Interstate 270 (Missouri–Illinois)
Route information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Auxiliary route of I-70 | |||
Maintained by IDOT and MoDOT | |||
Length | 50.59 mi[1] (81.42 km) | ||
Existed | 1956[citation needed]–present | ||
NHS | Entire route | ||
Major junctions | |||
South end | I-55 / I-255 in Mehlville, MO | ||
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East end | I-55 / I-70 near Troy, IL | ||
Location | |||
Country | United States | ||
Counties | MO: St. Louis, City of St. Louis IL: Madison | ||
Highway system | |||
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Interstate 270 (I-270) makes up a large portion of the outer belt
I-270 between I-70 and I-55 was formerly designated I-244, a western bypass of
Route description
In Missouri, I-270 diverges from at I-55 as a 10-lane freeway heading west of I-55's route but still maintaining I-55's tendency to travel northward. I-270 intersects I-44 in a modified cloverleaf interchange that was rebuilt in the 1990s. Railroad overpasses and rocky bluffs between I-44 and Dougherty Ferry Road reduced the interstate to eight lanes for about two miles (3.2 km); however, this section was widened as of late 2013 to five lanes in each direction. I-270 meets up with I-64 with a stack interchange that was built from 1987 to 1993 (it was previously a cloverleaf that was a frequent source of backups).[citation needed]
From Dougherty Ferry Road through I-70, it continues as a 10-lane Interstate, although the right lanes often serve as exit lanes. The intersection with Route 340 (Olive Boulevard) was upgraded to a single-point urban interchange in the mid-2000s, and, during 2010–2011, the interchanges with Route 364 (Page Avenue) and Dorsett Road were upgraded with the latter becoming a diverging diamond interchange in October 2010.[3] Congestion in this area is severe to the point the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has spent millions on various traffic control improvements since the 1990s. One of the safety improvements is a "double white line" that motorists are not permitted to cross (violation of that could lead to a fine of $500) that is located at the exits for I-70 in the northbound lanes. Other safety implementations include a special Maryland Heights police cruiser that is dedicated to traffic enforcement on this section of I-270, congestion warning signs, and traffic cameras.[citation needed]
At I-70, I-270 makes a transition from a north–south highway to an east–west highway though not signed as such until James S. McDonnell Boulevard and will eventually become a six-lane highway by the time it reaches U.S. Route 67 (US 67, North Lindbergh Boulevard). It then meets I-170, which had its interchange rebuilt from 2001 to 2004 during which a left exit lane in the westbound lane was corrected. This section of I-270 was a source of frequent backups during the late-afternoon hours until the interchange was rebuilt. A fatal accident in September 1999 spurred the rebuilding of the interchange, although the accident did not occur at that location happening a mile (1.6 km) east of the interchange. I-270 then passes various streets where every westbound exit connects to Dunn Road (and one must use Dunn Road to access I-270 with the only exceptions being the Route 367, Lilac Avenue, and Riverview Drive exits). Since Dunn Road handles two-way traffic, this has become a safety and congestion issue that MoDOT wants to address in the near future.[citation needed] Since 2012, a pickle jar has been sitting on a barrier wall near the Missouri I-270 exit 9.[4]
At Lilac Avenue, I-270 constricts to four lanes as it crosses the
History
The section of I-270 on the Missouri side was completed by June 1964, while the section that was I-244 was completed by November 1968.[5] The section from IL 3 to I-55 in Illinois was finished by May 1965.[6]
During the Great Flood of 1993, the New Chain of Rocks Bridge carrying I-270 over the Mississippi River was the only bridge open from St. Louis to Keokuk, Iowa, at one point. (All other bridges from the McKinley Bridge to the Keokuk Bridge were closed at the peak of that flood.)
