View source for Interstate 55

{{Short description|North–south Interstate Highway in the central US}}
{{Redirect|I-55|the Japanese submarines|Japanese submarine I-55}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=I
|route=55
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|type=line|from=Interstate 55.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=I-55 highlighted in red
|length_mi=964.25
|length_ref=<ref name="fhwa">{{cite web |author = Federal Highway Administration |author-link = Federal Highway Administration |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table01.cfm?redirect |title = Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as of December 31, 2013 |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |date = December 31, 2013 |access-date = August 19, 2014 }}</ref>
|established=1957
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{Jct|country=USA|I|10}} in [[LaPlace, Louisiana|LaPlace, LA]]
|junction=<!-- Major junctions only; Only 5-8 most major intersections and cities belong here; please read [[WP:USRD/STDS]] for more info -->
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|20|US|49}} in [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson, MS]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|69}} in [[Hernando, Mississippi |Hernando, MS]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|40|US|61|US|64|US|70|US|78|US|79}} in [[West Memphis, Arkansas|West Memphis, AR]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|57|US|60}} in [[Sikeston, Missouri|Sikeston, MO]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|44|I|64|US|40}} in [[St. Louis|St. Louis, MO]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|70|US|40}} from [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]] to [[Troy, Illinois|Troy, IL]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|74}} in [[Bloomington, Illinois|Bloomington, IL]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|39|US|51}} in [[Normal, Illinois|Normal, IL]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|80}} in [[Channahon, Illinois|Channahon, IL]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|90|I|94}} in [[Chicago|Chicago, IL]]
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{Jct|country=USA|US|41}} in Chicago, IL
|states=[[Louisiana]], [[Mississippi]], [[Tennessee]], [[Arkansas]], [[Missouri]], [[Illinois]]
}}

'''Interstate&nbsp;55''' ('''I-55''') is a major [[Interstate Highway]] in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, connecting the [[Gulf of Mexico]] to the [[Great Lakes]]. The highway travels from [[LaPlace, Louisiana|LaPlace]], Louisiana, at [[Interstate 10|I-10]] to [[Chicago]], Illinois, at [[U.S. Route 41|U.S. Route&nbsp;41]] (US&nbsp;41), at [[McCormick Place]]. The major cities that I-55 connects to are (from south to north); [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], Mississippi; [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], Tennessee; [[St. Louis]], Missouri; and Chicago, Illinois.

The section of I-55 between Chicago and St. Louis was built as an alternate route for [[U.S. Route&nbsp;66]] (US&nbsp;66). The Interstate crosses the [[Mississippi River]] twice: once at Memphis and again at St. Louis.

==History==
{{See also|Interstate 55 in Illinois#History}}
When it was realized that a national highway system was needed, the [[Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956]] provided for a highway replacing the old [[U.S. Route 66|US&nbsp;66]] which I-55 filled. I-55 was originally constructed in the 1960s, to extend a section of US&nbsp;66 between [[Interstate 294|I-294]] and [[Gardner, Illinois|Gardner]] which had been converted into a freeway and had Interstate signage installed in 1960. During the rest of the 1960s, I-55 was built in portions throughout Illinois, eventually connecting [[St. Louis]] to [[Chicago]], where it became the fourth direct route between them. As it goes southward, most of the Interstate was purpose-built during the 1960s and 1970s. The entire length was completed in 1979.

