Interstate 474
Interstate 474 (I-474) is an Interstate Highway loop route that provides a southwestern bypass around the north central Illinois city of Peoria. I-474's parent interstate is I-74. As the first digit of the interstate's number is even, it follows the established convention of providing a loop around a city. Interstate 474 is 14.88 miles (23.95 km) long. I-474 is the highest numbered route in the state of Illinois.[1] It is also, excluding the proposed I-274 in North Carolina, the only auxiliary route of I-74.
I-474 highlighted in red | ||||
Route information | ||||
Auxiliary route of I-74 | ||||
Maintained by IDOT | ||||
Length | 14.88 mi[1] (23.95 km) | |||
Existed | Late 1970s[2]–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | ||||
East end | ||||
Location | ||||
Counties | Peoria, Tazewell | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Route description
Interstate 474 is a modern, Interstate-standard four-lane freeway for its entire length. Prior to 2006, thru truck traffic on I-74 was instructed to use I-474. This is because prior to its 2004-2007 reconstruction, Interstate 74 was significantly below Interstate standard, having numerous 15 mph (24 km/h) onramps and offramps, extremely short merging space for onramps (some less than 500 feet (152 m) in length), and a 50 mph (80 km/h) speed limit through downtown Peoria.
The Illinois Route 116 access interchange at Maxwell Road has been indicated as the eastern terminus for the Quincy to Peoria expressway now known as the Illinois Route 336 project.[3]
The western terminus of I-474 is at I-74 exit 87A. The eastern terminus of I-474 is at I-74 exit 99. North of the western terminus, the road continues as Illinois Route 6 with a new series of exit numbers.
History
I-474 was constructed through the mid-1970s. The now-named Shade-Lohmann Bridge was erected in 1973. During that year, $30.1 million was allocated for acquisition of right-of-way, grading work and overpass/bridge construction across the whole length of the highway.[4]
Exit list
County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peoria | | 0.00 | 0.00 | Continuation north beyond I-74 | |||
0 | Western terminus; signed as exits 0A (east) and 0B (west); I-74 exit 87A | ||||||
Bellevue | 3.78 | 6.08 | 3A | ||||
| 5.34 | 8.59 | 5 | Airport Road | |||
Bartonville–Peoria line | 7.09 | 11.41 | 6 | West end of US 24 overlap; signed as exits 6A (US 24 west) & 6B (Adams Street) westbound | |||
Illinois River | 8.83– 9.04 | 14.21– 14.55 | Shade–Lohmann Bridge | ||||
Tazewell | Creve Coeur | 9.57 | 15.40 | 9 | East end of US 24 overlap | ||
East Peoria | 14.88 | 23.95 | 15 | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; eastern terminus and signed as exit 15 (west); I-74 exit 99 | |||
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.
- Kurumi. 3-digit Interstates from I-74. Last updated November 24, 2005. Retrieved March 27, 2006.
- Illinois Department of Transportation. Image of eastern end of project maps from Peoria to Macomb IDOT site. Retrieved March 27, 2006.
- R.L. Polk and Company (1973), Polk's Peoria City Directory, R.L. Polk and Co. Publishers