Illinois Route 137
Encyclopedia
Illinois Route 137 is a state highway in northeast Illinois
. It runs from the Wisconsin
Border north of Winthrop Harbor
south to North Chicago
, west to Libertyville
, and then back northwest to Grayslake
, terminating at Illinois Route 83
just south of Illinois Route 120
. This is a distance of 23.49 miles (37.8 km).
The eastern portion of Illinois 137 carries part of the Amstutz Expressway, a short freeway between downtown Waukegan
and Lake Michigan
. It is also one of two J-shaped state roads in Illinois
(the other being Illinois Route 157
in southwest Illinois).
(Milwaukee Avenue
). Between these segments, in northern Libertyville
, it is called Peterson Road, which continues west as Illinois 137 turns northwest. In North Chicago
, at the east end of the Buckley Road alignment, the route turns north where it cuts Naval Station Great Lakes
into two areas, and becomes Sheridan Road for most of its remaining length to the Wisconsin
state line. The exception is the Amstutz Expressway, which runs from Sheridan Road near the southern border of Waukegan
to Greenwood Avenue roughly 2 miles (3.2 km) north, where the expressway abruptly ends; Illinois 137 follows Greenwood Avenue west a short distance back to Sheridan Road and continues north through Beach Park
, Zion
, and Winthrop Harbor
before terminating at the state line. Wisconsin Highway 32 continues north as Sheridan Road.
The Amstutz Expressway is a short, limited-access road
located in downtown Waukegan. It was built in the 1970s to ease traffic in Waukegan’s downtown area, but is now also known as the "road to nowhere". The 2.9 miles (4.7 km), four-lane highway was intended to be a connecting route for the downtown area, but a critical link through the neighboring village of North Chicago
was never built, and the factories that the expressway was designed to serve have since closed. Today, the thoroughfare carries less than 15,000 vehicles per day. Because it is used so little, this short stretch of highway has been the setting for filming such movies as Groundhog Day
, The Blues Brothers
, The Ice Harvest
, and Batman Begins
.
In the early 2000s, proposals were made to remove the expressway, thus narrowing the space needed for roadway, and then moving the nearby railroad right-of-way to the unused expressway land as part of a revitalization project for the lakefront area. Illinois 137 follows the entire length of the expressway, and received this designation in 1994 when Illinois 137 was extended north to the Wisconsin
state line.
The Amstutz Expressway was named after Mel Amstutz, a former Lake County Highway Superintendent. In 2007, legislation was pending in the Illinois General Assembly
to rename the expressway, Bobby Thompson Expressway, after the former mayor of North Chicago. The bill received unanimous support in the Illinois House of Representatives
, but has not yet been voted on by the Illinois Senate
. This name change took effect in 2010.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. It runs from the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
Border north of Winthrop Harbor
Winthrop Harbor, Illinois
Winthrop Harbor is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and it is the northernmost city in Illinois. Winthrop Harbor's main claim to fame is North Point Marina. With moorage over 1,500 boats, it is the largest marina on the Great Lakes...
south to North Chicago
North Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago is an outer suburb/exurb of the Chicago metropolitan area and is an incorporated city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,918 at the 2000 census....
, west to Libertyville
Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
, and then back northwest to Grayslake
Grayslake, Illinois
Grayslake is a village in Lake County in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located in the Chicago metropolitan area, about north of Chicago’s downtown, west of Lake Michigan, and south of the Wisconsin border....
, terminating at Illinois Route 83
Illinois Route 83
Illinois Route 83 is a major north–south state road in northeast Illinois. It stretches from U.S. Highway 30 by Lynwood and Dyer, Indiana north to the Wisconsin border by Antioch at Highway 83. Incidentally, this alignment is concentric with Interstate 294...
just south of Illinois Route 120
Illinois Route 120
Illinois Route 120 is a major east–west state highway in northeastern Illinois. It runs from U.S. Route 14 near Woodstock to Illinois Route 131 in Waukegan. It travels a distance of and is one of the few roads that provides direct access from McHenry County to Interstate 94 in Lake County...
. This is a distance of 23.49 miles (37.8 km).
