# Interstate 74 in Illinois

Interstate 74 (I-74) in the US state of Illinois is a major northwest–southeast Interstate Highway that runs across the central portion of the state. It runs from the Iowa state line at the Mississippi River near the city of Rock Island and runs southeast to the Indiana state line east of Danville, a distance of 220.34 miles (354.60 km). The highway runs through the major cities of Moline, Peoria, Bloomington, and Champaign.
The highway is officially named after Everett McKinley Dirksen, a Republican representative and senator from Pekin from 1933 to his death in 1969.

## Route description

I-74 in Illinois runs parallel with U.S. Route 6 (US 6) in the Quad Cities, US 150 from the Quad Cities to Danville, and US 136 east of Danville.

### Iowa state line to Bloomington–Normal

After crossing the Iowa state line and the Mississippi River via the I-74 Bridge (through arch span), I-74, as well as US 6, enters the city of Moline. At first, the freeway travels southward, meeting River Drive, Illinois Route 92 (IL 92, 6th Avenue), 7th Avenue, Avenue of the Cities, and IL 5 (John Deere Road), before reaching I-280. Near the Quad Cities International Airport, I-74 turns eastward along I-280 while US 6 continues south for a short distance. Southeast of Colona, I-280 ends at the Big X interchange while I-74 turns southward via ramps. This interchange is also where I-80 turns east via ramps. At this point, I-74 runs along IL 110 all the way to Galesburg. Along the way, the freeway comes across IL 81 and IL 17 before meeting US 34. At this point, IL 110 travels west along US 34 while I-74 continues south.
East of Galesburg, I-74 begins to curve southeastward. Along the way, it meets US 150 in Knoxville, local roads near Brimfield, and one near Kickapoo before meeting I-474/IL 6. I-474 serves as a southern bypass of Peoria. Along the way through Peoria, it comes across Sterling Avenue, then US 150, Gale Avenue, University Street, IL 40, IL 29 (where they become concurrent), and the Murray Baker Bridge. East of Peoria, the freeway then meets IL 40 (Riverfront Drive), US 24/US 150/IL 29 (where IL 29 leaves the concurrency)/IL 116, US 150/IL 8, and Pinecrest Drive, before meeting I-474 again. After the I-474 interchange, it then meets the I-155 interchange, as well as Morton Avenue, in Morton. The freeway then meets IL 117 in Goodfield, a local road near Carlock, and US 150 near Yuton. As it approaches Normal, I-74 then meets I-55/US 51 at a trumpet interchange, which then turns south.

### Bloomington–Normal to Indiana state line

The concurrency then meets US 150 in Bloomington before I-55 branches southwestward at the I-55 Business (I-55 Bus.) interchange. After that, US 51 branches southward at US 51 Bus. I-74 then travels southeastward at this point. Along the way, it meets two local roads serving Downs and Le Roy, respectively; US 136; IL 54; another local road near Mansfield; IL 47; and another local road near Mahomet. As it approaches Champaign, it then comes across I-57, then Prospect Avenue, and then Neil Street. For Urbana, it serves Lincoln Avenue, US 45, and IL 130. After leaving the city of Urbana, it then serves two local roads for St. Joseph and Ogden, IL 49, another local road for Oakwood, and US 150. At this point, I-74 becomes a freeway bypass of Danville. In Tilton, it serves G Street as well as US 150/IL 1. After crossing the Vermilion River, it then meets Bowman Road and Lynch Road. Shortly after the Lynch Road interchange, I-74 crosses the Indiana state line.

