Illinois Route 251
Encyclopedia
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 135.32 miles (217.78 km) long.
, it can be considered a spur or loop of its parent route, U.S. 51. Illinois 251 terminates about 10 mi (16 km) north of the southern terminus of I-39.
The road parallels the east bank of the Rock River
through Rockford
, where the highway is a limited access urban expressway (honorary Martin Luther King Jr. Drive)for a couple of miles.
and Bloomington
. In 1992, the final segment of I-39 opened north of Bloomington. The remaining stretch of Former U.S. 51 became Illinois 251. The initial designation of I-39 was U.S. Route 51 until 1992.
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,...
. It runs from U.S. 51 at the border with 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...
to I-39 and U.S. 51 south of Kappa
Kappa, Illinois
Kappa is a village in Woodford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 170 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Illinois 251 is 135.32 miles (217.78 km) long.
Route description
Illinois 251 runs parallel to Interstate 39 and U.S. 51 for most of the length of I-39 in Illinois. Like Illinois Route 351Illinois Route 351
Illinois Route 351 is a north–south state route that leads from Illinois Route 71 and Illinois Route 251 by Oglesby through downtown La Salle to Interstate 80. It is long.- Route description :...
, it can be considered a spur or loop of its parent route, U.S. 51. Illinois 251 terminates about 10 mi (16 km) north of the southern terminus of I-39.
The road parallels the east bank of the Rock River
Rock River (Illinois)
The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Illinois. It rises in southeast Wisconsin, in the Theresa Marsh near Theresa, Wisconsin in northeast Dodge County, Wisconsin approximately south of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin...
through 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...
, where the highway is a limited access urban expressway (honorary Martin Luther King Jr. Drive)for a couple of miles.
History
Illinois 251 was established in 1984 when first segment of I-39 opened between RockfordRockford, 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...
and Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
. In 1992, the final segment of I-39 opened north of Bloomington. The remaining stretch of Former U.S. 51 became Illinois 251. The initial designation of I-39 was U.S. Route 51 until 1992.