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Interstate 57

Interstate 57 (I-57) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the spanning approximately 496 miles (798 ) from its southern at (I-40) near , to its northern at (I-94) in Chicago, Illinois. Its previous southern was at (I-55) and U.S. Route 60 (US 60) in Sikeston, Missouri. The route begins near North Little Rock, covering 110 miles (180 km) through to Walnut Ridge before entering . In southeastern , it covers 22 miles (35 km) through rural areas including and Bertrand before crossing the at into . In , I-57 extends 364 miles (586 km) diagonally northwestward, making it the longest Interstate Highway located entirely within the state, and parallels sections of the historic . It passes through major cities and regions such as , , Effingham, Champaign-Urbana, Kankakee, and the southern suburbs of , serving as a vital corridor for both passenger and freight traffic. In November 2024, a 110-mile (177 km) segment of former U.S. Highway 67 in —from I-40 near North Little Rock to US 412 in Walnut Ridge—was officially redesignated as I-57 by the , marking the addition of the highway's first mileage in that state and extending its southern reach as part of a planned 240-mile corridor to connect with the existing route in . Ongoing projects in southeastern aim to upgrade U.S. Route 67 from the Arkansas state line to Poplar Bluff and U.S. Route 60 from Poplar Bluff to Sikeston to complete this connection. I-57 intersects ten other Interstate Highways along its path, including I-30 near , I-40 near North Little Rock, I-24 near , I-55 near Sikeston, I-64 near , I-70 near Effingham, I-72 near Urbana, I-74 near Champaign, I-80 near Joliet, and I-94 in , facilitating regional connectivity from the Midwest to southern gateways. Designated as a National Highway System corridor, it carries significant truck traffic—averaging over 30% of its vehicle miles traveled—and supports access to multimodal facilities, including rail lines and proximity to Chicago's . The highway is fully divided with four lanes throughout its length, except in urban where it may include additional lanes or tolled sections like the Illinois Tollway.

Route description

Missouri

Interstate 57 enters Missouri from the south at a cloverleaf interchange with I-55 and US 60 near , marking mile marker 0.00 and serving as the southern terminus. The route then heads northeast through rural areas of New Madrid and counties, concurrent with US 60 for its entire length in the state, before crossing the into at mile marker 22.3. There are no auxiliary lanes along this segment. The exits are listed below, with approximate mile markers based on the southern terminus in .
ExitMileLocationsNotes
1A0.00I-55 south · US 60 westSouthern terminus; to
1B0.00I-55 north · US 60 eastTo
4~4MO B · Bertrand
10~10MO 105 ·
12~12US 62 · MO 77 ·
22.3Illinois state lineNorthern terminus in Missouri; bridge over

Southern Illinois

Interstate 57 enters the state of from via the Cairo Bridge, a steel through arch bridge spanning the near in Alexander County. Completed in 1978, the bridge marks the continuation of the highway's north-south alignment after its brief segment in . From here, the route proceeds northward through rural landscapes, initially paralleling the before turning inland. The southern segment of I-57 covers approximately 80 miles across , Pulaski, Massac, and Williamson counties, featuring a mix of flat agricultural lowlands and rolling hills associated with the Illinois Ozarks and the southern foothills of the . This terrain reflects the transitional geography of the floodplain giving way to the uplands of , with the highway maintaining a generally straight path amid forested and farmed areas. Key interchanges along this stretch include Exit 1 for Illinois Route 3 and near , though the city itself lacks a direct exit and is accessed via local roads; Exit 4 for U.S. 51 at Mounds; Exit 31 near ; Exit 37 for Illinois Route 37 serving ; and multiple exits in , including Exit 54 for Illinois Route 13 and the junction with Interstate 24. These connections facilitate travel to nearby communities and provide entry points to the region's natural and economic hubs. As a primary north-south , I-57 functions as a bypass for the older corridor, which it parallels closely from northward, offering improved safety and capacity for traffic serving ' coal operations and agricultural production. The highway supports freight movement and regional connectivity, linking rural counties to larger transport networks without passing through densely urbanized areas.

