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Interstate 72
Interstate 72
Interstate 72
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Interstate 72 marker
Interstate 72
Map
I-72 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT and IDOT
Length179.29 mi[1] (288.54 km)
Existed1971–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end


 US 36 / US 36 Bus. / US 61 (Avenue of the Saints) / Route 110 (CKC) in Hannibal, MO
Major intersections
East endUniversity Avenue & Church Street in Champaign, IL
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesMissouri, Illinois
CountiesMO: Marion
IL: Pike, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, Macon, Piatt, Champaign
Highway system
← US 71MO→ Route 72
← IL 71IL→ IL 72

Interstate 72 (I-72) is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. Its western terminus is in Hannibal, Missouri, at an intersection with U.S. Route 61 (US 61); its eastern terminus is at University Avenue and Church Street in Champaign, Illinois. The route runs through the major cities of Decatur, Illinois, and Springfield, Illinois. In 2006, the Illinois General Assembly dedicated all of I-72 as Purple Heart Memorial Highway. The stretch between Springfield and Decatur is also called Penny Severns Memorial Expressway, and the section between mile 35 and the Mississippi River is known as the Free Frank McWorter Historic Highway.

Route description

[edit]
Lengths
  mi[1] km
MO 2.04 3.28
IL 177.25 285.26
Total 179.29 288.54

Missouri

[edit]

I-72 runs for just over two miles (3.2 km) in the state of Missouri. Its western terminus is an interchange with US 61 to the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River. This bridge connects the city of Hannibal with Illinois. Presently, there are only two exits for I-72 in Missouri, only one of which is numbered

Illinois

[edit]

I-72 parallels the old Wabash Railroad from Hannibal, east through Illinois to Champaign, Illinois. The Norfolk Southern Railway operates this railroad route today.

In Illinois, I-72 runs for 182 miles (293 km). The portion of I-72 and I-172 from Springfield to Quincy is commonly referred to as the Central Illinois Expressway (CIE). As of 2007, I-72 has one business route; I-72 Business (I-72 Bus.) in Jacksonville.

Near Valley City at mile-marker 42 are the Valley City Eagle Bridges. These two individual two-lane spans bridge the Illinois River in rural west-central Illinois. Near milemarker 78, a sign marks 90 degrees longitude.

At its eastern terminus in Champaign, I-72 continues as Church Street (westbound) and University Avenue (eastbound), which stay as one-way streets for an additional three miles (4.8 km) into downtown Champaign.

History

[edit]
A section of I-72, north of Seymour, Illinois, looking west

First constructed in 1971, I-72 ran from Springfield at I-55 to Champaign at I-57 until the 1990s. On June 9, 1991, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved the establishment of I-172 from the western terminus of I-72 at Springfield to Fall Creek, four miles (6.4 km) east of Hannibal, Missouri, though it was contingent on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approval. The FHWA preferred to designate the route I-72.[2][3]

After discussions regarding extending an Interstate Highway through the state of Missouri, on April 22, 1995, AASHTO approved another renumbering. I-172 was renumbered in its entirety as I-72. The US 36 extension west of Fall Creek was also given the I-72 designation. The Illinois Route 336 (IL 336) expressway was renumbered to I-172 from Fall Creek to Fowler.[3][4]

The bridge of Interstate 72 and U.S. Route 36 over the Illinois River, near Valley City, Illinois.

Prior to September 2000, Mark Twain Avenue (old US 36) was composed of the current Mark Twain Avenue (now Route 79) and the portion of I-72 and US 36 west of exit 157 to the Hannibal city limits. Route 79 terminated at the foot of the old Mark Twain Memorial Bridge at the corner of Third Street and Mark Twain Avenue. Signs along the four-lane expressway portion of Mark Twain Avenue marked the route as "Future I-72", while signs along what is now Route 79 had I-72 trailblazers to direct drivers to the temporary terminus at Fall Creek, Illinois. When the new Mark Twain Memorial Bridge was completed in September 2000, I-72 was routed over the new bridge, along with US 36. Route 79 was extended along Mark Twain Avenue to terminate at exit 157.