==Route description==
{{lengths table|length_ref=<ref name="fhwa"/>}}
|-
|[[Interstate 55 in Louisiana|LA]]
|65.81
|105.91
|-
|[[Interstate 55 in Mississippi|MS]]
|290.41
|467.37
|-
|[[Interstate 55 in Tennessee|TN]]
|12.28
|19.76
|-
|[[Interstate 55 in Arkansas|AR]]
|72.22
|116.22
|-
|[[Interstate 55 in Missouri|MO]]
|210.45
|338.69
|-
|[[Interstate 55 in Illinois|IL]]
|293.80
|472.72
|-
|Total
|964.25
|1,551.81
|}

===Louisiana===
{{Main|Interstate 55 in Louisiana}}
In [[Louisiana]], I-55 runs nearly {{convert|66|mi|km}} from south to north, from [[Interstate 10|I-10]] near [[Laplace, Louisiana|Laplace]] ({{convert|25|mi|km}} west of [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]]) to the [[Mississippi]] state line near [[Kentwood, Louisiana|Kentwood]]. Approximately a third of the distance consists of the [[Manchac Swamp Bridge]], a nearly {{convert|23|mi|km|adj=on}} [[causeway]], often cited as the third-longest viaduct in the world.

===Mississippi===
{{Main|Interstate 55 in Mississippi}}
In [[Mississippi]], I-55 runs {{convert|290.5|mi|km}} from the [[Louisiana]] border near [[Osyka, Mississippi|Osyka]] to [[Southaven, Mississippi|Southaven]] on the [[Tennessee]] border, just south of [[Memphis, Tennessee]]. Noteworthy cities and towns that I-55 passes through or close by to are [[Brookhaven, Mississippi|Brookhaven]], [[McComb, Mississippi|McComb]], [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], and [[Grenada, MS|Grenada]]. This highway parallels [[U.S. Route 51|US&nbsp;51]] in its path roughly through the center of Mississippi. The {{convert|8|mi|km|spell=in}} from Hernando to the Tennessee state line coincide with the newer [[Interstate 69|I-69]].

The Mississippi section of I-55 is defined in the Mississippi Code §&nbsp;65-3-3.

===Tennessee===
{{Main|Interstate 55 in Tennessee}}
I-55 in Tennessee lies entirely within the city of [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], passing through the southern and western parts of the city and providing a bypass of downtown for motorists who do not want to take [[Interstate 240 (Tennessee)|I-240]] and [[Interstate 40|I-40]] through downtown to cross the Mississippi River. The western portion of this highway, which passes through an industrialized section of the city, contains numerous low-clearance bridges and also a very tight 270-degree cloverleaf turn northbound at Crump Boulevard. The [[Tennessee Department of Transportation]] (TDOT) currently has an interchange improvement project for this portion. Heavy truck traffic heading to and from Arkansas in this area is hence directed to detour via I-240 and I-40.

For the Tennessee stretch of the Interstate, the usual national freeway [[speed limit]] of {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} is reduced to {{convert|65|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name=memphisvisitorsguide>{{cite web |title = Getting Around |url = http://memphis.cityvisitorsguide.com/gettingaround.htm |work = City Visitors Guide |access-date = August 24, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102542/http://memphis.cityvisitorsguide.com/gettingaround.htm |archive-date = March 4, 2016 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Arkansas===
{{Main|Interstate 55 in Arkansas}}
[[File:I40I55WestMemphis.JPG|thumb|left|I-55 splits from I-40 here in [[West Memphis, Arkansas|West Memphis]] and heads north toward [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]] and the Missouri border.]]