Central Illinois

Interstate 57 traverses for approximately 120 miles, passing through Jefferson, Marion, Clay, Fayette, Effingham, , Coles, and Douglas counties as it continues northward from the Marion area in . This segment cuts through expansive flat farmlands characteristic of the heartland prairies, supporting extensive agricultural activities and serving as a vital link for regional . The route remains predominantly rural, with occasional small towns and major interstate junctions providing connectivity to east-west corridors. From its entry into near in County, I-57 intersects at a significant junction that facilitates travel between and . The highway then proceeds through Marion County, passing with access via and Illinois Route 37 at exit 116, before reaching Effingham in Effingham County—though the route technically enters Effingham County slightly later. At Effingham, I-57 meets in a major interchange, marking the crossroads that handles substantial cross-country traffic. Beyond Effingham, the freeway continues through Fayette, , Coles, and Douglas counties, bypassing Mattoon and providing access to via Illinois Route 16 at exit 190A. As the primary north-south interstate in , I-57 connects agricultural hubs and smaller communities, including university towns like , home to , which draws students and visitors via key exits. The route experiences high volumes, driven by facilities in Effingham and the transport of and other products from surrounding prairies, with average daily traffic exceeding 30,000 vehicles in some segments and percentages around 25-30%. This freight emphasis underscores I-57's role in supporting the region's , though the four-lane divided maintains a consistent rural profile throughout.

Northern Illinois

Interstate 57 enters as a northward extension from the central region near Effingham, traversing approximately 180 miles through Champaign, , , Kankakee, Will, and counties before reaching its northern terminus. In Champaign County, the highway passes through the university-dominated Champaign-Urbana , where a major interchange provides access to Interstate 74 and Illinois Route 47, facilitating connectivity for local traffic and regional travel. Northward, I-57 transitions into more rural landscapes across , , and Kankakee counties, serving agricultural communities with interchanges such as the one at Gilman for and in Kankakee for Illinois Route 50, which support freight movement and local commerce along this corridor. As I-57 approaches the in Will County, it integrates with suburban infrastructure, including a significant interchange at Monee with Interstate 80, which enhances east-west connectivity for trucking and passenger vehicles. Further north, the route briefly parallels and connects to the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) in Cook County, aiding in the distribution of traffic toward western suburbs and providing indirect access to via linked expressways. This segment underscores I-57's role in managing commuter flows into the densely populated region, where daily volumes support both residential travel from southern suburbs and commercial logistics. The highway culminates at its northern terminus on the south side of Chicago, merging into the Bishop Ford Freeway (Interstate 94) near 127th Street in a complex interchange that handles high volumes of merging traffic. This endpoint positions I-57 as a vital artery for southbound commuters and northbound freight entering the urban core, alleviating pressure on parallel routes like I-55 while integrating with the broader Chicago expressway system.

History

Planning and designation

The planning for Interstate 57 originated in the mid-1950s as part of the broader effort to establish the national under the , which authorized the construction of 41,000 miles of limited-access highways across the . This legislation provided federal funding at a 90% match to states for building high-speed roads designed for national defense and commerce, with routes selected to connect major population centers and economic corridors. I-57 was specifically envisioned as an upgrade to the existing , a key north-south corridor through that had long served agricultural and industrial traffic but lacked the capacity and safety standards of modern freeways. By paralleling much of US 51, I-57 aimed to improve connectivity between rural areas and urban hubs without diverting significantly from established travel patterns. On August 14, 1957, the Bureau of Public Roads approved the initial Interstate route designations, including I-57 as a north-south highway linking near , , to the area in . This designation positioned I-57 to provide a direct alternative to I-55 for traffic heading north from the Gulf Coast region, facilitating a corridor from southern ports to the via connections in . The route's termini were finalized at approximately 386 miles, starting at the I-55 junction in and ending at the intersection with I-94 (also known as the ) on Chicago's South Side. Early alignments followed US 51 northward from the Illinois border, but planning emphasized resilience against regional challenges, such as the frequent flooding near , while maintaining access to communities. In November 2024, the officially designated a 110-mile (177 km) segment of former U.S. Highway 67 in —from I-40 in North to US 412 in Walnut Ridge—as I-57, adding the highway's first mileage in that state and extending its southern reach as part of a planned 240-mile corridor to connect with the existing route in . Interstate 57 has no official name beyond its numerical designation, consistent with federal policy for most Interstates, though segments in parallel the Major Taylor Trail, a multi-use path locally recognized for its recreational value and named after the pioneering African American cyclist Marshall "Major" Taylor. This trail, running alongside the highway from the Dan Ryan Woods to Whistler , highlights urban integration efforts but does not alter the Interstate's formal identity.

