U.S. Route 45 (Illinois)

Northern Entrance: Wisconsin State Line, east of Antioch

Length: 429 miles

Counties: Massac, Johnson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, White, Wayne, Clay, Effingham, Shelby, Cumberland, Coles, Douglas, Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Will, Cook, Lake

Routing: US 45, one of the longest routes in Illinois, traverses the eastern portion of the state.  Between Effingham and the southern suburbs of Chicago, US 45 never strays more than 8 miles away from I-57.  Through the Chicago area, US 45 traverses the immediate western and northwestern suburbs, staying within close proximity of the Tri-State Tollway (I-294 and I-94) all the way up to the Wisconsin State Line.

< Photo by Dan Garnell

View looking southerly along US-12/20/45 through Countryside just south of the I-55 interchange.  US-45 serves as a high-speed connector road between I-55 and the Tri-State Tollway.

Photographer: Scott Steeves

Date: 7/07/2008

High Res (256 kb)

"Welcome to Illinois" sign greeting motorists on US 45 South about 2 blocks south of the Wisconsin State Line.

Photographer: Dan Garnell

Date: 6/14/2008

High Res (256 kb)

First US 45 South reassurance marker into the Land of Lincoln, located just south of the signalized intersection with Wisconsin CTH-WG, whose center-line straddles the border between Illinois and Wisconsin.

Photographer: Dan Garnell

Date: 6/14/2008

High Res (277 kb)