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Interstate 474 - Illinois

Photo taken by Tim Messer

Routing

Interstate 474 is the southern half of Peoria's Ring Road in Central Illinois. The Interstate designation covers the 15-mile southwestern bypass of Interstate 74.

Future Aspirations

Plans call for Interstate 474 to become part of a full beltway via the completion of Illinois 6. The northeastern quadrant of the belt route, which would include a new bridge over the Illinois River near Mossville. The bridge and remaining freeway miles are estimated to cost $800 million. The passage of SAFETEA-LU in 2005 appropriated $2.4 million for design, engineering, and land acquisition for the eventual corridor. A corridor study for the beltway is currently underway and is scheduled for completion in Winter 2009. Construction of the freeway requires additional funds, which have not been fully identified.1 Once complete, it is not clear if the Ring Road freeway would retain the Illinois 6 designation or be given the Interstate 474 designation, thus making the freeway a true beltway around Peoria.

The Peoria area will see several other major road projects as funding permits, including the conversion of Illinois 29 between the current north end of Illinois 6 into an at-grade, four-lane expressway north to Interstate 180 and the construction of a new Illinois 336 expressway from Macomb northeast to Peoria. A proposed "Peoria to Chicago" expressway is also under consideration, with the general proposed route taking a diagonal path from the northeastern quadrant of the Ring Road northeast toward Chicago, perhaps by connecting with Interstate 39 or Interstate 55. No specific corridors have been identified for such an expressway.

Mileage

State Mileage Cities Junctions
Illinois 14.88 Peoria Interstate 74, Interstate 74
Source: October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

Western Terminus - Interstate 74 - western Peoria, Illinois
Perspectives from Interstate 474 west
Interstate 474 westbound approaching its terminus. The two mile guide sign for Exits A/B include the Quad Cities for Interstate 74 westbound, Peoria for Interstate 74 eastbound, and Chillicothe for Illinois 6 northbound. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
Interstate 474 orientates in a north-south fashion to the west of Peoria. Due to this alignment, the westbound lanes directly transition into the Illinois 6 freeway north of Interstate 74. 3di width shields are used for Interstate 74, a practice found in the state of Texas and areas of Northern Virginia. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
Directional sign bridge on Interstate 474 westbound for the upcoming terminus with Interstate 74/Illinois 6. Moline and Rock Island compose the Illinois half of the Quad Cities. The Iowa components are Davenport and Bettendorf. The terminus can be seen in the distance. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
Interstate 474 concludes at the westbound ramps for Interstate 74/Exit B. Illinois 6 begins and takes Interstate 474 traffic to Interstate 74/Exit A for downtown Peoria. Photo taken by David Greenberger (7/99).

