Illinois Route 5

Illinois Route 5 is a short state highway located entirely within the city of Peoria in Peoria County. Spanning approximately 2.29 miles (3.69 km), it functions as a critical connector between the Interstate 74/I-474 multiplex and IL 29 along the western bank of the Illinois River. The route is a key component of the local transportation network, providing access to the downtown Peoria riverfront and major commercial districts.

Route description

Beginning at a complex interchange with the I-74/I-474 concurrency west of downtown Peoria, Illinois Route 5 heads eastward as Adams Street. It traverses a densely developed urban corridor, passing near the Caterpillar Inc. global headquarters and the Peoria Civic Center. The highway crosses over several major rail lines belonging to the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway before descending toward the Illinois River. It terminates at a signalized intersection with IL 29 (Jefferson Street), just blocks from the Peoria City Hall and the Bob Michel Bridge.

History

The route was originally established in 1924 as part of the initial Illinois State Highway System numbering, running between Springfield and the Indiana state line via Decatur and Danville. This alignment was largely superseded by the creation of U.S. Route 36 in 1926 and IL 10 in 1937. By 1940, the Illinois Route 5 designation was removed from that corridor and reassigned to its current location in Peoria, replacing a segment of IL 88. The route's path has remained consistent since, though its western terminus was significantly altered with the construction of the I-74/I-474 interchange in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Peoria, Peoria County. {| class="wikitable" |- ! mi ! km ! Destinations ! Notes |- | 0.0 | 0.0 | – Bloomington, Moline | Western terminus; I-74 exit 92 |- | 2.29 | 3.69 | (Jefferson Street) / Water Street | Eastern terminus; access to Bob Michel Bridge |- | colspan="4" | |}

Auxiliary routes

Illinois Route 5 has no officially designated auxiliary routes, such as business or truck routes, under its current short alignment. Its primary function is as a connector between the Interstate Highway System and the state highway network along the Illinois River. For auxiliary routes related to the original, longer Illinois Route 5 corridor, see historical designations like IL 10 and U.S. Route 36.

Category:Transportation in Peoria, Illinois Category:State highways in Illinois