Illinois Route 159
Encyclopedia
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 64.9 miles (104.45 km).
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 expected to get underway in late 2010.
. 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.
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,...
. Its southern terminus is at Illinois Route 3
Illinois Route 3
Illinois Route 3 is a major north–south arterial state highway in southwestern Illinois. It has its southern terminus at Cairo Junction at the intersection of Interstate 57 and U.S. Route 51, and its northern terminus in Grafton at Illinois Route 100...
and Illinois Route 154
Illinois Route 154
Illinois Route 154 is an east–west state road in southern Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 3 in Red Bud to Illinois Route 37 in Whittington. This is a distance of .- Route description :...
in Red Bud
Red Bud, Illinois
Red Bud is a city in Randolph County, Illinois. The population was 3,422 at the 2000 census.It is the home of the of Southwestern Illinois College.-Geography:Red Bud is located at ....
and its northern terminus at Illinois Route 16
Illinois Route 16
Illinois Route 16 is an arterial east–west highway in central Illinois. Its western terminus is at the Joe Page Bridge over the Illinois River in Hardin, while its eastern terminus is at Paris at Illinois Route 1 and U.S. Route 150, with Illinois Route 133. This is a distance of .- Route...
in Royal Lakes
Royal Lakes, Illinois
Royal Lakes is a village in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 190 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 184.-Geography:...
. This is a distance of 64.9 miles (104.45 km).
Route description
Illinois 159 is a major north–south artery through the eastern portion of the metropolitan St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
area. Illinois 159 overlaps Illinois Route 143
Illinois Route 143
Illinois Route 143 is an east–west state highway in southwestern Illinois. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 67 in Alton. Its eastern terminus at Illinois Route 127 at a rural intersection west of Tamalco...
in Edwardsville
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
.
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 expected to get underway in late 2010.
History
SBI Route 159 ran from Red Bud to AltonAlton, Illinois
Alton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
. In 1964, the Edwardsville to Alton segment was changed to Illinois Route 143
Illinois Route 143
Illinois Route 143 is an east–west state highway in southwestern Illinois. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 67 in Alton. Its eastern terminus at Illinois Route 127 at a rural intersection west of Tamalco...
, 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.