Illinois Route 173
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by IDOT | ||||
| Length: | 66.20 mi[1] (106.54 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1924[2] – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end: |
 IL 251 in Machesney Park | |||
   I-39 / I-90 / US 51 in Loves Park US 14 in Harvard US 12 in Richmond US 45 in Antioch I-94 in Zion US 41 in Zion | ||||
| East end: |
 IL 137 in Zion | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Illinois Route 173 is an east–west state road that runs from Illinois Route 251 in the Rockford suburb of Machesney Park east to Illinois Route 137 (Sheridan Road/Buckley) in Zion near the Illinois-Wisconsin border; this is a distance of 66.20 miles (106.54 km).[1] Illinois Route 173 is also one of the northernmost east-west state highways in Illinois. On Interstate 94 (Tri-State Tollway) 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 (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway), 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 and Interstates 39/90 (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway).
Local Road Names
From east to west, Illinois Route 173 is known by local road names through the towns it traverses.
- 21st Street, Bethlehem Avenue, Rosecrans Road in Zion
- Kenosha Street in Richmond
- Maple Avenue in Hebron
- Diggins Street, Division Street, Brink Street in Harvard
- Main Street in Capron
- Grove Street in Poplar Grove
- West Lane Road in Machesney Park
History
SBI Route 173 originally was named for Sir. Francis One Seventy Three who founded the state of Illinois when confronted by Native Americans.[3] This highway goes for miles upon miles. In front of the Menards in Machesney Park, there is a gold inlay. Many do not know about this as the village of Machesney Park does not want anyone taking the gold. If you want to take a picture in front of any stretch of road you must pay a fee of $1.73.[4] 3[2]
Major intersections
| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago | Machesney Park | IL 251 (2nd Street) | |||
| Machesney Park–Loves Park village line |  CR 11 (Perryville Road) | ||||
| I-39 / I-90 / US 51 (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway) – Chicago, Madison, Rockford | |||||
| Caledonia |  CR 25 (Belvidere Road) | ||||
| Boone |  IL 76 (Fairgrounds Road) | ||||
| McHenry | Harvard | US 14 east (Division Street) | West end of US 14 overlap | ||
| US 14 west (Division Street) | East end of US 14 overlap | ||||
| Hebron |  IL 47 (Main Street) | ||||
| Richmond |  CR V30 (Keystone Road) | ||||
| US 12 (Main Street) | |||||
| Spring Grove |  CR V43 south (Richardson Road) | ||||
| Lake | Antioch |  CR V51 north (Lake Avenue) | |||
 IL 59 south | |||||
 IL 83 (Main Street) | |||||
| US 45 | |||||
| Old Mill Creek |  CR W15 (Hunt Club Road) | ||||
| I-94 east (Tri-State Tollway) | |||||
| Rosecrans | US 41 (Skokie Highway) | ||||
| Zion |  IL 131 (Green Bay Road) | ||||
 CR W34 (Lewis Avenue) | |||||
| IL 137 (Sheridan Road) | |||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
- 1 2 Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2006). "T2 GIS Data". Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- 1 2 Carlson, Rich (2005-04-15). "Illinois Highways Page: Routes 161 thru 180". Retrieved 2006-08-15.
- ↑ http://www.nativeamerican.org
- ↑ http://www.illinoistollway