The last major construction project on I-270 occurred from 1995 to 1998. Both MoDOT and IDOT upgraded I-270 to modern standards from Lilac Avenue to I-255. However, this section of I-270 is still at two lanes in each direction.[citation needed]
On September 13, 1999, a fatal accident involving a tractor-trailer occurred in the westbound lanes of I-270[7] in front of the now-defunct St. Thomas Aquinas-Mercy High School (now North County Christian School) in northern St. Louis County. This accident sped up efforts that led to the I-170/I-270 interchange reconstruction that went from 2001 to 2004.[citation needed]
A major accident and fire from a FedEx Ground truck between the Route 367 and Lilac Avenue exits on October 28, 2002, forced detours and lengthy delays.[8][9]
There were plans to sign an eight-mile (13 km) section of I-270 from Glen Carbon to Edwardsville as I-870. However, this idea was discarded.[citation needed]
In 2008, MoDOT implemented new variable speed limits on I-270/I-255 with the normal limit being 60 mph (97 km/h).[10] However, due to complaints from the public, these signs were planned to be updated in 2011 to advisory signs.[11] A five-mile (8.0 km) section of I-270 between I-44 and Manchester was widened to five lanes in each direction, with work taking place between 2012 and 2013.[12] This section of I-270 sees up to 185,000 vehicles per day,[13] and peak hour congestion is common.
Constructions
IDOT wanted to widen I-270 from Lilac Avenue to I-255 from four lanes to six, but no money was available at the time of the proposal in 2007.[14] However, IDOT has announced that nearly $100 million has been programmed for replacement of the canal bridges between 2011 and 2016.[15] The canal bridges were replaced in mid-2014, and the old deck was imploded late 2015.
MoDOT has also identified the need of improving the I-270 corridor in northern St. Louis County, which could cost in the range of $200 million.[16] The agency planned to widen the freeway from US 67 to Route 367 and rebuild every interchange (except I-170) and overpasses in this section. MoDOT held a public study of this corridor and has a website of this.[17] Construction eventually began in spring 2020 and is expected to conclude in December 2023 at a price of under $300 million.[18][19]
Exit list
State | County | Location | mi[20][21] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis | Counterclockwise terminus; exit 197 on I-55 | ||||||
US 61 / US 67 (Lemay Ferry Road) | Southbound left exit only | ||||||
Concord | I-55 south – Memphis | Southbound exit and northbound entrance; exit 196 on I-55 | |||||
— | Chicago | Southbound left exit and northbound left entrance; clockwise terminus of I-255 | |||||
Concord–Sappington line | 2.162 | 3.479 | 2 | Route 21 (Tesson Ferry Road) | |||
Sunset Hills | 3.903 | 6.281 | 3 | Route 30 (Gravois Road) | |||
5.832– 6.503 | 9.386– 10.466 | 5 | St. Louis, Tulsa | Signed as exits 5A (east) and 5B (west); exit 276 on I-44 | |||
Kirkwood | 7.888 | 12.695 | 7 | Big Bend Road | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||
Des Peres | 8.729 | 14.048 | 8 | Dougherty Ferry Road | |||
9.855– 10.396 | 15.860– 16.731 | 9 | Lewis and Clark Trail (Manchester Road) | Also serves West County Center Drive | |||
St. Louis | Exit 25 on I-64 | ||||||
Creve Coeur | 13.847 | 22.285 | 13 | Route AB (Ladue Road) | |||
14.993 | 24.129 | 14 | Route 340 (Olive Boulevard) | ||||
Maryland Heights | 16.486 | 26.532 | 16 | Route D east (Page Avenue) | Signed as exit 16A southbound; western terminus of Route D | ||
17.082 | 27.491 | Route 364 west – St. Charles | Signed as exits 16B southbound; eastern terminus of Route 364, exits 20A-B on route 364 | ||||
17.945 | 28.880 | 17 | Dorsett Road | Diverging diamond interchange; orientation changes from north–south to east–west | |||
St. Louis | Signed as exits 20A (east) and 20B (west); exits 232A-B on I-70; access to St. Louis Lambert International Airport | ||||||
21.074 | 33.915 | Route 180 (St. Charles Rock Road) / Natural Bridge Road | Signed as exit 20C; access to SSM Health-DePaul | ||||
22.440– 23.122 | 36.114– 37.211 | 22B | Route 370 – St. Charles County | Signed as exit 22 westbound; eastern terminus of Route 370 | |||
23.137 | 37.235 | 22A | Missouri Bottom Road | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | |||
Hazelwood | 23.832 | 38.354 | 23 | McDonnell Boulevard | |||
25.257– 25.731 | 40.647– 41.410 | 25 | US 67 (Lindbergh Boulevard) | Signed as exits 25A (south) and 25B (north) westbound | |||
26.366 | 42.432 | 26A | Lambert–St. Louis International Airport | Northern terminus of I-170; exits 10A-B on I-170; full Y interchange | |||
