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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy was I-24 in Illinois sad? It had a lot of "exits".

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Route map: Attached KML Error: KML file not found
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Interstate 24 marker
Interstate 24
mapframe: Couldn't parse JSON: Syntax error
I-24 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by IDOT
Length38.73 mi (62.33 km)
ExistedAugust 18, 1964 (1964-08-18)–present
HistoryCompleted January 24, 1976
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-57 in Pulleys Mill
Major intersections
East end I-24 in Metropolis
Location
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountiesWilliamson, Johnson, Massac
Highway system
← US 24→ IL 25

Interstate 24 (I-24) is part of the Interstate Highway System that runs 316.36 miles (509.13 km) between Pulleys Mill, Illinois, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. In the U.S. state of Illinois, I-24 runs 38.73 miles (62.33 km) from its western terminus with I-57 to the Ohio River at the Kentucky state line near Metropolis. I-24 is located entirely in the southern portion of the state and is the most rural of Illinois' Interstate Highways. Despite this, the Interstate is part of a major corridor for traffic between the Southeastern United States and the St. Louis and Chicago urban areas. When the Interstate system was first created in 1956, I-24 was to terminate in Nashville, Tennessee. An effort quickly arose to extend the interstate to the northwest to improve connectivity between the Southeast and Midwestern United States. Several alignments for I-24 through Illinois were proposed over the next several years, including routes that would continue to St. Louis and others that would provide access to St. Louis via connections with other Interstate Highways. In 1963, an agreement was reached between the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee for I-24's extension, and this was approved by the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR), the predecessor to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the following year. Construction on I-24 in Illinois began in 1968 with the Ohio River Bridge, and the Interstate was opened in three sections between 1974 and 1976.

Route description

[edit]
I-24 at the interchange with US 45 in Metropolis.

I-24 is maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) along with all other non-tolled Interstate Highways, U.S. and state routes in Illinois. In 2025, annual average daily traffic counts ranged approximately from 18,500 vehicles south of Vienna to 28,600 vehicles at the Kentucky state line.[1]

I-24 begins at exit 44 on I-57 in southern Williamson County, near the community of Pulleys Mill in Southern Illinois.[2][3] Running in a northwest–southeast alignment through mostly farmland, the highway immediately heads through rural Johnson County, crossing a railroad and Illinois Route 37 (IL 37) without an interchange. The Interstate bypasses Goreville and Ferne Clyffe State Park to the east, before reaching an exit at Tunnel Hill Road, which serves Goreville and Tunnel Hill. The highway continues south through woodlands to its next exit at U.S. Route 45 (US 45) north of Vienna. It reaches its next exit at IL 146 in eastern Vienna a few miles later. I-24 heads southeast from Vienna into Massac County through additional farmland and woodlands.[2][4] Its first exit in Massac County is at Big Bay Road next to Lake New Zeigler, which serves the communities of Big Bay and New Columbia. I-24 continues southward, crossing another railroad and bypassing the community of Round Knob before entering Metropolis. The highway meets US 45 again in Metropolis and passes west of Fort Massac State Park. It leaves Metropolis and crosses the I-24 Bridge over the Ohio River, a 5,623-foot-long (1,714 m) two-span tied-arch bridge, into Kentucky.[2][5]

History

[edit]

When the Interstate Highway System was established in 1956, I-24 was to run between Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1957, the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee began an effort to improve connectivity between the St. Louis area and the Southeastern United States, which included extending I-24 northwest of Nashville. The first major proposal, which was included in a list of potential additions to the Interstate system in October 1957, had I-24 cross the Ohio River from Kentucky and terminate with I-57 in Cairo.[6] This evolved into new conceptualizations that had I-24 cross the Ohio River near Cairo and run in an east-west alignment, before crossing the Mississippi River into Missouri a short distance beyond. From here, the Interstate would continue to St. Louis or terminate with I-55 near Cape Girardeau or Charleston, Missouri. This alignment was favored by officials in Tennessee and western Kentucky, and later by the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR), the predecessor agency to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).[7][8] In February 1958, engineers in Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee recommended I-24 cross the Ohio River near Metropolis.[9] Later that year, a new alignment in Illionis was proposed to run through Herrin and Marion and cross the Ohio River between Golconda and Rosiclare. This route was part of a longer "straight-line" route between St. Louis and Nashville that was proposed by a group composed of delegates from cities along the route who argued it was more cost effective.[10][11][12] A crossing near Shawneetown was proposed in 1959.[13][14] The four states had difficulty reaching a consensus for the proposed routing and spent the next several years studying different proposals. This was particularly complicated by different routes in Kentucky and Tennessee that were proposed in the early 1960s.[7][8] By 1960, an alignment that terminated with I-57 south of Marion and crossed the river near Metropolis was proposed.[15][16] From its end at I-57, traffic bound for St. Louis would take I-57 north to Mount Vernon, and then use I-64 westbound.[17][18]

The Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge which carries I-24 between Illinois and Kentucky.

