Illinois Route 173


Illinois Route 173 is a east-west state road that runs from Illinois Route 251 in the Rockford suburb of Machesney Park east to Illinois Route 137 in Zion near the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Illinois Route 173 is also one of the northernmost east-west state highways in Illinois. On Interstate 94 traveling south from Wisconsin, it is the second road seen which has an interchange at that location. Similarly, when traveling south/east from Wisconsin on Interstate 39/90, Illinois Route 173 is only the third exit into Illinois. In 2008, the entirety of Illinois 173 has been designated the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway

Route description

Illinois 173 travels across relatively hilly northern Illinois from the Rockford area to Zion. This area is more densely populated than other portions of rural Illinois. It is two lanes for over 90% of its length.
In July 2007, a new interchange was constructed at Illinois 173, Interstates 39/90, and U.S. Route 51.

History

SBI Route 173 originally ran from near downtown Rockford to Zion. During the 1980s, when the village of Machesney Park was heavily developed and incorporated, Illinois Route 173 was scaled back and its western terminus moved to Illinois Route 251. From 1972 to 1994 the highway also assumed a portion of what is now Illinois Route 137 north to the Wisconsin border.

Major intersections