26.888 | 43.272 | 26B | North Hanley Road / Graham Road | ||||
Florissant | 27.860 | 44.836 | 27 | Route N (New Florissant Road) | |||
28.375 | 45.665 | 28 | Washington Street / Elizabeth Avenue | ||||
29.875 | 48.079 | 29 | West Florissant Avenue | ||||
30.580 | 49.214 | 30 | Route AC (New Halls Ferry Road) | ||||
31.120 | 50.083 | 30A | Old Halls Ferry Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |||
St. Louis, Alton IL | Signed as exits 31A (south) and 31B (north) | ||||||
Bellefontaine Neighbors | 33.077 | 53.232 | 32 | Bellefontaine Road | |||
34.062 | 54.817 | 33 | Lilac Avenue | ||||
St. Louis | 35.167 | 56.596 | 34 | Riverview Drive (Route H) | |||
Mississippi River | 35.339 0.00 | 56.873 0.00 | New Chain of Rocks Bridge | ||||
Illinois | Madison | Granite City | 2.73 | 4.39 | 3 | IL 3 / Great River Road north / Great River Road Spur south – Granite City, Alton | Western end of concurrency with GRR; signed as exits 3A (south) and 3B (north) eastbound |
collector-distributor roads | |||||||
Pontoon Beach | 5.92 | 9.53 | 6 | IL 111 / Great River Road south – Pontoon Beach, Wood River | Eastern end of concurrency with GRR; signed as exits 6A (south) and 6B (north) | ||
7.16 | 11.52 | 7 | I-255 south – Memphis IL 255 north – Alton | Signed as exits 7A (south) and 7B (north) westbound; exit 30 on I-255 | |||
Glen Carbon | 9 | IL 157 – Collinsville, Edwardsville | |||||
11.87 | 19.10 | 12 | IL 159 – Collinsville, Edwardsville | ||||
Pin Oak Township | 14.57 | 23.45 | 15A | I-55 south / I-70 west – St. Louis | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit 20B on I-55 | ||
15B | Chicago, Springfield | Exits 20A-B on I-55 | |||||
I-70 east – Effingham, Indianapolis | Clockwise terminus | ||||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
References
- ^ DeSimone, Tony (October 31, 2002). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ FAI 270/FAP 413 Final Draft EIS Volume I (Report). 1983.[full citation needed]
- ^ "I-270 Dorsett/Page Project". Missouri Department of Transportation. October 17, 2010. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
- ^ "Mysterious pickle jar keeps popping up on a ramp to I-270". FOX 2. April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ deLeon, Peter; Enns, John (September 1973). The Impact of Highways Upon Metropolitan Dispersion: St. Louis (PDF) (Report). Santa Monica, CA: The Rand Corporation. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ Sonderman, Joe. "May 17" (PDF). St. Louis History. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
- ^ Rackwitz, Jim (September 14, 1999). "Massive I-270 accident leaves tangled, burning wreckage". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- KMOV-TV http://www.kmov.com/topstories/kmov_localnews_021030_270crash.10c641073.html.]
{{cite news}}
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(help)[dead link - ^ "FedEx truck crashes, burns on 270". Alton Telegraph. October 30, 2002. p. A1.
- ^ "Variable speed limit begins today on I-270". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008.
- ^ Leiser, Ken (March 9, 2011). "I-270, I-255 speed signs will be 'advisory'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ Leiser, Ken (February 28, 2011). "MoDOT plans to widen stretch of I-270". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
- ^ District 6 Traffic Volume and Commercial Vehicle Count Map (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Transportation Planning. Missouri Department of Transportation. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.]
- ^ "Transportation Infrastructure Proposals". Southern Illinois University. Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
- ^ District 8 Staff. "FY 2011–2016 Highway Improvement Program, District 8" (PDF). Illinois Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Keith, Kevin. "I-270 Improvements from McDonnell Blvd. to the Chain of Rocks Bridge" (PDF). The Case for Capacity. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
- ^ "I-270 North Project". www.i270north.org. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ "I-270 North Project". www.i270north.org. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ Payoute, Jasmine (March 5, 2020). "Major I-270 construction to begin soon | Here's what drivers need to know". ksdk.com. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (March 19, 2015). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ Street Atlas USA (Map). DeLorme. 2007.
External links
- Media related to Interstate 270 (Illinois–Missouri) at Wikimedia Commons