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Perspectives from Illinois 6 south
Advance guide sign on Illinois 6 southbound approaching its terminus with Interstate 74 and 474. Since Illinois 6 intersects Interstate 74 in a southerly capacity, the control city is listed as Galesburg. The town is located 40 miles to the west. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
One mile guide sign on Illinois 6 southbound. Note the allocated space for an exit number with "EXIT A-B" displayed. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
Milepost 1 of Illinois 6 at a one-half mile sign bridge for Interstate 74 west. Note that this ramp is signed as "EXIT A". Traffic taking the first exit will reach the Quad Cities in 83 miles. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
A myriad of shields are posted at the southern terminus of Illinois 6 for Interstates 74 and 474. Shields are posted in a similar fashion at the north end of Interstate 155 and east end of Interstate 474. The use of "EXIT" placards above the shields is unusual. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
Perspectives from Interstate 74 west
Two-mile guide sign for Exits 87B/A of the joint termini of Interstate 474 and Illinois 6. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Westbound Interstate 74, two miles from the western terminus of Interstate 474 and southern terminus of Illinois 6. The town of Chillicothe (pop. 5559), is the control point 17 miles to the north for Illinois 6. Photos taken by Don Hargraves (09/02) and Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
One-half mile from the Interstate 474/Illinois 6 terminus interchange on Interstate 74 westbound. The previous interchange of Interstate 74 serves U.S. 150. The first interchange of the Illinois 6 freeway also serves U.S. 150. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Westbound Interstate 74 at Exit 87B/Illinois 6 north. The cloverleaf ramp for Interstate 474 west/Exit 87A is one-quarter mile ahead. Interstate 74 will reach Galesburg in 40 miles and Moline in 83 miles. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Exit 87A for the cloverleaf ramp to Interstate 474 east from Interstate 74 westbound. 209 miles separate this interchange with Indianapolis via Interstate 474 around Peoria to Interstate 74. Photos taken by Don Hargraves (09/02) and Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Perspectives from Interstate 74 east
Eastbound Interstate 74, two miles from the Interstate 474/Illinois 6/Exits 87A/B junction. All through traffic is directed on the southwest bypass of Peoria, as Interstate 74 traverses downtown in seven miles. Photos taken by Don Hargraves (09/02) and Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Closing in on the split with Interstate 474/Exit 87A on Interstate 74 eastbound. Interstate 474 also serves the Greater Peoria Airport and traffic destined for the town of Pekin south of the metropolitan area. Photo taken by Chris Curley (7/00).
All through trucks are advised to take Interstate 474 around Peoria via Interstate 474. A similar sign is posted on Interstate 74 westbound at the eastern terminus of Interstate 474. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
One-mile guide sign on Interstate 74 eastbound for Interstate 474 east and Illinois 6 north. The guide sign in the background alerts motorists that Interstate 474 is the route to take to access Greater Peoria Regional Airport. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Overheads on Interstate 74 eastbound for Exit 87A/Interstate 474 east. Traffic for Illinois 6 north/Exit 87B continues one-quarter mile past the split with Interstate 474 via Interstate 74 east. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Interstate 474 turns to the south via Exit 87A while Interstate 74 progresses eastward to Illinois 6 north/Exit 87B and to downtown Peoria. At the time this picture was taken, through traffic was detoured onto Interstate 474 due to a closure at the Interstate 74 bridge over the Illinois River. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Exit 87B guide sign on Interstate 74 eastbound, within the Interstate 474 terminus interchange. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Illinois 6 begins its northward trek via Interstate 74 east Exit 87B in this photograph. The next Interstate 74 interchange serves Peoria at Exit 89 for U.S. 150, War Memorial Drive. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Eastern Terminus - Interstate 74 - eastern Peoria, Illinois
Perspectives from Interstate 474
Interstate 474 eastbound directly transitions to Interstate 74 eastbound. Therefore Exit 15 serves just Interstate 74 westbound, for return traffic to downtown Peoria. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
3di shields for Interstate 74 adorn this one mile sign bridge on Interstate 474 eastbound. Although Indianapolis is displayed as the eastbound destination, the city of Bloomington is the next city of interest for Interstate 74. It is located some 60 miles to the east. Photos taken by Don Hargraves (09/02) and Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Another directional overhead on Interstate 474 eastbound for Interstate 74/Exit 15. The first exit for Interstate 74 east after Interstate 474 merges is that of the northern terminus of Interstate 155, a connector to Interstate 55 at Lincoln. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
While the sign bridge assembly remains disassembled to the right, these Interstate 74 shields point the way for Interstate 474 traffic. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
The first westbound Interstate 474 reassurance shield. Exit 9 for Illinois 29 and the town of Pekin, the first exit of Interstate 474, is located five miles to the west. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
Perspectives from Interstate 74 west
All through traffic on Interstate 74 westbound is advised to take Interstate 474 west in this sign bridge one mile from the terminus. Interstate 74 widens to three westbound lanes in anticipation of the split with the Peoria Bypass. Photos taken by Don Hargraves (09/02) and Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Sign directing through trucks to take the bypass around Peoria is posted on Interstate 74 westbound. This was shot on the east side of Peoria. A similar sign is posted on Interstate 74 west of the Interstate 74/474/Illinois 6 interchange. Photos taken by Don Hargraves (09/02) and Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Interstate 474 also sees the control point of Pekin, a town to the south of Peoria via Illinois 29. Traffic bound for U.S. 24 southwest to Quincy should also take Interstate 474 westbound. Photos taken by Don Hargraves (09/02) and Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Interstate 74 westbound splits with Interstate 474/Exit 99. Interstate 74 continues to the northwest encountering East Peoria in three miles, the Illinois River in five miles, and downtown in six miles. Photos taken by Don Hargraves (09/02) and Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Perspectives from Interstate 74 east
Although for orientation of Interstate 74 eastbound with that of Interstate 474 basically entails a U-turn, a ramp exists between the two freeways. This photo takes a look at the one-half mile guide sign for Exit 99/Interstate 474 west. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
Overheads on Interstate 74 eastbound at Exit 98/Pinecrest Road. The return ramp for Interstate 474 is useful for motorists wishing to access the Peoria Bypass from this interchange as there is no access between Pinecrest Road and Interstate 474 otherwise. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
One-half mile guide sign for Exit 98/Interstate 474 west. Greater Peoria Regional Airport traffic is also directed to Interstate 474 from Interstate 74 eastbound. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).
Sign bridge on Interstate 74 east for the westbound beginning of Interstate 474 west. The empty sign bracket to the left may have held a panel for Exit 101/Interstate 155 south at one point. Photo taken by Don Hargraves (09/02).
The paving project underway in the above photograph is now complete at the eastern terminus of Interstate 474. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (12/01/02).

Footnotes:

  1. Pekin Area Regional Chamber Transportation Issues - this page lays out information on several Central Illinois transportation issues, including the Interstate 474 Ring Road, Illinois 336 expressway from Quincy to Peoria, Illinois 29 four-lane at-grade expressway, and proposed Peoria to Chicago Expressway

Page Updated May 31, 2008.