Construction

Construction of Interstate 57 commenced in the late , implementing the route designations established earlier in the decade through federal interstate planning. The initial paving contract for the portion was awarded in January 1958 to B. Stilley for $1.079 million, marking the start of physical development. The first major segment, spanning 30 miles from north to in , opened to traffic on September 26, 1961, following dedication by Governor Otto Kerner; this stretch traversed the hilly terrain of the at an estimated cost of $21 million. Subsequent openings in the 1960s advanced the southern phase, including the extension from to Johnston City on November 1, 1962, the West Frankfort interchange in 1963, and completion to by 1965. Engineering in this region incorporated flood-resistant features, such as elevated structures and drainage systems, to mitigate risks from the floodplain near , culminating in the Cairo I-57 Bridge—a through-arch span opened in 1978 after six years of construction at a cost of $25.4 million. Central Illinois segments progressed through the 1970s, with multiple openings in 1969 alone, including 21.5 miles from to Centralia, 14 miles from Mattoon to Arcola, and bridges over rivers such as the to accommodate the flat, agricultural landscape. Challenges included acquiring right-of-way through farmlands, which required extensive negotiations and proceedings, and minimizing environmental disruption in sensitive wetland areas like the Cache River swamp, where elevated roadways preserved habitat integrity. The northern phase featured urban viaducts in as part of the extension, with segments opening between 1963 and 1970, and the final rural link near Paxton completed in 1971. The entire route, including the short Missouri portion from the Mississippi River bridge north to Interstate 55 near Miner, reached full completion on June 23, 1978, with the bridge's opening eliminating the last gap and connecting the 21.77-mile Missouri segment built concurrently in the mid-1970s. Overall, construction emphasized durable designs for flood-prone southern areas and efficient crossings in central farmlands, though environmental concerns in the Shawnee National Forest led to route adjustments to limit habitat fragmentation.

Future developments

Ongoing projects

Several ongoing projects along Interstate 57 (I-57) focus on enhancing capacity, safety, and structural integrity, primarily in under the Rebuild Illinois program. These initiatives address increasing freight traffic and aging , with construction activities spanning 2024 through 2028. In , a major widening project is expanding I-57 from four to six lanes between and , including the replacement of bridges over the Big Muddy River at mileposts 66-75 and over Marcum Branch and Gun Creek at mileposts 75-85. This $325 million effort, which began in phases starting in 2023, involves resurfacing, median barrier installation, and drainage upgrades to improve for the corridor's high volume of trucks. Further north in Champaign County, the I-57/I-74 interchange , initiated in 2021 and continuing through 2025, adds auxiliary lanes, flyover ramps, and shoulders while replacing bridges, including the I-72 over I-57 structure, at an estimated cost of $251.8 million. This project modernizes the outdated cloverleaf design to reduce congestion at a key freight junction, with the new westbound I-74 to southbound I-57 flyover ramp opening on August 27, 2025. Bridge rehabilitation efforts include ongoing inspections and repairs near the area. The I-294/I-57 interchange near was completed in 2022 with new ramps and bridge components to enhance structural resilience. Safety enhancements by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) include the addition of shoulder and centerline rumble strips along southern segments of I-57 as part of the six-lane expansion, set for completion in 2025 to alert drivers of lane departures. Near Effingham, projects incorporate pavement preservation to mitigate risks from heavy commercial vehicles, aligning with broader interstate safety modernization. Funding for these projects draws from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, which integrate support to prioritize high-impact corridors like I-57. Environmental mitigations accompany expansions, particularly in the area, where restorations offset impacts from the six-lane project; approximately 4.77 acres of wetlands are being restored through compensatory planting and enhancement to comply with regulations. These efforts ensure minimal disruption to local ecosystems during .