I-55 enters Arkansas from Tennessee as it crosses the Mississippi River on the [[Memphis & Arkansas Bridge]]. It overlaps I-40 for approximately {{convert|2.8|mi|km}} in [[West Memphis, Arkansas|West Memphis]]. After separating from I-40, I-55 turns northward and runs with US&nbsp;61 and US&nbsp;64 until US&nbsp;64 exits in through [[Marion, Arkansas|Marion]].<ref name="cri">{{Cite map |publisher = [[Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department]] |title = General Highway Map, Crittenden County, Arkansas |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/CrittendenCounty.pdf |author = Planning and Research Division |format = PDF |date = January 2, 2007 |scale = 1:62500 |access-date = April 26, 2012 |archive-date = February 26, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120226223642/http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/counties/county%20PDFs/CrittendenCounty.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> I-55/US&nbsp;61 continues north through [[Crittenden County, Arkansas|Crittenden County]] through rural farms of the [[Arkansas delta]], including an interchange with [[Interstate 555|I-555]] in [[Turrell, Arkansas|Turrell]]. I-55 passes through [[Blytheville, Arkansas|Blytheville]], where it has a junction with [[Arkansas Highway 18|Highway&nbsp;18]] (AR&nbsp;18) before entering Missouri.<ref name="mis">{{Cite map |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |title = General Highway Map, Mississippi County, Arkansas |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/MississippiCounty.pdf |author = Planning and Research Division |format = PDF |date = January 11, 2010 |scale = 1:62500 |access-date = April 26, 2012 |archive-date = January 15, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210115013658/http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/MississippiCounty.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> I-55 parallels [[U.S. Route 61|US&nbsp;61]] in its path through Arkansas, which it continues to do after crossing into Missouri.

===Missouri===
{{Main|Interstate 55 in Missouri}}
[[File:Interstate_55_at_Lindbergh_Blvd,_Interstate_255_&_I-270_exits_-_Mehlville,_Missouri,_1999.jpg|thumb|alt=Interstate 55 at Lindbergh Blvd|Interstate 55 at Lindbergh Blvd]]

In Missouri, I-55 runs from the southeastern part of the state, at the Arkansas border, to [[St. Louis]]. In the southern part of the state, I-55 meets [[Interstate 57|I-57]] in [[Sikeston, Missouri|Sikeston]]. Then I-55 goes north to St. Louis, where [[Interstate 44|I-44]] merges in with I-55, and then [[Interstate 64|I-64]] (on the [[Poplar Street Bridge]]), when crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois.

Among the cities and towns served by I-55 in Missouri are Sikeston, [[Cape Girardeau, Missouri|Cape Girardeau]], and St. Louis.

[[File:Interstate_55_South_at_Exit_174B,_US_67_South,_Flat_River_exit_(1991).jpg|thumb|alt=Interstate 55 North at US 67 South.|Interstate 55 North at US 67 South, Festus, Missouri.]]

As noted above, I-55 parallels US&nbsp;61 for most of its course through Missouri, from the Arkansas border to the southern portion of [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]].

===Illinois===
{{Main|Interstate 55 in Illinois}}
[[File:Northern_Terminus_of_Interstate_55.jpg|right|thumb|Northern terminus at US&nbsp;41 (Lake Shore Drive) in Chicago]]
Through Illinois, I-55 largely follows the 1940 alignment of the former [[U.S. Route 66|US&nbsp;66]], now Historic US&nbsp;66 (Illinois Route&nbsp;66 Scenic Byway). It runs from the Poplar Street Bridge in [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]] to [[U.S. Route 41|US&nbsp;41]] in Chicago, passing around the state capital of [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]] and the metro area of [[Bloomington, Illinois|Bloomington]]–[[Normal, Illinois|Normal]].

Within Illinois, I-55 goes by several names. Near the [[Interstate 270 (Illinois–Missouri)|I-270]]/[[Interstate 70|I-70]] split, it is referred to as the Paul Simon Freeway after former US Senator [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]], who began his political career in this region. Further north, between the St. Louis area and Springfield, I-55 is named the Vince Demuzio Expressway for former Illinois State Senator [[Vince Demuzio]]. Finally, in the Chicago area between the [[Interstate 80|I-80]] interchange near Joliet and I-55's eastern terminus at US&nbsp;41 ([[Lake Shore Drive]]) in [[Chicago]], the expressway is referred to as the '''Adlai E. Stevenson Expressway''' (previously called the '''Southwest Expressway''') in honor of former Illinois governor [[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai E. Stevenson II]], who was a two-time Democratic nominee for President of the United States and also the US Ambassador to the [[United Nations]] under Presidents [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. In July&nbsp;2018, the stretch of I-55 from [[Interstate 294|I-294]] to milemarker&nbsp;202 near Pontiac was renamed as '''Barack Obama Presidential Expressway''', after former President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nprillinois.org/post/illinois-highway-be-named-after-barack-obama|title=Illinois Highway To Be Named After Barack Obama|last=Mackey|first=Brian|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en}}</ref>

