Illinois Route 173
Encyclopedia
Illinois Route 173 is an east–west state road that runs from Illinois Route 251
in the Rockford
suburb of Machesney Park
east to Illinois Route 137
(Sheridan Road/Buckley) in Zion
near the Illinois-Wisconsin
border; this is a distance of 66.2 miles (106.54 km). Illinois Route 173 is also one of the northernmost east-west state highways in Illinois. On Interstate 94
(Tri-State Tollway
) traveling south from Wisconsin
, it is the second road seen which has an interchange at that location. Similarly, when traveling south/east from Wisconsin on Interstate 39/90
(Jane Addams Memorial Tollway), Illinois Route 173 is only the third exit into Illinois. In 2008, the entirety of Illinois 173 has been designated the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway
Route 173 is a much traveled highway, because it stretches the width of the state, and sits right along the Illinois/Wisconsin border. It makes it popular for trucks, but the majority of the Route is littered with small, rural towns. Unfortunately, much, if not all, of the roadway is still only two lanes. A popular roadway, combined with truckers, and only two lanes, has become recipe for one of the most dangerous roadways in this country. In Lake County alone (the Eastern most stretch of the roadway) there were more than 30 deaths on Route 173, between 1994 and 2008. In 2007 a 20 year old Antioch resident was killed headed while headed west on this road. Since then her family, friends, and other local residents have joined together to make 173 safer for all of us. http://safetyonroute173.com/
In July 2007, a new interchange was constructed at Illinois 173 and Interstates 39
/90
(Jane Addams Memorial Tollway).
north to the Wisconsin border. 3
Illinois Route 251
Illinois Route 251 is a north–south state road that runs on the former alignment of U.S. Route 51 before Interstate 39 was built in central Illinois. It runs from U.S. 51 at the border with Wisconsin to I-39 and U.S. 51 south of Kappa. Illinois 251 is long.- Route description :Illinois 251...
in the Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
suburb of Machesney Park
Machesney Park, Illinois
Machesney Park is a village located in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,499 at the 2010 census, up from 20,759 at the 2000 census...
east to Illinois Route 137
Illinois Route 137
Illinois Route 137 is a state highway in northeast Illinois. It runs from the Wisconsin Border north of Winthrop Harbor south to North Chicago, west to Libertyville, and then back northwest to Grayslake, terminating at Illinois Route 83 just south of Illinois Route 120...
(Sheridan Road/Buckley) in Zion
Zion, Illinois
Zion is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,866 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 24,303 as of 2005. The city was founded in July 1901 by John Alexander Dowie. He also started the Zion Tabernacle of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church, which was the only...
near the Illinois-Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
border; this is a distance of 66.2 miles (106.54 km). Illinois Route 173 is also one of the northernmost east-west state highways in Illinois. On Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
(Tri-State Tollway
Tri-State Tollway
The Tri-State Tollway is a U.S. toll road maintained by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority in northeastern Illinois which is considered one of the most heavily traveled highways in the country...
) traveling south from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, it is the second road seen which has an interchange at that location. Similarly, when traveling south/east from Wisconsin on Interstate 39/90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
(Jane Addams Memorial Tollway), Illinois Route 173 is only the third exit into Illinois. In 2008, the entirety of Illinois 173 has been designated the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway
Route 173 is a much traveled highway, because it stretches the width of the state, and sits right along the Illinois/Wisconsin border. It makes it popular for trucks, but the majority of the Route is littered with small, rural towns. Unfortunately, much, if not all, of the roadway is still only two lanes. A popular roadway, combined with truckers, and only two lanes, has become recipe for one of the most dangerous roadways in this country. In Lake County alone (the Eastern most stretch of the roadway) there were more than 30 deaths on Route 173, between 1994 and 2008. In 2007 a 20 year old Antioch resident was killed headed while headed west on this road. Since then her family, friends, and other local residents have joined together to make 173 safer for all of us. http://safetyonroute173.com/
Route description
Illinois 173 travels across relatively hilly northern Illinois from the Rockford area to Zion. This area is more densely populated than other portions of rural Illinois.In July 2007, a new interchange was constructed at Illinois 173 and Interstates 39
Interstate 39
Interstate 39 is a highway in the midwestern United States. I-39 runs from Normal, Illinois at Interstate 55 to Highway 29 in Rothschild, Wisconsin, approximately six miles south of Wausau. I-39 was designed to replace US Highway 51, which in the early 1980s was one of the busiest two-lane...
/90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
(Jane Addams Memorial Tollway).
Local Road Names
From east to west, Illinois Route 173 is known by local road names through the towns it traverses.- 21st Street, Bethlehem Avenue, Rosecrans Road in Zion
- Kenosha Street in RichmondRichmond, IllinoisRichmond is a village in McHenry County, Illinois, United States, 44 miles south-southwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and 55 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois. The population was 1,091 at the 2000 census. The current village president is Lauri Olson.-History:...
- Maple Avenue in HebronHebron, IllinoisHebron is a village in McHenry County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census the village population was 1,216, up from 1,038 at the 2000 census....
- Diggins Street, Division Street, Brink Street in HarvardHarvard, IllinoisHarvard is a city located in McHenry County in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Illinois, approximately south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The population was 7,996 at the 2000 census...
- Main Street in CapronCapron, IllinoisCapron is a village in Boone County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,376 at the 2010 census, up from 961 at the 2000 census.Capron was named after General Horace Capron....
- Grove Street in Poplar GrovePoplar Grove, IllinoisPoplar Grove is a village located in Poplar Grove and Belvidere Townships, Boone County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the Rockford Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,023 at the 2010 census, up significantly from 1,368 at the 2000 census.-Demographics:As of the 2000 U.S...
- West Lane Road in Machesney Park
History
SBI Route 173 originally ran from near downtown Rockford (along Forest Hills Road) to Zion. During the 1980s, when the village of Machesney Park was heavily developed and incorporated, Illinois Route 173 was scaled back and its western terminus moved to Illinois Route 251 (North 2nd Street). From 1972 to 1994 the highway also assumed a portion of what is now Illinois Route 137Illinois Route 137
Illinois Route 137 is a state highway in northeast Illinois. It runs from the Wisconsin Border north of Winthrop Harbor south to North Chicago, west to Libertyville, and then back northwest to Grayslake, terminating at Illinois Route 83 just south of Illinois Route 120...
north to the Wisconsin border. 3