Elgin Bypass
Encyclopedia
The Elgin Bypass is the common name for a four-lane freeway that carries U.S. Highway 20 around the city of Elgin
in northeast Illinois
. The highway forms a southern border to the Elgin street grid. The state-ownership of the land on the south edge of town for hospital and highway maintenance purposes eased the right-of-way acquisition. The highway is approximately 5 miles (8 km) long.
's long-term plans show the eastern portion of the bypass transitioning onto the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway
. No engineering or land acquisition has taken place for this extension as of 2007.
) extension to Summit Street in Elgin was completed in 1932. In 1958, I-90
was built through the north side of Elgin extending east to Devon Ave, and on to Chicago
by 1960. In 1935, concerned about increasing numbers of traffic, residents of Elgin laid plans to build a bypass. U.S. 20 had been routed down Villa Street, Highland Avenue and Larkin Avenue through downtown Elgin. 27 years later, a section of freeway opened south of Elgin as the Elgin Bypass.
The segment of the Elgin Bypass between McLean Boulevard and Grace Street (Illinois Route 25
), including the Fox River bridge, was opened first. Later, the outer segments of the bypass — to Randall Road on the west, and Bluff City Boulevard on the east — were opened. On November 30, 1962, Governor Otto Kerner
dedicated the Elgin Bypass.
From 1962 until 1984, the old route was designated Business U.S. 20.
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
in northeast Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The highway forms a southern border to the Elgin street grid. The state-ownership of the land on the south edge of town for hospital and highway maintenance purposes eased the right-of-way acquisition. The highway is approximately 5 miles (8 km) long.
Route description
The bypass is not Interstate-standard, having narrower shoulders and shorter exit ramps than other Interstate Highways in the state of Illinois. The Illinois Department of TransportationIllinois Department of Transportation
The Illinois Department of Transportation is a state agency in charge of state-maintained public roadways of the U.S. state of Illinois. In addition, IDOT provides funding for rail, public transit and airport projects and administers fuel tax and federal funding to local juridictions in the...
's long-term plans show the eastern portion of the bypass transitioning onto the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway
Elgin-O'Hare Expressway
The Elgin-O'Hare Expressway is an Interstate-standard freeway in northeast Illinois, United States. Contrary to its given name, the expressway does not enter either Elgin or O'Hare International Airport, giving it a somewhat infamous reputation as a "road to nowhere"...
. No engineering or land acquisition has taken place for this extension as of 2007.
History
Construction of the Golf Road (Illinois Route 58Illinois Route 58
Illinois Route 58 is a state highway in northeast Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 25 in Elgin east to U.S. Route 41 in Skokie...
) extension to Summit Street in Elgin was completed in 1932. In 1958, I-90
Interstate 90 in Illinois
In the U.S. state of Illinois, Interstate 90 runs roughly northwest through the northern end of the state, from the Indiana border to Wisconsin. I-90 traverses a variety of settings, from farmland west of the Fox River Valley to medium-density suburban west of O'Hare International Airport, to the...
was built through the north side of Elgin extending east to Devon Ave, and on to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
by 1960. In 1935, concerned about increasing numbers of traffic, residents of Elgin laid plans to build a bypass. U.S. 20 had been routed down Villa Street, Highland Avenue and Larkin Avenue through downtown Elgin. 27 years later, a section of freeway opened south of Elgin as the Elgin Bypass.
The segment of the Elgin Bypass between McLean Boulevard and Grace Street (Illinois Route 25
Illinois Route 25
Illinois Route 25 is a state road in northeast Illinois. It runs north from U.S. Highway 34 in Oswego to Illinois Route 62 in Algonquin. Illinois 25 is in length.- Route description :...
), including the Fox River bridge, was opened first. Later, the outer segments of the bypass — to Randall Road on the west, and Bluff City Boulevard on the east — were opened. On November 30, 1962, Governor Otto Kerner
Otto Kerner, Jr.
Otto Kerner, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968. He is best known for chairing the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders and for accepting bribes....
dedicated the Elgin Bypass.
From 1962 until 1984, the old route was designated Business U.S. 20.
Exit list
Exits on the Elgin Bypass are not numbered. From west to east, starting west of the Fox River:| County | Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kane Kane County, Illinois Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :... |
Elgin Elgin, Illinois Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois... |
Randall Road Randall Road Randall Road is a major north-south county highway in McHenry and Kane County, Illinois. The road is named after Norman Randall, a prominent area landowner in the 1930s. It serves as the western extent of the Fox Valley suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its southern terminus is in Aurora,... |
Western terminus of Elgin Bypass 1/2 mile (0.7 km) west at Weld Road/Longcommon Parkway. | |
| Larkin Avenue | Eastbound exit (left-side ramp), westbound entrance. | |||
| McLean Boulevard | ||||
 Illinois Route 31Illinois Route 31 Illinois Route 31 is a north–south state road in northeastern Illinois, United States. It runs from U.S. Highway 34 in Oswego north to U.S. Highway 12, near the Wisconsin border, just south of Richmond. Illinois 31 is long.- Route description :... – State Street |
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| Fox River Fox River (Illinois River tributary) The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near... |
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 Illinois Route 25Illinois Route 25 Illinois Route 25 is a state road in northeast Illinois. It runs north from U.S. Highway 34 in Oswego to Illinois Route 62 in Algonquin. Illinois 25 is in length.- Route description :... |
Eastbound, there is one exit to IL-25 via Grace Street, terminating at Bluff City Blvd. Traffic then travels two blocks east on Bluff City Blvd to southbound IL-25 (St. Charles St), and one block further to northbound IL-25 (S Liberty St). There are two eastbound entrance ramps from Bluff City Blvd; one in Grace St, the other 5 blocks east on Lavoie Ave. Westbound, there are separate exits for northbound and southbound IL-25. Northbound traffic exits on a ramp at Illinois Ave, then proceeds one block west on Dwight St to northbound IL-25 (S Liberty St). Southbound traffic exits at Grace St, travels one block east on Dwight St to St. Charles St, then one block south to IL-25 at Bluff City Blvd. There is one entrance ramp westbound on Grace St, accessed via Dwight St. |
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| Cook Cook County, Illinois Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than... |
Villa Street | Westbound exit, eastbound entrance, both left-side rather than right-side. Eastern terminus of Elgin Bypass at Bluff City Boulevard/Shales Parkway. | ||