## History

Construction of original road began in 1956, with the first portion opened by 1958. South of Moline, the bridges over the Rock River were completed some years before they were opened to traffic. They were finally put into service on October 7, 1964, when a temporary terminus on 27th Street was opened. The section of Interstate 74 from there through Moline was opened on December 10, 1975.
The Murray Baker Bridge was repaired in 1984.
In 1990 and 1991, as part of a proposed rerouting of I-80 onto I-280, there were plans to extend I-74. IDOT listed safety concerns and cost savings as the reasons to do so. Iowa officials challenged the reroute, causing the routes of I-74 and I-80 never changed.
In November 2006, major work was completed on the Upgrade 74 project for the portion of I-74 in the Midwest. This multiyear project, begun in April 2002, saw the complete renovation of I-74 through East Peoria and Peoria. Most notably, the Interstate was widened to three lanes through the cities, many blind or hairpin exits and entrances to the highway were removed or corrected, and many bridges crossing the highway were replaced. The biggest part of this project was to work on the Murray Baker Bridge, over which I-74 crosses the Illinois River. The bridge was completely closed to traffic while being partially demolished and reconstructed from April 2 to October 15, 2005. During this time, I-74 was disconnected between Peoria and East Peoria.
With designation of the Chicago Kansas City Expressway in May 2010, a portion of I-74 became concurrent with it.
In July 2014, a portion of the road was named for Ray LaHood.
In late March 2013, a complete $86.6-million (equivalent to $126 million in 2023) reconstruction of the Morton I-74/I-155 interchange, started its beginning phases (Morton, a hub for the two Interstates and the site of facilities for Caterpillar Inc., PepsiCo, and Libby's, is a growing Peoria suburb, across the Illinois River, east of East Peoria and Pekin, in Tazewell County). This latest project was scheduled to be finished by mid-2016, and the reconstruction was being scheduled in phases to minimize traffic disruption.
In 2020, the Murray Baker Bridge was closed for seven months for a $42.2-million project. At the end of October, it reopened with new decorative lighting, a new deck, and traffic signals.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) planned to build a new bridge to replace the obsolete I-74 Bridges. The Iowa-bound bridge opened in 1935; the Illinois-bound bridge in 1959. In addition to replacing the twin bridges, the scope of the bistate coalition's plan includes updating seven miles (11 km) of I-74 mainline and interchanges from 53rd Street in Davenport to the Avenue of the Cities in Moline. The new twin span fully opened on December 1, 2021.

