Illinois Route 251
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.[1]
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IL 251 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by IDOT | ||||
| Length | 135.32 mi[1] (217.78 km) | |||
| Existed | Early 1970s[2]–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |    | |||
| North end |  | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties | McLean, Woodford, Marshall, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, Winnebago | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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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 351, it can be considered a spur, loop or alternate of its parent route, U.S. 51. Illinois 251 terminates about 8 mi (13 km) north of the southern terminus of I-39.
The road parallels the east bank of the Rock River through Rockford, where the highway goes north on Eleventh Street, west on Harrison, north on Kishwaukee, west on Walnut then split between northbound Third and southbound Second through downtown Rockford. After downtown, both directions take the southbound lanes' Second Street name as a divided urban expressway (also badged as Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Drive) for a couple of miles north of downtown Rockford. It stays Second Street through Loves Park, Machesney Park and Roscoe until its north endpoint at US 51 and Illinois 75 in South Beloit
History
Illinois 251 was established in 1982 when first segment of I-39 opened between Rockford 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.[3] The initial designation of I-39 was U.S. Route 51 until 1992.
Major intersections
| County | Location | mi[4] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean | | 0.0 | 0.0 | | Southern terminus; I-39 exit 8 |
| Woodford | El Paso | 7.1 | 11.4 |  | |
| | 15.2 | 24.5 |  | South end of IL 116 overlap | |
| | 16.2 | 26.1 | | North end of IL 116 overlap | |
| Marshall | | 27.6 | 44.4 |  | South end of IL 17 overlap |
| Wenona | 29.6 | 47.6 | | North end of IL 17 overlap | |
| LaSalle | | 34.6 | 55.7 |  | |
| Tonica | 41.7 | 67.1 |  | ||
| | 44.8 | 72.1 |   | ||
| | 45.6 | 73.4 | | I-39 exit 52 | |
| Illinois River | 49.6 | 79.8 | Peru Bridge | ||
| Peru | 49.8 | 80.1 |  | Interchange | |
| | 52.5 | 84.5 |  | I-80 exit 75 | |
| | 55.7 | 89.6 |  | ||
| | 59.7 | 96.1 |  | South end of US 52 overlap | |
| Mendota | 65.1 | 104.8 |  | ||
| 66.1 | 106.4 | | North end of US 52 overlap | ||
| Lee | | 81.6 | 131.3 |  | |
| Ogle | | 91.7 | 147.6 |     | I-88 exit 76 |
| Rochelle | 93.1 | 149.8 |   | South end of IL 38 overlap | |
| 94.0 | 151.3 | | North end of IL 38 overlap | ||
| | 99.0 | 159.3 |  | ||
| Davis Junction | 105.8 | 170.3 |  | ||
| Winnebago | Rockford | 114.0 | 183.5 |  | Interchange |
| 118.1 | 190.1 |  | |||
| 118.7 | 191.0 | Whitman Street Bridge | Interchange | ||
| 120.1 | 193.3 | Auburn Street, Spring Creek Road | Interchange | ||
| 120.6 | 194.1 | Forest Hills Road | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||
| Machesney Park | 125.7 | 202.3 |  | ||
| Roscoe | 132.8 | 213.7 |  | ||
| Rockton | 133.8 | 215.3 |  | Interchange | |
| South Beloit | 135.32 | 217.78 | | Northern terminus | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
- Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2006). "T2 GIS Data". Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- Carlson, Rich. Illinois Highways Page: Routes 200 thru end. Last updated April 15, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2006.
- AARoads. Interstate 39 @ Interstate-Guide.com.
- Google (March 12, 2017). "Overview Map of IL 251" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 12, 2017.