Illinois Route 161 Explained

State:IL
Type:IL
Maint:IDOT
Route:161
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:IL 161 highlighted in red
Length Mi:67.24
Length Round:2
Length Ref:[1]
Direction A:West
Terminus A: in East St. Louis
Junction: in New Baden
in Centralia
in Kell
Direction B:East
Terminus B: in Kell
Counties:St. Clair, Clinton, Marion
Established:1926[2]
Previous Route:160
Previous Type:IL
Next Type:IL
Next Route:162

Illinois Route 161 (abbreviated IL 161) is an east - west highway with its western terminus at St. Clair Avenue in Fairview Heights and its official eastern terminus at Illinois Route 37 near Kell. This is an official distance of 67.24miles.

The road continues, as various county routes, eastbound beyond Illinois 37 to Allendale at Illinois Route 1. To locals, this part of the highway is known as "The Extension", referring to the fact that road "Extends" on after its official end.

Route description

Illinois 161 runs along portions of what once was U.S. Route 50 west of Scott Air Force Base. East of Belleville, it becomes a rural, two-lane surface road. Inside the Centralia city limits, Illinois 161 is coupled into eastbound Noleman Street and westbound McCord Street at Schwartz Road.

History

SBI Route 161 originally ran from Belleville to Carlyle; in 1941 it was rerouted from Carlyle to IL 37 at its current eastern end, replacing IL 182.[3] In 1964 it was extended west to Fairview Heights.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Illinois Technology Transfer Center . T2 GIS Data . 2007-11-08 . 2006.
  2. Web site: Carlson, Rich . 2005-04-15 . Illinois Highways Page: Routes 161 thru 180 . 2006-07-22 .
  3. News: New State Road Map Completed. November 6, 2015. Edwardsville Intelligencer. March 22, 1941. 2. Newspapers.com.