U.S. Route 50 in Illinois
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state
of Illinois
, U.S. Route 50 is an east–west highway across the southern portion of the state. It runs from the Jefferson Barracks Bridge
over the Mississippi River
to Missouri
east to the Red Skelton Memorial Bridge
over the Wabash River
to Indiana
. This is a distance of 165.79 miles (266.81 km).
to the north and Interstate 64
to the south. Along many portions of U.S. 50, the road has been moved onto either a bypass or an expressway
.
and Vincennes, lies atop or adjacent to the trail taken by George Rogers Clark
and his 170 volunteers in the forlorn-hope march on Vincennes in February 1779.
As of 2011, much of U.S. 50 is a two-lane highway, but portions around Lawrenceville, IL and Vincennes, IN are configured as a four-lane, limited access bypass, built to interstate standards in the 1960's. Another modern bypass portion between O'Fallon, IL and IL-127 shows evidence of a four-lane right of way as each bridge is paralleled by a second that remains unused and the graded road bed for additional lanes is visible. This is because it was originally meant to be the route of Interstate 64
until political leaders lobbied for and secured a more southerly route.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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,...
, U.S. Route 50 is an east–west highway across the southern portion of the state. It runs from the Jefferson Barracks Bridge
Jefferson Barracks Bridge
The Jefferson Barracks Bridge, often called the J.B. Bridge, is a pair of bridges that span the Mississippi River on the south side of St. Louis, Missouri. Both bridges are long steel arch bridges. The first bridge was built in 1983, the south bridge opened in 1992...
over the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
east to the Red Skelton Memorial Bridge
Red Skelton Memorial Bridge
The Red Skelton Memorial Bridge carries US Route 50 over the Wabash River outside of Vincennes, Indiana.-References:...
over the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
to Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. This is a distance of 165.79 miles (266.81 km).
Route description
U.S. 50 runs east–west across the southern portion of the state, between Interstate 70Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
to the north and Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
to the south. Along many portions of U.S. 50, the road has been moved onto either a bypass or an expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
.
History
Much of U.S. Route 50 in Illinois, especially the section between Carlyle, IllinoisCarlyle, Illinois
Carlyle is a city in Clinton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,406 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clinton County.Carlyle is located approximately 50 miles east of St...
and Vincennes, lies atop or adjacent to the trail taken by George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
and his 170 volunteers in the forlorn-hope march on Vincennes in February 1779.
As of 2011, much of U.S. 50 is a two-lane highway, but portions around Lawrenceville, IL and Vincennes, IN are configured as a four-lane, limited access bypass, built to interstate standards in the 1960's. Another modern bypass portion between O'Fallon, IL and IL-127 shows evidence of a four-lane right of way as each bridge is paralleled by a second that remains unused and the graded road bed for additional lanes is visible. This is because it was originally meant to be the route of Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
until political leaders lobbied for and secured a more southerly route.