In March 1961, officials in Metropolis protested the Cairo-to-St. Louis alignment after it was endorsed by Kentucky highway commissioner Henry Ward.[9] In July 1961, another route to the east with a river crossing between Golconda and Rosiclare that terminated with I-57 in Marion near IL 13 was proposed by a group of Golconda businessmen.[19] This quickly evolved into several different proposed routes, including a crossing into Evansville, Indiana, and on August 20, 1961, a five-person delegation composed of delegates from the four states and Indiana reached an agreement that I-24 should cross the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky.[20][21] The routing of I-24 through Illinois remained contentious, however. By 1963, the Pulleys Mill-to-Metropolis route was favored by officials in Illinois and Kentucky, although Cairo and Missouri officials preferred the original proposal, and a consulting firm found the original proposal to be more economically feasible in June of that year.[22][23][24] The states also incorporated a new Interstate Highway, which was once proposed to be named I-24W, between I-55 in Hayti, Missouri, and I-40 in Jackson, Tennessee. This included a then-unbuilt bridge across the Mississippi River that had been proposed since the 1930s.[25][26] On September 17, 1963, the governors of the four states, in a meeting with President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, and BPR Administrator Rex Marion Whitton, reached a compromise on the alignment for I-24's extension. This alignment included the route between Pulley's Mill and Metropolis. They also urged approval of the Hayti-to-Jackson Interstate, and Missouri Governor John M. Dalton said that his state would not accept the I-24 routing unless a bridge between Missouri and Tennessee was approved. However, Dalton agreed that the Cairo alignment, which would have crossed the Mississippi River approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of the Ohio River crossing, would have been too costly.[17][27][25] On August 18, 1964, the BPR approved the new alignment for the western I-24 extension between Pulley's Mill and Nashville, as well as part of the Missouri-to-Tennessee Interstate, which they named I-155.[28][29]

After it was approved, the section of I-24 in Illinois was authorized for engineering by 1966 and authorized for construction by 1968.[30][31] In June 1968, construction began on the Ohio River bridge. Initially slated for completion in 1970,[32][33] the project experienced many delays caused by poor weather and faulty welds that were repaired with bolts.[34] The first section of I-24 in Illinois, located between US 45 in Vienna and US 45 in Metropolis, was dedicated and opened by Governor Dan Walker on January 15, 1974.[35] On October 18, 1974, the stretch between US 45 in Metropolis and US 60 in Paducah, including the Ohio River bridge, opened to traffic.[36] This was also the first stretch of I-24 to open in Kentucky.[37][38] The final segment of I-24 in Illinois, located between I-57 and US 45 in Vienna, was dedicated and opened to traffic by Governor Walker on January 24, 1976.[39]

Exit list

[edit]
CountyLocationmi[40]kmExitDestinationsNotes
WilliamsonSouthern Precinct0.000.00— I-57 – Chicago, MemphisWestern terminus; I-57 exit 44
JohnsonTunnel Hill7.2211.627 CR 12 (Tunnel Hill Road) – Tunnel Hill, Goreville
Bloomfield13.6421.9514 US 45 – Vienna, Harrisburg
Vienna16.0025.7516 IL 146 – Vienna, Golconda
MassacGeorges Creek Precinct26.5542.7327 CR 10 (Big Bay Road) – New Columbia, Big BayNo services
Metropolis37.1659.8037 US 45 – Metropolis, BrookportAccess to Fort Massac State Park; rest area
Ohio River38.7362.33Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge

 I-24 east – Nashville		Continuation into Kentucky
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "IDOT Traffic Counts". ArcGIS Online. Redlands, California: Esri. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 DeLorme (2022). Illinois Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (2022 ed.). 1 in:2.5 mi. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 978-1946494641.
  3. ↑ Illinois Department of Transportation (2010). Williamson County General Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Springfield: Illinois Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ Illinois Department of Transportation (1994). Johnson County General Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Springfield: Illinois Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  5. ↑ Illinois Department of Transportation (2001). Massac County General Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Springfield: Illinois Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  6. ↑ Banton, O. T. (October 27, 1957). "Political Influence Seen in Newest Allocation of Interstate Highways". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. p. 5. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 Kovach, Bill (August 11, 1963). "State Fighting Blocks I-24". The Nashville Tennessean. p. 2B. Retrieved March 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 Powell, Bill (March 4, 1974). "I-24 lag stalls interstate completion". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. p. B-11. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Metropolis Protests Change Of Interstate 24". The Daily Register. Harrisburg, Illinois. United Press International. p. 4. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  10. ↑ "2 Sides On Where Bridge Would Be Have Taken Action". Hardin County Independent. Elizabethtown, Illinois. November 27, 1958. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Group Urges 'Straight Line' Route". The Crittenden Press. Marion, Kentucky. October 30, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Chandler Asked To Back 'Straight Line' Highway". The Daily Register. Harrisburg, Illinois. November 19, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "SVDA Urges Route At Shawneetown". The Daily Register. Harrisburg, Illinois. June 3, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Timotheus T. (July 25, 1959). "About Town And Country". The Daily Register. Harrisburg, Illinois. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Political Roads". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 18, 1960. Part 1, Page 18. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "U.S. OKs Southern Route for Interstate 64 Across Illinois". The Morris Daily Herald. Associated Press. June 22, 1960. p. 9. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. 1 2 "OK Interstate 24 Through Mt. V.; Would Link Highway 57, 64 Here". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Associated Press. September 18, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Interstate 24 Routing Forwarded to Washington". Moline Daily Dispatch. Associated Press. September 28, 1963. p. 23. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "New Location Proposed For Interstate 24". Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois. July 16, 1961. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Recommend Paducah As Control Area For Interstate 24". Hardin County Independent. Elizabethtown. August 24, 1961. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Paducah Named Terminal Point For Route 24". Carmi Times. Associated Press. August 22, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Route 24 Decision in 60 Days—Gray". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Associated Press. July 24, 1963. p. 18. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Cairo Attacks 2 States On Interstate 24 Routing". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Associated Press. July 29, 1963. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Recommended Interstate Route Through Cairo". Alton Evening Telegraph. Associated Press. August 1, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. 1 2 Weingroff, Richard F. (April 10, 2019). "A Moment in Time: President John F. Kennedy Cuts a Ribbon". fhwa.dot.gov. Washington, D.C.: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  26. ↑ "U.S. Offered I-24 Routing". The Nashville Tennessean. Associated Press. September 29, 1963. p. 6A. Retrieved March 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "New Interstate 24 Routing Plan Presented To Kennedy". Illinois State Register. Springfield, Illinois. Associated Press. September 18, 1963. p. 3. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ Laycook, Lois (August 19, 1964). "U.S. Approves I-24 to Illinois, Bridge in Dyer". The Nashville Tennessean. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved March 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Eisenhower Interstate Highway System, Previous Facts of the Day". Federal Highway Administration. 2010. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  30. ↑ Office of Secretary of State (1967). Illinois Blue Book, 1967–1968. State of Illinois. p. 746. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2011 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  31. ↑ Office of Secretary of State (1965). Illinois Blue Book, 1965–1966. State of Illinois. p. 720. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2011 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
  32. ↑ "Bridge Work Authorized By State". Sun-Democrat. Paducah, Kentucky. June 12, 1968. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ Powell, Bill (June 26, 1968). "Work Begins On I-24 Bridge". Sun-Democrat. Paducah, Kentucky. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ Harrison, Karl (September 15, 1973). "Earlier Bridge Opening Seen". Sun-Democrat. Paducah, Kentucky. pp. 1-A, 2-A. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "21-Mile Section of Interstate 24 Opened Tuesday by Gov. Walker". Hardin County Independent. Elizabethtown, Illinois. January 17, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved June 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ "Traffic Flow Is Improved as I-24 Bridge in Operation". Sun-Democrat. Paducah, Kentucky. October 18, 1974. p. 1A. Retrieved June 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ Bartleman, Bill (May 22, 1980). "At Last, an Unbroken I-24 from Here South". The Paducah Sun. pp. 1A, 12A. Retrieved June 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ Powell, Bill (May 22, 1980). "After 23 Years, Final Link of I-24 Will Open Without Fanfare". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. pp. B1, B2. Retrieved June 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ "Interstate 24 Opened at Pulleys Mill". Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois. January 25, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved June 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2013). "T2 GIS Data". Illinois Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
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