When the stretch of I-55 through Illinois was being planned during the 1960s, the state's governor, [[Otto Kerner Jr.]], made an effort to have it routed close to the larger city of [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]] instead of the straighter route through the Bloomington–Normal area. This ultimately failed plan was ridiculed in the press as the so-called "Kerner Curve". The need for a freeway connection between Springfield and Peoria was later filled by the spur route [[Interstate 155 (Illinois)|I-155]]. This also connects with nearby [[Lincoln, Illinois|Lincoln]] and [[Morton, Illinois|Morton]] and forms a triangle between the three population centers in [[Central Illinois]].<ref name="js_20000101">{{cite news |url = http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:PJSB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB6E83A6403BFAB&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title = Despite dead-end for I-55's Kerner Curve, I-74 changed area forever |date = January 1, 2000 |access-date = February 17, 2008 |work = [[Peoria Journal-Star]] |via = [[NewsBank]] }}</ref>

==Junction list==
;Louisiana
: {{jct|country=USA|I|10}} in [[LaPlace, Louisiana|LaPlace]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|51}} northeast of LaPlace. The highways travel concurrently to [[Hammond, Louisiana|Hammond]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|12}} in Hammond
: {{jct|country=USA|US|190}} in Hammond
;Mississippi
: {{jct|country=USA|US|98}} in [[McComb, Mississippi|McComb]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Summit, Mississippi|Summit]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|84}} south-southwest of [[Brookhaven, Mississippi|Brookhaven]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|51}} in [[Crystal Springs, Mississippi|Crystal Springs]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|20|US|49|US|51}} in Jackson. I-20/I-55/US&nbsp;49 travel concurrently to [[Richland, Mississippi|Richland]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|220|dab1=Mississippi}} in [[Ridgeland, Mississippi|Ridgeland]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|82}} in [[Winona, Mississippi|Winona]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|278}} in [[Batesville, Mississippi|Batesville]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|69}} in [[Hernando, Mississippi|Hernando]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Memphis, Tennessee]].
;Tennessee
: {{jct|country=USA|US|51}} in Memphis
: {{jct|country=USA|I|69|I|240|dab2=Tennessee}} in Memphis
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61}} in Memphis
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61|US|64|US|70|US|79}} in Memphis. I-55/US&nbsp;61 travels concurrently to [[Turrell, Arkansas]]. I-55/US&nbsp;64 travels concurrently to [[Marion, Arkansas]]. I-55/US&nbsp;70/US&nbsp;79 travels concurrently to [[West Memphis, Arkansas]].
;Arkansas
: {{jct|country=USA|I|40}} in West Memphis. The highways travel concurrently through West Memphis.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|40|US|79}} in West Memphis
: {{jct|country=USA|I|555}} in Turrell
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61}} in [[Blytheville, Arkansas|Blytheville]]
;Missouri
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61}} east of [[Steele, Missouri|Steele]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Portageville, Missouri|Portageville]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|155|dab1=Missouri–Tennessee|US|412}} in [[Hayti, Missouri|Hayti]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61|US|62}} in [[New Madrid, Missouri|New Madrid]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61|US|62}} north of New Madrid
: {{jct|country=USA|I|57|US|60}} on the [[Sikeston, Missouri|Sikeston]]–[[Miner, Missouri|Miner]] city line
: {{jct|country=USA|US|62}} in Miner
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61}} in [[Scott City, Missouri|Scott City]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Cape Girardeau, Missouri|Cape Cirardeau]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61}} in Cape Girardeau
