Illinois Route 2
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by IDOT | ||||
| Length: | 73.91 mi[1] (118.95 km) | |||
| Existed: | November 5, 1918[2] – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: |
 IL 40 in Sterling | |||
  IL 26 / US 52 in Dixon US 20 in Rockford | ||||
| North end: |
 WIS 213 at South Beloit | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Whiteside, Lee, Ogle, Winnebago | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Illinois Route 2 is a north–south state road in northern Illinois. It currently starts at Illinois Route 40 in Sterling and ends at the Wisconsin state line in South Beloit, very near the intersection with U.S. Route 51, Illinois Route 75 and Illinois Route 251.[3] Illinois 2 is 73.91 miles (118.95 km) long.[1]
Route description
Illinois 2 follows the Rock River from Rock Island to South Beloit. It was used in the 19th century as a primary trading route from Rockford to Rock Island, The Rock River was not used as a trading route for boats as it is only navigable west of Rock Falls.
Illinois 2 has since been superseded by Interstate 39 and Interstate 88 for most ground transportation, but the original route remains.
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Illinois 2 was designated a Blue Star Memorial Highway on November 4, 1970. The sign can be found in a wayside just west of the Winnebago County line in Ogle County along the Rock River.
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Major intersections
| County | Location | mi[1][4] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiteside | Sterling | 0.0 | 0.0 |   IL 40 (Locust Street, 1st Avenue) to I-88 / US 30 | Southern terminus |
| Lee | Dixon | 12.3 | 19.8 | US 52 west / IL 26 north (N. Galena Avenue) | South end of US 52/IL 26 overlap |
| 12.7 | 20.4 | US 52 east / IL 26 south (S. Galena Avenue) | North end of US 52/IL 26 overlap | ||
| Ogle | Oregon | 28.6 | 46.0 |  IL 64 (Washington Street) | |
| Byron | 37.9 | 61.0 |  IL 72 west | South end of IL 72 overlap | |
| 39.2 | 63.1 | IL 72 east | North end of IL 72 overlap | ||
| Winnebago | Rockford | 50.6 | 81.4 | US 20 | |
| 54.9 | 88.4 |  US 20 Bus. (Chestnut Street, Jefferson Street) | |||
| South Beloit | 69.1 | 111.2 |  IL 75 west (Blackhawk Boulevard) | South end of IL 75 overlap | |
| 71.4 | 114.9 | IL 75 east (Gardner Street) | North end of IL 75 overlap | ||
| 71.6 | 115.2 | WIS 213 | Northern terminus | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
- 1 2 3 Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2007). "T2 GIS Data". Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ↑ Carlson, Rick. Illinois State Highways Page: Routes 1 thru 20. Last updated March 15, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2006.
- ↑ Illinois Highway Ends. Illinois 2. Retrieved May 2, 2006.
- ↑ Google Maps estimate