Planned extensions

The primary planned extension for Interstate 57 involves its southward continuation into along the alignment of , designated as Future I-57 to enhance connectivity within the National Highway System. On November 7, 2024, the officially redesignated approximately 110 miles (177 km) of U.S. 67 from North to Walnut Ridge as I-57, marking a significant step in closing the gap between the existing I-57 terminus near , , and further southern connections. This extension aims to link northeastern more directly to the interstate network, supporting freight movement and economic development in the region. In October 2025, construction began to widen a segment of the new I-57 (former US 67/167) to six lanes in Pulaski County. Studies and planning for this corridor, initiated in the early 2020s, have progressed through environmental reviews, with the issuing a Record of Decision on October 24, 2023, approving the preferred alignment from Walnut Ridge to the state line. In Arkansas, the 42-mile segment from Walnut Ridge to the Missouri border is planned as a four-lane divided highway, with proposed interchanges at County Line Road (Randolph and Lawrence counties), Arkansas Highway 304, Hile Road, Duck Levee Road, Arkansas Highway 67 (west and north of Corning), and State Line Road. Construction on the initial phase, including the 4.1-mile Corning Bypass, is scheduled to begin in 2025 as part of the Connecting Arkansas Program, with an estimated cost of $55 million for that segment alone. The selected route minimizes impacts to properties, farmlands, and streams compared to other alternatives evaluated during the National Environmental Policy Act process. Further phases will extend northward into Missouri, where the Missouri Department of Transportation is upgrading U.S. Route 67 to interstate standards in Butler County, with Phase 3 (from County Road 352 to near County Road 272, including the Neelyville interchange) and Phase 4 (including the State Line Road interchange) planned for award and construction starting in summer 2026, funded primarily through state revenues. While no direct extension to further south of its current junction has been proposed in recent studies, the and segments will effectively extend I-57's reach toward the I-55 corridor via existing connections near the . In , long-term improvements focus on enhanced integration rather than linear extensions, with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning incorporating I-57 reconstruction from I-94 to the Will-Kankakee county line into its ON TO 2050 comprehensive regional plan as a regionally significant project to support multimodal freight corridors and address projected 2050 travel demands. This includes potential new access points in Will County, where an ongoing study initiated in late 2023 evaluates improvements along I-57 from south of Wilmington-Peotone Road to north of Manhattan-Monee Road, emphasizing truck and freight accommodations; the study is expected to conclude in early 2028, potentially leading to new interchanges for . Proposed new interchanges along existing alignments include enhancements for economic and freight purposes, such as a potential near Route 133 in Arcola to bolster local development in the I-57 corridor, though detailed studies remain in preliminary stages as of 2025. A freight-oriented bypass around Kankakee has been discussed in but lacks specific funded proposals beyond general interchange upgrades. Environmental reviews for southern extensions, including those near the in , have historically addressed impacts for maintenance rather than expansions, with no active extension studies in that area. Budget constraints post-2025 pose challenges, as noted in the Department of Transportation's FY 2025-2030 plan, which highlights ongoing funding limitations for infrastructure amid competing priorities, potentially delaying unfunded phases of the Arkansas-Missouri corridor.