Chicago–Kansas City Expressway

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The concept of I-72 across Missouri was to create the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway, a rural four-lane highway across northern Missouri and west central Illinois from Cameron, Missouri, at I-35 to Springfield, Illinois, at I-55. This would provide a series of rural four-lane highways (I-35, US 36, I-72, and I-55) connecting Chicago to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Corridor (High Priority Corridor 23). This would reduce the amount of through traffic, primarily truck traffic, in the St. Louis, Des Moines, and Quad Cities metropolitan areas by serving as an alternate route for I-70 and I-80. The Missouri portion of this route is designated as part of High Priority Corridor 61.

Based on the 157-mile (253 km) marker at Route 79, if/when US 36 is upgraded to Interstate standards across Missouri, the future western terminus of I-72 would be at Cameron at the intersection with I-35. Currently, the west end of I-72 route is west of US 61 and flows concurrent with US 36 into Illinois. In 2004, US 36 was upgraded to a four-lane expressway between US 61 and US 24 at the Rocket Junction (seven miles (11 km)). There are three exits along this expressway: Veterans Road, Shinn Lane (Hannibal Regional Hospital), and US 24 east at the Rocket Junction. Also, an interchange with Route 15 was installed in Shelbina.

Due to funding priorities, upgrading US 36 between Macon and Hannibal was a low-priority project and was shelved. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) committed to constructing the four-lane highway as an at-grade expressway only if the five counties served by US 36 east of Macon would contribute half of the $100 million (equivalent to $140 million in 2024[5]) cost. Road construction to complete the 52.4 miles (84.3 km) between Hannibal and Macon began in 2007. In August 2010, the four-lane expressway was completed from Macon to Hannibal, completing Missouri's portion of the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway.[6]

Future

[edit]

Plans exist to extend I-72 westward from its current terminus in Hannibal to St. Joseph, Missouri along the existing US 36, but the proposal was shelved for years despite most of the route being a part of the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway. In May 2023, Missouri lawmakers approved a $2.5 million study on the conversion of US 36 into I-72.[7] The extension of I-72 is seen as a way to relieve the pressure off of I-70 as well as reduce truck traffic in St. Louis.[8][9] However, in July 2023, the bill was vetoed by Governor Mike Parson who said that it was not the right time to run the study.[10] The extension to I-29 is listed under High Priority Corridor 61B, although part of it was for the CKC and not I-72.[11]

Exit list

[edit]
StateCountyLocationmi[12]kmExitDestinationsNotes
MissouriMarionHannibal0.0000.000

 US 36 / Route 110 (CKC) west – Monroe City, Kansas City		Continuation beyond US 36 Bus. / US 61
0.1840.296–


 US 36 Bus. east / US 61 (McMasters Avenue / Avenue of the Saints) / Great River Road – New London, Palmyra		Western end of US 61 Bus. concurrency
1.2261.973157





 US 36 Bus. west / US 61 Bus. south / Route 79 south / Route N north / Great River Road – Downtown Hannibal, Louisiana		Eastern end of US 61 Bus. concurrency; exit number based on possible future western terminus at I-35 in Cameron
Mississippi River2.056
0.00		3.309
0.00		Mark Twain Memorial Bridge
IllinoisPikeLevee Township1.201.931 IL 106 – Hull
4.256.844


 I-172 north / IL 110 (CKC) east – Quincy, Chicago		Left exit from both directions; I-172 exit 0
Kinderhook Township10.3116.5910 IL 96 / IL 106 – Payson, Hull
Barry20.2332.5620
 To IL 106 – Barry
New Salem Township31.3550.4531Pittsfield, New Salem
Griggsville Township35.0756.4435
 US 54 west – Pittsfield

 IL 107 north – Griggsville		Eastern terminus of US 54
ScottBloomfield Precinct45.9073.8746 IL 100 – Bluffs, DetroitDetroit signed westbound only
Winchester No. 2 Precinct51.9783.6452
 To IL 106 – Winchester
MorganLynnville Precinct60.5797.4860
 I-72 BL east / US 67 – Alton, Beardstown, Jacksonville		Signed as exits 60A (south) and 60B (north)
South Jacksonville64.15103.2464 IL 267 (Main Street) – Alton, Jacksonville
Pisgah Precinct68.56110.3468

 I-72 BL west to IL 104 (Morton Avenue) – Jacksonville
Alexander Precinct75.69121.8176Ashland, Alexander
SangamonIsland Grove–New Berlin
township line		81.99131.9582New Berlin
Springfield91.35147.0191Wabash Avenue
93.86151.0593 IL 4 (Veterans Parkway) – Chatham
95.67153.9796MacArthur Boulevard
97.16156.3692
97