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61}} north-northeast of [[Jackson, Missouri|Jackson]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|61}} south-southeast of [[Festus, Missouri|Festus]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|67}} in Festus
: {{jct|state=MO|I|255|I|270}} on the [[Concord, Missouri|Concord]]–[[Mehlville, Missouri|Mehlville]] CDP line
: {{jct|country=USA|US|50|US|61|US|67}} on the Concord–[[Green Park, Missouri|Green Park]]–Mehlville line
: {{jct|country=USA|I|44}} on the [[McKinley Heights, St. Louis|McKinley Heights]]–[[Soulard, St. Louis|Soulard]], [[St. Louis]] neighborhood line. The highways travel concurrently to [[Downtown St. Louis]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|44|I|64|US|40}} in Downtown, St. Louis. I-55/I-64 travels concurrently to [[East St. Louis, Illinois]]. I-55/US&nbsp;40 travels concurrently to [[Troy, Illinois]].
;Illinois
: {{jct|country=USA|I|64|I|70}} in East St. Louis. I-55/I-70 travels concurrently to northwest of Troy.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|255}} in [[Collinsville, Illinois|Collinsville]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|70|I|270|dab2=Illinois–Missouri}} northwest of Troy
: {{jct|country=USA|I|72|US|36}} in [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]. The highways travel concurrently through Springfield.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|155|dab1=Illinois}} northwest of [[Lincoln, Illinois|Lincoln]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|136}} southeast of [[McLean, Illinois|McLean]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|74|US|51}} in [[Bloomington, Illinois|Bloomington]]. I-55/I-74 travels concurrently to northwest of [[Normal, Illinois|Normal]]. I-55/US&nbsp;51 travels concurrently to Normal.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|150}} in Bloomington
: {{jct|country=USA|I|39|US|51}} in Normal
: {{jct|country=USA|US|24}} in [[Chenoa, Illinois|Chenoa]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|6}} in [[Channahon, Illinois|Channahon]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|80}} in Channahon
: {{jct|country=USA|US|52}} in [[Shorewood, Illinois|Shorewood]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|30}} in [[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|355}} on the [[Bolingbrook, Illinois|Bolingbrook]]–[[Woodridge, Illinois|Woodridge]] village line
: {{jct|country=USA|I|294}} on the [[Burr Ridge, Illinois|Burr Ridge]]–[[Indian Head Park, Illinois|Indian Head Park]]–[[Countryside, Illinois|Countryside]] village line
: {{jct|country=USA|US|12|US|20|US|45}} on the Countryside–[[Hodgkins, Illinois|Hodgkins]] village line
: {{jct|country=USA|I|90|I|94}} in [[Armour Square, Chicago|Armour Square]], [[Chicago]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|41}} in [[Near South Side, Chicago|Near South Side]], Chicago
<ref name=randmcnally>{{cite book |author = Rand McNally |year = 2014 |title = The Road Atlas |edition = Walmart |location = Chicago |publisher = Rand McNally |pages = 11, 32-33, 44, 56, 59, 94|isbn = 978-0-528-00771-2}}</ref>

==Auxiliary routes==
*Spur to [[Jonesboro, Arkansas]]: [[Interstate 555|I-555]]
*[[Caruthersville, Missouri]] to [[Dyersburg, Tennessee]]: [[Interstate 155 (Missouri–Tennessee)|I-155]]
*[[St. Louis, Missouri]], area: [[Interstate 255|I-255]]
*Spur to [[Peoria, Illinois]]: [[Interstate 155 (Illinois)|I-155]]
*In the western suburbs of [[Chicago, Illinois]]: [[Interstate 355|I-355]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Interstate 55}}
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
* {{osmrelation-inline}}
* [http://highwayexplorer.com/il_EndsPage.php?id=3055&section=1 Illinois Highway Ends: Interstate 55]

{{interstates}}
{{I-55 aux}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Interstate 55| ]]
[[Category:Interstate Highway System|55]]