Exit list

Arkansas

Interstate 57's southern segment in consists of a 110-mile (180 km) redesignated portion of former U.S. Highway 67 from I-40 in North to US 412 in Walnut Ridge, approved by the FHWA in November 2024. As of November 2025, signage is being installed, with ongoing upgrades to interstate standards, including the Corning Bypass project. Exits follow the previous US 67 numbering.
ExitDestinationsNotes
147I-40 – , Southern terminus; trumpet interchange
...[Additional exits along former US 67, e.g., Jacksonville, Cabot, Beebe, Searcy, etc.]Diamond/partial cloverleaf; serves local cities
257US 412 – Walnut RidgeNorthern terminus of AR segment; partial cloverleaf

Missouri

Interstate 57 enters from the south at a with I-55 and MO 77 in , marking mile marker 0.00 and serving as the southern terminus of the traditional segment. The route then heads northeast through rural areas of New Madrid and counties, concurrent with 60 for much of its length in the state, before crossing the into at mile marker 22.3. There are no auxiliary lanes along this segment. The exits are listed below, with mile markers based on the southern terminus in .
ExitMileLocationsNotes
0.00I-55 south · MO 77 · Southern terminus; southbound exit and northbound entrance
11.00MO 164 · Serves local traffic to
33.00US 61 · SikestonAccess to Sikeston; signed as north/south US 61
45.00MO B · BertrandAccess to Bertrand
610.00US 60 · US 62 · Partial cloverleaf
1016.00MO 105 · Access to
22.30Illinois state lineNorthern terminus in Missouri; bridge over

Illinois

Interstate 57 enters from the southern approach in at mile 0 near , where mile markers reset to zero at the state line. The highway features approximately 109 exits throughout its 358-mile course in the state, connecting rural southern areas to urban via diamond, partial cloverleaf, and trumpet interchanges, among others. Exits are numbered sequentially based on mileposts, with some split as A/B for directional routes. High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are present in the northern section near to manage congestion. The following tables organize the exits by region for clarity, including key examples of destinations and interchange types where documented. The route ends at a trumpet interchange with I-94 in following Exit 357.

Southern Illinois (Alexander, Pulaski, Union, Jackson, Williamson, Franklin, Jefferson, Perry, and Franklin Counties; Exits 1–95, approximately mile 0–95)

ExitMilepostDestinationsType
10.6IL 146 – Cairo, Cape GirardeauDiamond
22.3US 51 – CairoPartial cloverleaf
44.0Mounds Road – MoundsDiamond
66.3Old US 51 – UnityDiamond
88.0Mounds Road – MoundsDiamond
1616.0IL 37 – OlmstedDiamond
1717.0Shawnee College Road – UllinDiamond
1818.0US 51 – Ullin, DongolaPartial cloverleaf
1919.0Vienna, DongolaDiamond
2020.0Dongola Road – DongolaDiamond
2424.0Dongola, CobdenDiamond
2525.0US 51 – Anna, CarbondalePartial cloverleaf
2727.0Anna, CobdenDiamond
3030.0IL 146 – DongolaDiamond
3131.0Unity, DongolaDiamond
3232.0Lick Creek Road – Lick CreekDiamond
3333.0IL 127 – MurphysboroDiamond
3636.0Lick Creek Road – AnnaDiamond
3737.0Goreville Road – GorevilleDiamond
3838.0IL 149 – MurphysboroPartial cloverleaf
4040.0Goreville Road – GorevilleDiamond
4242.0Tunnel Hill Road – MarionDiamond
4444.0IL 13 – MarionPartial cloverleaf
4545.0IL 148 – MarionDiamond
4646.0De Soto, HurstDiamond
5050.0IL 37 – West MarionDiamond
5252.0IL 34 – MarionDiamond
5353.0Main Street – MarionDiamond
54A54.0IL 13 East – Marion, HarrisburgPartial cloverleaf
54B54.0IL 13 West – CarbondalePartial cloverleaf
5757.0Energy Road – EnergyDiamond
5959.0Division Street – Johnston CityDiamond
6161.0Herrin Road – HerrinDiamond
6262.0Park Street – HerrinDiamond
6363.0IL 148 – HerrinDiamond
6565.0IL 149 – West Frankfort, ZeiglerDiamond
6767.0Logan Street – West FrankfortDiamond
6868.0IL 37 – West FrankfortPartial cloverleaf
7171.0IL 14 – Benton, ChristopherDiamond
7272.0IL 34 – BentonDiamond
7575.0Rend Lake Dam RoadDiamond
7777.0IL 154 – Sesser, EwingDiamond
8080.0Rend Lake Service RoadDiamond
8383.0IL 37 – InaPartial cloverleaf
8585.0Xenia Road – XeniaDiamond
9292.0Veterans Parkway – Mt. VernonPartial cloverleaf
9595.0IL 15 – Mt. Vernon, NashvilleDiamond