 I-55 south / I-55 BL north (6th Street) – Springfield, St. Louis		Western end of I-55 concurrency; signed as exit 97A (south) and 97B (north) eastbound; signed as exit 92A (north) westbound; westbound I-72 exits southbound I-55 via exit 92B
99.61160.3194Stevenson Drive, East Lake Drive
101.56163.4496 IL 29 (South Grand Avenue) – TaylorvilleSigned as exits 96A (south) and 96B (north); access to Illinois State Museum
102.66165.2298
103
 I-55 north – Chicago

 IL 97 west (Clear Lake Avenue)		Eastern end of I-55 concurrency; I-72 eastbound exits I-55 via exit 98A, I-72 westbound exits itself via exit 103A; IL 97 signed as exit 98B eastbound; northbound I-55 signed as exit 103B westbound
Clear Lake Township103.58166.70104Camp ButlerAccess to Camp Butler National Cemetery
107.75173.41108Riverton, DawsonDawson signed eastbound only
Mechanicsburg Township113.82183.18114Buffalo, Mechanicsburg, DawsonDawson signed westbound only
Illiopolis Township121.88196.15122Mt. Auburn, Illiopolis
MaconNiantic Township127.11204.56128Niantic
Harristown132.77213.67133

 US 36 east / US 51 south – Decatur, Pana		Eastern end of US 36 concurrency; western end of US 51 concurrency; signed as exits 133A (east) and 133B (south)
Decatur137.51221.30138 IL 121 – Decatur, Lincoln
140.58226.24141
 US 51 north – Bloomington, Decatur		Eastern end of US 51 concurrency, signed as exit 141A (south) and 141B (north)
Whitmore Township143.81231.44144 IL 48 – Oreana, Decatur
149.03239.84150Argenta
Macon–Piatt
county line		Friends Creek–Willow Branch
township line		155.33249.98156 IL 48 – Cisco, Weldon
PiattMonticello Township163.40262.97164Monticello
Monticello–Sangamon
township line		165.38266.15166
 IL 105 west – Monticello
Sangamon Township168.39271.00169White Heath Road
170.95275.12172 IL 10 – Clinton
ChampaignScott Township175.72282.79176 IL 47 – Mahomet
Champaign181.13291.50182
 I-57 to I-74 – Memphis, Chicago
University Avenue, Church Street		Signed as exits 182A (south) and 182B (north); I-57 exit 235; roadway continues as University Avenue and Church Street
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
[edit]

Interstate 172

[edit]
Main article: Interstate 172
Interstate 172 marker
Interstate 172
LocationHull–Quincy, IL
Length19.69 mi (31.69 km)
Existed1995–present

Interstate 172 (I-172) is a spur route, the only auxiliary route of I-72. It is located entirely within the US state of Illinois and is completely concurrent with IL 110. The highway runs north from its start outside of Hannibal, Missouri, to about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of Fowler. At US 24, I-172 becomes Illinois Route 336 (IL 336), which runs north and east to Macomb via Carthage. The entire portion of I-172 and I-72 from I-172 east to Springfield is also known by its former name, the Central Illinois Expressway.

Jacksonville business route

[edit]
Interstate 72 Business marker
Interstate 72 Business
LocationJacksonville, IL
Length9.5 mi[13] (15.3 km)

Interstate 72 Business (I-72) is a business loop of I-72 in Jacksonville. It runs from the I-72/US 36/US 67 interchange southwest of Jacksonville north along the US 67 bypass of Jacksonville to the former alignment of US 36 (Morton Avenue). On Morton Avenue, I-72 Bus. runs east through downtown Jacksonville until it reaches I-72 at exit 68. This is a distance of 9.5 miles (15.3 km).[13]

Major intersections
The entire route is in Morgan County.

