U.S. Route 54 in Illinois

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 54 in Illinois. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 54.

U.S. Route 54 (US 54) in Illinois is a 23.9-mile-long (38.5 km) east–west highway that travels from the Champ Clark Bridge on the Missouri state line to I-72/US 36/IL 107 south of Griggsville. At its greatest extent, US 54 used to continue east to Springfield, then northeast to Onarga, and then north all the way to Downtown Chicago.

U.S. Route 54
US 54 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by IDOT
Length	23.9 mi^[1] (38.5 km)
Existed	1926–present
Major junctions
West end	US 54 near Louisiana, MO
Major intersections	IL 96 in Atlas IL 106 between New Hartford and Pittsfield
East end	I-72 / US 36 / IL 107 near Griggsville
Location
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Counties	Pike
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided Illinois State Highway System Interstate US State Tollways Scenic
← IL 53 → IL 54

Route description

Beginning at the Champ Clark Bridge above the Mississippi River, US 54 travels in a northeastern direction. It then intersects IL 96 in Atlas and then travels in a northern direction. Along the way, US 54 comes across Lyman Scott House in Summer Hill. In New Hartford, the route then travels in a northeastern direction again. After that, it begins to run concurrently with IL 106 all the way toward Pittsfield. In Pittsfield, one block east of Pike County Courthouse, US 54 splits northward. After leaving Pittsfield, the route comes across I-72/US 36/IL 107. At this point, US 54 terminates at this diamond interchange.^[1]

History

 

US 54 used to end at present-day IL 106 (originally US 36)

 

Map of US 54 prior to its truncation

Initially, US 54 ended at the junction of present-day IL 106 (former portion of US 36).^[2] In 1935, it replaced a portion of IL 107 between Louisiana, Missouri and New Hartford, Illinois.^[3] From 1942 to 1971, US 54 traveled all the way to Downtown Chicago.^[4][5] Before it was truncated back to its previous eastern terminus, it followed portions of current-day US 36, IL 54, US 45, IL 50, Governors Highway, Wood Street, 127th Street, Halsted Street, Vincennes Avenue, State Street, and Michigan Avenue.^[5][6] The four-lane section of US 36 northeast of Pittsfield now also carries Interstate 72 east to Springfield. As of 1992, US 54 was extended northeast to US 36 and present-day I-72 (exit 35). That same year, the section of road that once carried Illinois Route 54 through Springfield is no longer designated as a numbered highway.^[7] Now Illinois Route 54 starts at the Interstate 55 exit and goes northeast to Onarga, where it ends at U.S. Route 45. US 54 once joined with US 45 to Kankakee, but that highway is now designated as US 45 alone to Gilman, then US 45 and US 24 through Gilman, then US 45 alone again until a four-way intersection with U.S. Route 52 and Illinois Route 49, and US 45 and US 52 through Kankakee. Between Kankakee and Monee, the section that once carried US 54 is now marked as Illinois Route 50.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Pike County.

Location	mi^[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Atlas Township	0.0	0.0	US 54 west – Louisiana	Continuation into Missouri
	0.0– 0.3	0.0– 0.48	Champ Clark Bridge       Great River Road Spur begins
Atlas	5.9	9.5	IL 96 / Great River Road – Quincy, Pleasant Hill       Great River Road Spur ends	Eastern terminus of Great River Road Spur
Pittsfield Township	14.9	24.0	IL 106 west – Hannibal, Missouri	West end of IL 106 concurrency
Pittsfield	18.7	30.1	IL 106 east – Detroit Jackson Street south – Time, Nebo	East end of IL 106 concurrency
Griggsville Township	23.9	38.5	I-72 / US 36 – Quincy, Hannibal, Missouri, Springfield     IL 107 north – Griggsville	Eastern terminus of US 54; southern terminus of IL 107
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References

1. Google (August 7, 2021). "Overview map of US 54 in Illinois" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
2. Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1934). Official Road Map Illinois (Map). [c. 1:950,000 and c. 1:1,110,000]. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. OCLC 183709045. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
3. Illinois Secretary of State; H.M. Gousha (1935). Official Road Map Illinois (Map). [c. 1:950,000 and c. 1:1,110,000]. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
4. Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1942). Illinois Road Map (Map). c. 1:918,720. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
5. Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1971). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
6. Illinois Department of Transportation (1972). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
7. Illinois Department of Transportation (1991). Illinois Highway Map (Map) (1991–1992 ed.). [1:762,500]. Springfield: Illinois Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.

External links

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•   Media related to U.S. Route 54 in Illinois at Wikimedia Commons