## Exit list

| County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
| Mississippi River | Mississippi River | 0.00 | 0.00 | | I-74 west / US 6 west – Davenport | Continuation into Iowa |
| I-74 Bridge |||
| Rock Island | Moline | 0.64 | 1.03 | 1A | To IL 92 / River Drive / 3rd Avenue | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only |
| Rock Island | Moline | 0.94– 1.17 | 1.51– 1.88 | 1B (EB)2 (WB) | IL 92 east (6th Avenue) To IL 92 / 7th Avenue | |
| Rock Island | Moline | 2.09 | 3.36 | 3 | Avenue of the Cities | |
| Rock Island | Moline | 3.59 | 5.78 | 4 | IL 5 (John Deere Road) to I-88 | Signed as exits 4A (west) and 4B (east) |
| Rock Island | Moline | 4.51 | 7.26 | 5 | I-280 west – Des Moines, Rock Island US 6 east to US 150 – Quad City Airport | Eastern end of US 6 concurrency; western end of I-280 concurrency; signed as exits 5A (I-280 west) eastbound and 5B (US 6 east) westbound; I-280 east exit 18B |
| Henry | Colona Township | 13.89 | 22.35 | — | I-80 / IL 110 (CKC) east to I-88 – Chicago, Des Moines, Davenport I-280 ends | Big X; eastern terminus of I-280; western end of IL 110/CKC concurrency |
| Henry | Lynn Township | 23.92 | 38.50 | 24 | IL 81 – Andover, Cambridge | |
| Henry | Woodhull | 31.89 | 51.32 | 32 | IL 17 – Woodhull, Alpha | |
| Knox | Galesburg | 45.50 | 73.23 | 46A | US 34 west / IL 110 (CKC) west – Monmouth | Eastern end of IL 110/CKC concurrency |
| Knox | Galesburg | 45.50 | 73.23 | 46B | US 34 east – Kewanee | |
| Knox | Galesburg | 48.09 | 77.39 | 48 | East Main Street – Galesburg, East Galesburg | Westbound signed as exits 48A (west) and 48B (east) |
| Knox | Knoxville | 50.87 | 81.87 | 51 | CR 9 – Knoxville | |
| Knox | Knox Township | 53.54 | 86.16 | 54 | US 150 to IL 97 – Lewistown | |
| Peoria | Brimfield Township | 71.15 | 114.50 | 71 | To IL 78 – Canton, Kewanee | |
| Peoria | Brimfield | 74.55 | 119.98 | 75 | CR R25 (Maher Road) – Brimfield, Oak Hill | |
| Peoria | Kickapoo Township | 81.78 | 131.61 | 82 | Kickapoo, Edwards | |
| Peoria | Kickapoo Township | 86.78 | 139.66 | 87A | I-474 east – Indianapolis | Western terminus of I-474; I-474 exit 0 |
| Peoria | Kickapoo Township | 86.78 | 139.66 | 87B | IL 6 north – Chillicothe | Southern terminus of IL 6; IL 6 exit 0 |
| Peoria | Peoria | 88.69 | 142.73 | 88 | Sterling Avenue to US 150 (War Memorial Drive) | Access to US 150 signed eastbound only |
| Peoria | Peoria | 89.15 | 143.47 | 89 | US 150 (War Memorial Drive) | Access from eastbound I-74 to westbound US 150 and from eastbound US 150 to westbound I-74 at exit 88 |
| Peoria | Peoria | 90.22 | 145.20 | 90 | Gale Avenue | |
| Peoria | Peoria | 91.41 | 147.11 | 91 | University Street | |
| Peoria | Peoria | 92.41 | 148.72 | 92A | IL 40 north (Knoxville Avenue) | |
| Peoria | Peoria | 92.41 | 148.72 | 92B | IL 40 south / Glen Oak Avenue – Downtown Peoria | |
| Peoria | Peoria | | | | Glendale Avenue | Former right-in/right-out; replaced by exit 92B |
| Peoria | Peoria | | | | Jefferson Avenue | Former interchange with no eastbound exit; replaced by exit 93 |
| Peoria | Peoria | 93.17– 93.26 | 149.94– 150.09 | 93 | To IL 29 north / Washington Street | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; serves General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport |
| Peoria | Peoria | 93.17– 93.26 | 149.94– 150.09 | 93 | IL 29 north (Adams Street) / Jefferson Avenue – Downtown Peoria | Western end of IL 29 concurrency; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; serves General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport |
| Illinois River | Illinois River | 93.36– 93.89 | 150.25– 151.10 | Murray Baker Bridge | Murray Baker Bridge | Murray Baker Bridge |
| Tazewell | East Peoria | 93.21 | 150.01 | 94 | IL 40 north / Riverfront Drive – Downtown Peoria via Michel Bridge | Southern terminus of IL 40 |
