Illinois Route 97

Illinois Route 97 (IL 97) is a north–south state highway in the central and western portions of the U.S. state of Illinois. It extends from I-55 Business (Business Loop I-55) in Springfield northwest to U.S. Highway 150 (US 150) near Galesburg. It crosses over the Illinois River on a bridge west of Havana. This is a distance of 102.23 miles (164.52 km).[1]

Illinois Route 97
Route information
Maintained by IDOT
Length104.43 mi[1] (168.06 km)
Existed1937[2]–present
Major junctions
South end I-55 / I-72 / US 36 in Springfield
  US 136 / IL 78 in Havana
US 24 / IL 78 in Lewistown
North end US 150 in Knoxville
Location
CountiesSangamon, Menard, Mason, Fulton, Knox
Highway system
Illinois State Highway System
← IL 96→ IL 98

Route description

IL 97 starts off in Springfield on East Clear Lake Avenue. It heads west, forming a concurrency with IL 125. IL 97 splits off and north shortly after, entering Menard County.

In Menard County, along a concurrency with IL 123 in New Salem, it passes Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site near Petersburg, the home of Abraham Lincoln in the 1830s. It afterwards passes through Mason County. The road enters Fulton County immediately after crossing a bridge concurrent with US 136 and IL 78.

It then passes both the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and Dickson Mounds State Memorial. Afterwards, it drops the concurrency with IL 78 and US 136 but picks up US 24. During and after it gains concurrency with IL 100, it heads north throughout hills. It enters Knox County after a brief concurrency with IL 9. It continues north through hills until its northern terminus at US 150 near Galesburg.[3]

History

IL 97 is the site of a pioneering work of highway beautification, the planting in 1934 of what was once a line of 'red haw' hawthorns and other Illinois native trees along the tourist route from west of Springfield to New Salem. The work, done by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Illinois Federation of Garden Clubs, is commemorated by a marker installation at Tallula Junction, the southern intersection of Illinois Route 97 and Illinois Route 123.[4]

Major junctions
CountyLocationmi[5]kmDestinationsNotes
SangamonSpringfield0.00.0 I-55 / I-72 / US 36 – Chicago, DecaturNo control city for southbound I-55/westbound I-72; US 36 is not signed
0.50.80 IL 29
2.23.5 I-55 BL
3.65.8Walnut StreetGrade separation eastbound; at-grade intersection westbound
5.89.3 IL 4 – Chatham, Mason City
Menard​20.132.3 IL 123 / CR 4South end of IL 123 overlap; called Tallula Junction; has IL-97 historical marker
Petersburg25.140.4 IL 123North end of IL 123 overlap
MasonHavana49.379.3 US 136South end of US 136 overlap
49.880.1 IL 78South end of IL 78 overlap
Fulton​50.881.8 US 136 / IL 78North end of US 136 overlap
​57.592.5 US 24 / IL 78South end of US 24 overlap; north end of IL 78 overlap
Lewistown61.098.2 US 24 / IL 100 / CR 14South end of IL 100 overlap; north end of US 24 overlap
62.5100.6 IL 100North end of IL 100 overlap
​73.9118.9 IL 9 / CR 16South end of IL 9 overlap
​75.9122.1 IL 9North end of IL 9 overlap
Rapatee86.1138.6 IL 116
KnoxKnoxville101.9164.0 US 150 to I-74
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 81 thru 100. Last updated March 15, 2005. Retrieved April 20, 2006.
  3. Delorme Illinois Atlas & Gazetteer
  4. Furry, William (May 7, 2020). "Saving historic trees on Route 97". Illinois Times. Springfield, Ill. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  5. Google (October 4, 2014). "Overview of IL 97" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
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