Locationmi[13]kmDestinationsNotes
Lynnville Precinct0.00.0


 I-72 west / US 36 west / US 67 south – Quincy, Jerseyville		Western end of US 67 concurrency; western terminus
Jacksonville2.74.3
 US 67 north – Beardstown, Rushville		Eastern end of US 67 concurrency
3.86.1


 US 67 Bus. north / IL 104 west		Western end of Bus. US 67/IL 104 concurrency
5.18.2Lincoln Avenue – Illinois College
6.19.8


 US 67 Bus. south to IL 267		Eastern end of Bus. US  67 concurrency
7.612.2
 IL 104 east		Eastern end of IL 104 concurrency
9.515.3

 I-72 east / US 36 east – Springfield		Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Interstate 72

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Interstate 72 (I-72) is an Interstate Highway in the that extends 179.29 miles (288.54 km), with a brief 2.04-mile (3.28 km) segment in and the remainder in . Its western terminus is at an interchange with U.S. Route 61 in , and its eastern terminus is at of . The route crosses the via the Bridge into , passing through key cities such as Quincy, Jacksonville, Springfield (the state capital), Decatur, and Champaign-Urbana. Much of I-72 follows a largely rural path, overlapping with and portions of Illinois Route 110 and Missouri Route 110, designated as the . Constructed in phases, the from Springfield eastward opened by , while the western extension to was completed in with the $51.45 million Bridge. A proposed westward extension beyond was denied by the Federal Highway Administration in 2017.

Route description

Missouri

Interstate 72 begins at its western terminus in , , at a with U.S. Route 61, approximately one mile west of the junction with Route 79. The route travels eastward as a four-lane divided freeway through the western outskirts of , serving local traffic and providing access to the city known for its association with author Mark Twain. After roughly two miles (3.2 km), I-72 reaches the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge, a four-lane truss structure completed in 1936 and rehabilitated multiple times, including restrictions in 2025 for maintenance. The highway crosses the on this bridge, entering Pike County, Illinois, and continues as a primarily rural corridor. No interchanges exist along the segment beyond the terminus.

Illinois

Interstate 72 enters Illinois from Missouri across the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge spanning the Mississippi River near Hull in Pike County. The highway proceeds eastward through rural western Illinois, initially passing north of Pittsfield and intersecting Illinois Route 106. It continues via Barry and Griggsville before reaching Scott County, where it passes north of Winchester. In Morgan County, I-72 serves Jacksonville, interchanging with U.S. Route 67. The route then advances into , functioning as a northern of the state capital, Springfield. Here, it intersects near its with Interstate 155, providing access to the via exits for routes such as Illinois Route 97 and U.S. Route 36 Business. East of Springfield, I-72 traverses Christian and Macon counties, bypassing Decatur to the north in concurrency with . Northeast of Decatur, the highway passes through DeWitt, Piatt, and Champaign counties, intersecting U.S. Route 150 near Monticello and Illinois Route 10 east of there. I-72 terminates at a trumpet interchange with Interstate 57 south of Champaign, where U.S. Route 36 continues eastward. Throughout its Illinois segment, I-72 maintains a full concurrency with U.S. Route 36 and traverses predominantly rural terrain, including a crossing of the Illinois River via the Valley City Eagle Bridges near mile marker 42. The total length in Illinois measures 177.25 miles.

History

Pre-interstate precursors

The principal pre-interstate precursor to Interstate 72 was , designated in as part of the emerging U.S. Highway and tracing its to the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway established in the early to promote cross-country automobile travel. US 36 provided the primary east-west artery through northern Missouri and central Illinois, connecting Hannibal on the Mississippi River eastward via Pittsfield, Jacksonville, Springfield, Decatur, and Monticello to the Indiana border, serving agricultural commerce and regional travel on mostly two-lane paved alignments improved during the 1920s through 1940s. In the Missouri segment near , US 36 followed upgraded local roads that had evolved from 19th-century wagon trails, including elements of the Three Notch Road dating to around 1735, though systematic paving and widening occurred post-World War II to handle increasing truck traffic. The route crossed the via the original Memorial Bridge, opened in 1936 as a toll structure to replace ferries and support US 36 commerce between and . Across , US 36 paralleled or incorporated segments of state highways such as Illinois Route 107 west of Springfield, forming a continuous but often congested corridor prone to accidents due to at-grade intersections and narrow lanes before mid-20th-century realignments. This network facilitated freight from Midwestern farms to urban markets but lacked the capacity and safety features that later justified interstate upgrades, with planning for a divided expressway along the US 36 alignment emerging in the early 1960s as the Central Illinois Expressway to address these deficiencies.