| Tazewell | East Peoria | 95.02 | 152.92 | 95A | IL 29 south / US 150 / US 24 / IL 116 (North Main Street) | Eastern end of IL 29 concurrency; signed as exit 95 westbound |
| Tazewell | East Peoria | 95.33 | 153.42 | 95B | US 150 / IL 8 east (Camp Street) | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| Tazewell | East Peoria | 95.52 | 153.72 | 96 | To US 150 / IL 8 east / East Washington Street | |
| Tazewell | East Peoria | 97.66 | 157.17 | 98 | Pinecrest Drive | |
| Tazewell | East Peoria | 99.00 | 159.33 | 99 | I-474 west – Moline, Rock Island, Pekin | Eastern terminus of I-474; I-474 exit 15 |
| Tazewell | Morton | 101.02 | 162.58 | 101 | I-155 south – Lincoln | Northern terminus of I-155 |
| Tazewell | Morton | 102.06 | 164.25 | 102 | Morton | |
| Woodford | Goodfield | 112.01 | 180.26 | 112 | IL 117 north – Goodfield | Southern terminus of IL 117 |
| McLean | Carlock | 119.83 | 192.85 | 120 | Carlock | |
| McLean | Dry Grove Township | 124.99 | 201.15 | 125 | US 150 (Rivian Motorway) | |
| McLean | Normal Township | 127.10 | 204.55 | 127 | I-55 north / US 51 north to I-39 north – Chicago, Rockford | Western end of I-55/US 51 concurrency; I-55 south exit 163 |
| McLean | Bloomington | 130.46 | 209.96 | 160 | US 150 / IL 9 (Market Street) – Pekin | |
| McLean | Bloomington | 133.34 | 214.59 | 134A | I-55 south – St. Louis, Springfield | Eastern end of I-55 concurrency; I-55 north exit 157A |
| McLean | Bloomington | 133.62 | 215.04 | 134B | I-55 BL north (Veterans Parkway) – Airport | |
| McLean | Bloomington Township | 135.20 | 217.58 | 135 | US 51 south (Main Street) / US 51 Bus. north – Decatur, Bloomington | Eastern end of US 51 concurrency |
| McLean | Downs | 142.21 | 228.86 | 142 | Downs | |
| McLean | Le Roy | 149.00 | 239.79 | 149 | Le Roy | |
| McLean | Empire Township | 151.79 | 244.28 | 152 | US 136 – Rantoul, Heyworth | |
| DeWitt | Farmer City | 158.74 | 255.47 | 159 | IL 54 – Farmer City, Gibson City | |
| Piatt | Blue Ridge Township | 165.86 | 266.93 | 166 | Mansfield | |
| Champaign | Mahomet | 171.51 | 276.02 | 172 | IL 47 – Gibson City, Mahomet | |
| Champaign | Mahomet | 173.40 | 279.06 | 174 | Prairieview Road | |
| Champaign | Champaign | 178.65 | 287.51 | 179 | I-57 to I-72 west – Memphis, Chicago, Decatur | Signed as exits 179A (south) & 179B (north); exit 237 on I-57 |
| Champaign | Champaign | 180.27 | 290.12 | 181 | Prospect Avenue | |
| Champaign | Champaign | 181.02 | 291.32 | 182 | Neil Street | |
| Champaign | Urbana | 182.30 | 293.38 | 183 | Lincoln Avenue | |
| Champaign | Urbana | 183.58 | 295.44 | 184 | US 45 (Cunningham Avenue) – Rantoul | |
| Champaign | Urbana | 185.05 | 297.81 | 185 | IL 130 (University Avenue) | |
| Champaign | St. Joseph | 191.90 | 308.83 | 192 | St. Joseph | |
| Champaign | Ogden | 196.41 | 316.09 | 197 | To IL 49 south – Royal, Ogden | |
| Vermilion | Oakwood Township | 199.42 | 320.94 | 200 | IL 49 – Fithian, Rankin | |
| Vermilion | Oakwood Township | 205.97 | 331.48 | 206 | Potomac, Oakwood | |
| Vermilion | Danville Township | 209.57 | 337.27 | 210 | US 150 (M.L. King Drive) | |
| Vermilion | Danville | 213.23 | 343.16 | 214 | G Street | |
| Vermilion | Danville | 213.95 | 344.32 | 215A | US 150 east / IL 1 south (Georgetown Road) | Cloverleaf interchange |
| Vermilion | Danville | 213.95 | 344.32 | 215B | US 150 west / IL 1 north (Gilbert Street) | Cloverleaf interchange |
| Vermilion | Danville | 215.48 | 346.78 | 216 | Bowman Avenue, Perrysville Road | |
| Illinois–Indiana line | Illinois–Indiana line | 219.33– 219.66 | 352.98– 353.51 | 220 | Lynch Road | Eastbound entrance extends into Indiana |
| Illinois–Indiana line | Illinois–Indiana line | 219.33– 219.66 | 352.98– 353.51 | | I-74 east – Indianapolis | Continuation into Indiana |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Closed/former Concurrency terminus Incomplete access |||||||
* ↑ Exit number follows I-55