Central Illinois (Wayne, Marion, Clay, Fayette, Effingham, Cumberland, Coles, Douglas, Moultrie, and Champaign Counties; Exits 96–259, approximately mile 96–259)

ExitMilepostDestinationsType
9696.0I-64 West – St. LouisTrumpet
100100.0I-64 East – LouisvilleTrumpet
102102.0Dix, Mt. VernonDiamond
103103.0Dix, IL 37Diamond
109109.0IL 161 – Centralia, SalemDiamond
116116.0US 50 – Salem, CentraliaPartial cloverleaf
127127.0Kinmundy, PatokaDiamond
130130.0IL 37 – KinmundyDiamond
135135.0IL 185 – Vandalia, FarinaDiamond
141141.0Shumway, TeutopolisDiamond
145145.0EdgewoodDiamond
151151.0Watson, MasonDiamond
157157.0Dieterich, ShumwayDiamond
159159.0Fayette Avenue – EffinghamDiamond
160160.0IL 32/IL 33 – EffinghamPartial cloverleaf
162162.0US 45 – Sigel, EffinghamDiamond
163163.0IL 33 – EffinghamDiamond
164164.0I-70 East – Terre HauteTrumpet
167167.0I-70 West – St. LouisTrumpet
177177.0US 45 – NeogaPartial cloverleaf
184184.0US 45/IL 121 – MattoonPartial cloverleaf
189189.0IL 16 East – CharlestonDiamond
190190.0IL 16 West – MattoonDiamond
192192.01000 North – MattoonDiamond
197197.0Charleston, MattoonDiamond
203203.0IL 133 – Arcola, ParisDiamond
212212.0US 36 – Tuscola, DecaturPartial cloverleaf
220220.0US 45 – Pesotum, TolonoDiamond
229229.0St. Marys Road – ChampaignDiamond
232232.0Curtis Road – ChampaignDiamond
235A235.0University Avenue – UrbanaPartial cloverleaf
235B235.0University Avenue – ChampaignPartial cloverleaf
236236.0Anthony Drive – ChampaignDiamond
237237.0Bloomington Road – ChampaignDiamond
238238.0Olympian Drive – ChampaignDiamond
240A240.0Neil Street – ChampaignPartial cloverleaf
240B240.0Market Street – ChampaignPartial cloverleaf
241241.0Kirby Avenue – ChampaignDiamond
243243.0I-74 West – BloomingtonTrumpet
244A244.0I-74 East – IndianapolisTrumpet
245245.0US 45 – MahometDiamond
250250.0US 136 – RantoulPartial cloverleaf
254254.0I-57 Business – RantoulDiamond
259259.0IL 10 – ThomasboroDiamond

Northern Illinois (Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Will, and Cook Counties; Exits 260–357, approximately mile 260–357)

