Wikipedia:WikiProject U.S. Roads/Illinois/External correspondence

This page is for keeping track of external issues. Emails, interviews, and other forms of information that links can't cover can be placed in this sub-section. &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 21:43, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

Illinois Department of Transportation
The Illinois Department of Transportation has an online email question/submittal form here: http://www.dot.state.il.us/Email/Email.asp?from=1. They have been known to respond, though it does take some time.

Proper name for State Routes
Question sent 4 April 2006 16:40 CDT regarding terminology of state routes. Is it Illinois X, Illinois State Route X, Illinois Route X... &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 21:53, 4 April 2006 (UTC)


 * Reply from Lawrence W. Gregg (gregglw AT dot.il.gov)


 * Thank you for your e-mail concerning the correct terminology when referring to Illinois marked routes. I’m not sure there is a “most right” form anymore (if there ever was one) but “Illinois Route 1” would appear to come the closest.


 * In the 1920’s, routes were referred to most often as “Illinois Route 1” in formal documents. On official maps, however, they were often shown as “Ill. 1” and sometimes just “Route 1.”  When used in correspondence and documents where the subject is apparent, “Illinois 1” and even “IL 1” are often used today.  When route markers are not used, signing uses “Illinois 1,” although “IL 1” and “Ill 1” are sometimes used where space is a problem.  By-the-way, as additions to your list, you could add “State Route 1” and “State Highway 1.”


 * You might also run across “SBI 1.” In 1918, an organized system of state highways started with the first State Bond Issue (SBI) Routes.  SBI 1 paid for Route 1, SBI 4 paid for Route 4, etc.   Many of these old SBI numbers became the state route numbers.  For example, Illinois 1 essentially follows the old SBI 1 alignment.  Of course, many of the old SBI numbers no longer exist even as route numbers and new state route numbers have been added over the years.


 * So that should settle that. &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 19:36, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

M1-100 state route sign specs
While I have not posted the original email here (it was sent about 31 March 2006, but I can't be sure... the email form does not send you your own request) I have received specifications for the M1-100 state route sign specs. If you would like a copy, please message me. In addition, the state will post the information on the internet in the future. Thanks! &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 00:25, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Other Departments of Transportation - State Shields
This section specifically regards state shields of bordering states. Iowa and Kentucky use the typical circle sign.

Indiana
Sent request 22 May 2006 10:11 CDT for sign specs. Will post response. &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 15:12, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

Missouri
No email sent yet... and this is the jurisdiction of WikiProject Missouri State Highways anyway. Any updates will also be posted here, though. &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 21:39, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Wisconsin
Sent request 19 April 2006 09:53 CDT for sign specs. Will post response. &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 15:05, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
 * Received a response and specs from Matt Rauch (matt.rauch AT dot.state.wi.us) on 20 April 2007, 15:24 CDT. The specs are here for now. &mdash; Rob (  talk  ) 21:38, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

User groups
The roadgeek Yahoo! Group is an important source of information amongst nationwide roadgeeks. Some members of the group have access to offline historical maps, firsthand information, and other important references that can be key to completing Illinois highways pages.

Is the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway going to become Illinois Route 19?
Question sent 7 April 2006 regarding Elgin-O'Hare Expressway as Illinois Route 19:


 * ...I had heard that the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway in Chicagoland was fully bent on becoming the new Illinois Route 19, but I can't find any sources anywhere. There's plenty of circumstantial evidence, though (alignment is... close enough, obviously missing route signs on overheads). Did IDOT ever adopt, or scrap, the rerouting, officially?


 * Reply from jchoate:


 * I can tell you that before the EOE opened, at the intersection with Rohlwing Road and Thorndale Ave, the first westbound BGS did, in fact, have an IL 19 shield on it. I witnessed this several times as I passed it by on my travels to and from work, and wondered just what route IL 19 would take at both ends to get "back on track." On the east end, it was likely going to be a multiplex with IL 53 south to Irving Park Road. On the west end, my guess is that it would have exited at US 20, then multiplexed west with US 20 to Barrington Road, then head north on Barrington Road back to Irving Park Road.


 * That would leave the stretch of Irving Park Road between Barrington Road and Rohlwing Road as unnumbered - perhaps even slated to return to country control. But that's just a guess.


 * -jim

What is a Junior expressway?
Question sent 13 November 2006, reply from Rich Carlson follows:


 * This termed was used in the Chicago and Rockford areas for a couple different roads, most notably the Palatine Road already mentioned. It refers to a road with alternating grade separations and stop lights. Palatine Road, from US-45/IL-21 west to Windsor Drive (thru Northbrook, Wheeling, Prospect Hts and Arlington Hts.) has bridges at US-45/IL-21/Milwaukee Av., Wolf Road, IL-83/Main St., and the CN railroad. It has grade intersections with Wheeling and Schoenbeck Roads. It has 2 thru lanes in both directions and C/D "Local" lanes for both directions as well.


 * There are or were a couple similar roads in the Chicago and Rockford areas, I think there was one in the south or southwest burbs and one on the west side of Rockford.

The Chicago Tribune reported on the "Junior expressway" plan Aug. 5, 1958. William J. Mortimer, Cook County highway superintendent, describes a general scheme of building one along every fourth section line. "New Type of Road for Fast-Growing Area," a two-page article in Cook County Highways June 1963, describes the Palatine Road improvement and make general reference to the every-fourth-mile plan, but gives no specific alignments.