Illinois Route 147

Infobox Illinois state route
article_route = 147
length_mi = 12.81
length_round = 2
length_ref = cite web |author=Illinois Technology Transfer Center |url=http://www.dot.state.il.us/gist2/select.html |title=T2 GIS Data |accessdate=2007-11-08 |date=2006]
direction = East-west
starting_terminus =
ending_terminus =
counties = Johnson, Pope
cities = None
established = 1947Carlson, Rich. [http://www.n9jig.com/141-160.html Illinois Highways Page: Routes 141 thru 160] . Last updated April 15, 2005. Retrieved June 28, 2006.]
prev_route = 146
next_route = 148
see_also =

Illinois Route 147 is an east-west state road in southern Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 146 east of Vienna (very near an interchange with Interstate 24) to Illinois Route 145 in Glendale. This is a distance of convert|12.81|mi|km|2.

Route description

Illinois 147 is a two-lane surface road for its entire length. It runs through central portions of Shawnee National Forest. Illinois 147 also serves Simpson.

History

SBI Route 147 was originally the road from Marion to Cairo; in 1942, this road became Illinois Route 37. Illinois 147 then replaced what was "Illinois Route 142A" from McLeansboro to Wayne City. In 1947, Illinois 142A became Illinois Route 142; Illinois 147 was again moved to its current Vienna-to-Glendale routing.

The Route is noted for the deplorable condition of the road surface beyond the first 3 miles east of Vienna. It is often said that the route should be downgraded from a state route to a county road with a name such as "The Simpson Blacktop" as it is commonly referred to as by locals. An area of the road near its intersection with Millstone Bluff road one mile east of its junction with Illinois Route 145 is noted for the high fatality rate from accidents in the area. 25 persons have died on that part of the road in the last five years according to an anonymous IDOT source, which is unusually high for such a rural area and lightly traveled road. The source also revealed that plans are in place to fix that part of the road, however no dates or timelines have been mentioned and what exactly is "wrong" with the road remains in speculation. The most notable accident of late in the area involved a 23 year old Eddyville woman, Michaella Grounds and her 16 1/2 month old daughter Addyson. The Chevrolet Trailblazer she was driving apparently skidded off the road onto the westbound shoulder (which there is not much of), was over-corrected into the ditch on the eastbound side of the highway and then came over the road again onto the westbound shoulder where it flipped and rolled most likely three times before coming to rest on the passenger side in the grass approximately 15 feet off the road. Michaella was killed, however the baby sustained only seatbelt rash from her car seat. The accident occurred within one hundred feet east of the Millstone Bluff sign on the westbound side of the road. Great care should be taken when travelling this route. It is indeed a shortcut perhaps not worth taking. As the Pope County Deputy said after Grounds' accident which is suspected to have involved a speed higher than the legal limit, "Those speed limit signs are there for a reason and on this road you just have got to realize that and abide by it. Somebody else is going to get hurt."

References