The eastern portion of Illinois 137 carries part of the Amstutz Expressway, a short freeway between downtown Waukegan
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
and Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. It is also one of two J-shaped state roads in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(the other being Illinois Route 157
Illinois Route 157
Illinois Route 157 is a north–south highway in southwestern Illinois. Its southern terminus is at Illinois Route 3 at Cahokia, Illinois and its northern terminus at Illinois Route 140 in Hamel. This is a distance of .- Route description :...
in southwest Illinois).
Route description
Illinois 137 is called Buckley Road in the northwest-southeast segment, as well as the east–west segment east of Illinois Route 21Illinois Route 21
Illinois Route 21 is an arterial north–south state highway in northeastern Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 43 in Niles to U.S. Route 41 north of Gurnee. Illinois 21 is 28.13 miles long....
(Milwaukee Avenue
Milwaukee Avenue (Chicago)
Milwaukee Avenue is a major diagonal street in the city of Chicago and the northern suburbs. True to its name, it once led to the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Starting with a short section at N. Canal and W. Lake Streets, it begins in earnest at the corner of N Desplaines and W. Kinzie Streets...
). Between these segments, in northern Libertyville
Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
, it is called Peterson Road, which continues west as Illinois 137 turns northwest. In North Chicago
North Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago is an outer suburb/exurb of the Chicago metropolitan area and is an incorporated city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,918 at the 2000 census....
, at the east end of the Buckley Road alignment, the route turns north where it cuts Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes is the home of the United States Navy's only boot camp, located near the city of North Chicago, Illinois, in Lake County. Important tenant commands include the Recruit Training Command, Training Support Center and Navy Recruiting District Chicago...
into two areas, and becomes Sheridan Road for most of its remaining length to the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
state line. The exception is the Amstutz Expressway, which runs from Sheridan Road near the southern border of Waukegan
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
to Greenwood Avenue roughly 2 miles (3.2 km) north, where the expressway abruptly ends; Illinois 137 follows Greenwood Avenue west a short distance back to Sheridan Road and continues north through Beach Park
Beach Park, Illinois
Beach Park is a village in the Benton and Waukegan Townships of Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,072 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Beach Park is located at ....
, Zion
Zion, Illinois
Zion is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,866 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 24,303 as of 2005. The city was founded in July 1901 by John Alexander Dowie. He also started the Zion Tabernacle of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church, which was the only...
, and Winthrop Harbor
Winthrop Harbor, Illinois
Winthrop Harbor is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and it is the northernmost city in Illinois. Winthrop Harbor's main claim to fame is North Point Marina. With moorage over 1,500 boats, it is the largest marina on the Great Lakes...
before terminating at the state line. Wisconsin Highway 32 continues north as Sheridan Road.
The Amstutz Expressway is a short, limited-access road
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
located in downtown Waukegan. It was built in the 1970s to ease traffic in Waukegan’s downtown area, but is now also known as the "road to nowhere". The 2.9 miles (4.7 km), four-lane highway was intended to be a connecting route for the downtown area, but a critical link through the neighboring village of North Chicago
North Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago is an outer suburb/exurb of the Chicago metropolitan area and is an incorporated city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,918 at the 2000 census....
was never built, and the factories that the expressway was designed to serve have since closed. Today, the thoroughfare carries less than 15,000 vehicles per day. Because it is used so little, this short stretch of highway has been the setting for filming such movies as Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day (film)
Groundhog Day is a 1993 American comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. It was written by Ramis and Danny Rubin, based on a story by Rubin....
, The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers (film)
The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from a musical sketch on the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. It features musical numbers by R&B and soul singers James...
, The Ice Harvest
The Ice Harvest
The Ice Harvest is a 2005 dark comedy/drama film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Richard Russo and Robert Benton, based on the novel of the same name by Scott Phillips. It stars John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, Randy Quaid, and Oliver Platt...
, and Batman Begins
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is a 2005 American superhero action film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Batman, along with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson,...
.
In the early 2000s, proposals were made to remove the expressway, thus narrowing the space needed for roadway, and then moving the nearby railroad right-of-way to the unused expressway land as part of a revitalization project for the lakefront area. Illinois 137 follows the entire length of the expressway, and received this designation in 1994 when Illinois 137 was extended north to the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
state line.
The Amstutz Expressway was named after Mel Amstutz, a former Lake County Highway Superintendent. In 2007, legislation was pending in the Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
to rename the expressway, Bobby Thompson Expressway, after the former mayor of North Chicago. The bill received unanimous support in the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
, but has not yet been voted on by the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
. This name change took effect in 2010.