Elgin Bypass

Infobox road
highway_name = Elgin Bypass
marker_

alternate_name =
length = 5 miles (8 km)
direction = East-west
starting_terminus = Weld Road in Elgin
ending_terminus = Villa Street in Elgin
cities = Elgin
established = 1962cite news |publisher=Chicago Tribune |title=Elgin Bypass Dedicated by Gov. Kerner |page=10 |date=1962-12-01]
system = United States Numbered Highways

The Elgin Bypass is the common name for a four-lane freeway that carries U.S. Highway 20 around the city of Elgin in northeast Illinois. The highway forms a southern border to the Elgin street grid. The state-ownership of the land on the south edge of town for hospital and highway maintenance purposes eased the right-of-way acquisition. The highway is approximately 5 miles (8 km) long.

Route description

The bypass is not Interstate-standard, having narrower shoulders and shorter exit ramps than other Interstate Highways in the state of Illinois. The Illinois Department of Transportation's long-term plans show the eastern portion of the bypass transitioning onto the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway. No engineering or land acquisition has taken place for this extension as of 2007.

History

Construction of the Golf Road (Illinois Route 58) extension to Summit Street in Elgin was completed in 1932. In 1958, I-90 was built through the north side of Elgin, and on to O'Hare International Airport by 1960. In 1935, concerned about increasing numbers of traffic, residents of Elgin laid plans to build a bypass. U.S. 20 had been routed down Villa Street, Highland Avenue and Larkin Avenue through downtown Elgin. 27 years later, a section of freeway opened south of Elgin as the Elgin Bypass.cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ECNB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11BE8410272A3EC0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=Inroads, dead ends for woes in Fox Valley Targeting rush hour |date=2007-09-09 |accessdate=2008-03-02 |author=Gathman, David |publisher=Chicago Tribune]

The segment of the Elgin Bypass between McLean Boulevard and Grace Street (Illinois Route 25), including the Fox River bridge, was opened first. Later, the outer segments of the bypass — to Randall Road on the west, and Bluff City Boulevard on the east — were opened. On November 30, 1962, Governor Otto Kerner dedicated the Elgin Bypass.

From 1962 until 1984, the old route was designated Business U.S. 20.cite web |author=Carlson, Rich |url=http://www.n9jig.com/1-20.html |title=Illinois State Highways Page: Routes 1 thru 20 |date=2006-03-15 |accessdate=2006-09-18]

Exit list

Exits on the Elgin Bypass are not numbered. This table is incomplete. From west to east, starting west of the Fox River:

References