ExitMilepostDestinationsType
261261.0IL 9 – Paxton, Gibson CityDiamond
269269.0Melvin, RobertsDiamond
272272.0Buckley, RobertsDiamond
280280.0IL 54 – OnargaPartial cloverleaf
283283.0US 24 – GilmanDiamond
284284.0Onarga, ClaytonvilleDiamond
293293.0IL 116 – Ashkum, PontiacDiamond
297297.0CliftonDiamond
302302.0ChebanseDiamond
308308.0US 45/US 52 – KankakeePartial cloverleaf
309309.0IL 17 – KankakeeDiamond
312312.04000 North Road – KankakeeDiamond
315315.0IL 50 – Bradley, KankakeeDiamond
317317.0Bourbonnais Parkway – BourbonnaisPartial cloverleaf
318318.0IL 102 – BourbonnaisDiamond
322322.0MantenoDiamond
327327.0US 52 – Wilmington, PeotoneDiamond
335335.0Manhattan Road – MoneeDiamond
337337.0Stuenkel Road – University ParkDiamond
339339.0Sauk Trail – Richton ParkDiamond
340340.0US 30 – Lincoln HighwayPartial cloverleaf
342342.0Vollmer Road – Olympia FieldsDiamond
345345.0183rd Street – Country Club HillsDiamond
346346.0171st Street – Hazel CrestDiamond
348348.0US 6 – 159th StreetDiamond
349349.0I-294 Toll – IndianaTrumpet
350350.0IL 83 – 147th Street, Sibley BoulevardPartial cloverleaf
353353.0127th Street – Blue IslandDiamond
354354.0119th Street – AlsipDiamond
355355.0111th Street, Monterey AvenueDiamond
357357.0Halsted Street, IL 1Partial cloverleaf
358.0I-94 – Chicago SkywayNorthern terminus; trumpet interchange
Business loop tie-ins, such as the Marion business loop at exits 53–54, are incorporated into the mainline exits. HOV lanes operate on the Bishop Ford Freeway section (exits 348–357) during peak hours for vehicles with two or more occupants.

Auxiliary and business routes

Business loops in Illinois

Interstate 57 does not have any officially designated business loops in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation's official highway maps and route descriptions. These routes, which typically provide access to bypassed downtown areas via local streets while maintaining connections to the mainline interstate, are absent along I-57's path through the state. Local access to cities such as , Benton, Mount Vernon, and Effingham is instead facilitated directly through interchanges with state routes like IL 13, IL 14, IL 15, and IL 33, without separate business designations. No major decommissioned business loops have been recorded for I-57 in Illinois. While there are no business loops in Illinois, I-57 has a business loop in , that overlaps and Missouri Route 77 to serve Charleston.

Other connections

Interstate 57 connects to other interstate highways primarily in the , enhancing regional mobility. It intersects in Cook County near Country Club Hills, facilitating east-west travel across and into . Further north, a $719 million interchange project with (Tri-State Tollway) in Blue Island and Alsip was completed in September 2022, adding four direct ramps to link southbound I-57 with I-294 north and I-294 south with northbound I-57, reducing travel times and congestion in the south suburbs. I-57 has no designated auxiliary, spur, or business routes beyond those covered separately, but it functions as a key alternative for southbound traffic to , offering a toll-free path that bypasses the (I-90) and avoids some urban congestion on I-55. Among related U.S. routes, I-57 overlaps U.S. Route 60 for approximately 13 miles in , from the I-55/I-57/US 60 junction southeast of Sikeston to the eastern outskirts of . In Illinois, U.S. Route 51 serves as a parallel "shadow route" to I-57 through much of southern and , with a 23-mile overlap from near northward to , where the routes share alignment to provide redundant north-south access. Key state highway connections include the intersection of Illinois Route 1 with I-57 in south suburban Cook County, where IL 1 follows across the interstate. Recent enhancements to I-57's network include the 2025 opening of new flyover ramps at the reconstructed I-57/I-74 interchange west of Champaign, part of a $251.8 million project to modernize the aging junction and support economic growth in the region by improving freight and commuter flows.

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