street) to I-57 Zeigler, Thompsonville4 lanes for entire length through West Frankfort
Benton73.0117.5 IL 14 west / IL 34 east (Main Street) to I-57 Christopher, HarrisburgSouth end of IL 14 overlap; traffic circle around Franklin County Courthouse
73.9118.9 IL 14 east (Bailey Lane) McLeansboroNorth end of IL 14 overlap
78.8126.8 IL 154 west to I-57 Rend Lake
Jefferson92.4148.7 I-64 to I-57 East St. Louis, EvansvilleI-64 exit 80
Mt. Vernon94.2151.6 IL 142 south / IL 148 south (Veterans Memorial Drive) Waltonville, McLeansboro
IL 15 east (Broadway Street) Fairfield
IL 15 west (Main Street) to I-57 / I-64 Ashley
Dix To I-57 / Dix-Irving Road
Marion110.0177.0 IL 161 west to I-57 Centralia
Salem117.4188.9 US 50 (Main Street) Sandoval, Flora
KinmundyFirst Street - Louisville
FayetteFarina136.1219.0 IL 185 west (Washington Street) to I-57 St. Peter, Iola
Clay
No major junctions
EffinghamEdgewood To I-57 / Iowa Street
151.0243.0 To I-57 Effingham, Mt. VernonI-57 exit 151
155.07249.56 US 45 Effingham, Flora
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. Illinois Highways Page: Routes 21 thru 40. Last updated March 15, 2005. Retrieved April 7, 2006.
  3. Google Maps,

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