Planning and federal designation

The planning for Interstate 72 began in the early with the conceptualization of the Expressway, a proposed freeway intended to connect the Springfield area eastward to Champaign and westward toward Quincy, paralleling to enhance regional connectivity and economic links to the . This initiative addressed the need for improved east-west travel in , where existing two-lane highways like U.S. 36 faced increasing traffic volumes without adequate capacity for postwar growth. Initially designated as Illinois Route 336 by the state, the project was advanced through segmented planning, prioritizing the core corridor from near I-55 in Springfield to I-57 near Champaign. Federal designation as an Interstate Highway required approval from the (FHWA) and alignment with the national system's standards established under the , which emphasized controlled-access facilities for defense and commerce. The eastern segment from Springfield to Champaign received Interstate 72 numbering in conjunction with its construction phases starting in 1971, reflecting its integration into the broader Interstate network as a connector between major north-south routes like I-55 and I-57. This portion was fully completed and opened to traffic in November 1976, marking the initial operational Interstate 72 mileage. The western extension from Springfield to the Missouri state line, incorporating bridges over the Illinois River and upgrades to meet Interstate geometric and safety criteria, faced delays due to funding constraints and environmental reviews but was completed in November 1991. FHWA formally approved the Interstate 72 designation for this Central Illinois Expressway segment west of Springfield to Quincy—and by extension to the state line—on April 27, 1995, enabling federal funding participation and official signing. In Missouri, the brief 1.75-mile segment from the Illinois border to its western terminus at U.S. Route 61 in Hannibal was designated as I-72 following FHWA concurrence on bridge and approach upgrades to Interstate standards, solidifying the route's cross-state continuity.

Construction timeline

The primary segment of Interstate 72 from its junction with near , eastward to near Champaign was constructed during the 1970s as the Central Illinois Expressway, with completion in November 1976. This 75-mile (121 km) portion followed planning initiated in the early and addressed growing traffic demands in through segmented builds funded via federal Interstate Highway Act allocations. The western extension from Interstate 55 near Springfield to Hull, , near the —a 96-mile (154 km) corridor—was developed separately as the Central Illinois Expressway to link western communities and facilitate cross-river access. Construction advanced in phases amid state prioritization of rural connectivity, culminating in full opening on November 22, 1991. Initially designated as Interstate 172 by AASHTO approval on June 9, 1991, the route was reclassified as an extension of I-72 on April 22, 1995, with signage implemented within a week of April 27, 1995, to align with the existing eastern segment. In , the brief 2-mile (3.2 km) portion of I-72 west of the Illinois state line, concurrent with , was established via the replacement Memorial Bridge over the . The new four-lane bridge, dedicated on September 16, 2000, superseded the original 1936 structure to accommodate Interstate standards and enable the route's western terminus designation. This completion integrated I-72 into the national system, though further westward expansion along U.S. 36 to four lanes proceeded independently starting in 2005 without I-72 numbering.

Infrastructure and operations

Major junctions and interchanges

Interstate 72's western terminus is a (SPUI) in , with U.S. Route 61 (McMasters Avenue), from which it overlaps and Missouri Route 110 (Chicago-Kansas City Expressway) eastward for its brief 2-mile (3 km) segment in the state. This junction facilitates connections to the corridor northward via U.S. 61. An additional interchange with Missouri Route 79 in provides access to downtown areas. Upon crossing the into , the first major interchange occurs with Interstate 172 near East Hannibal, serving as the northern terminus of the 20-mile (32 km) spur to Illinois Route 336 and Quincy. The route continues eastward, cosigned with through rural western , with significant intermediate interchanges at near Griggsville and in Jacksonville, the latter featuring a that supports regional traffic to and from . In Springfield, I-72 meets Interstate 55 at a cloverleaf interchange, where the routes multiplex briefly for approximately 6 miles (10 km) and U.S. Route 36 diverges southward. Further east near Decatur, a partial cloverleaf connects to U.S. Route 51, enabling a short six-lane multiplex that bypasses the city. The eastern terminus is at a cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 57 southeast of Champaign, after which a 2-mile (3 km) freeway spur provides access to University Avenue eastward and Church Street westward. These interchanges, primarily cloverleaf and diamond configurations, accommodate high-volume traffic in urban segments while minimizing conflicts in rural stretches.

Maintenance history and challenges

The maintenance of Interstate 72 has primarily involved periodic resurfacing, bridge rehabilitations, and structural repairs to address aging infrastructure built largely in the . In , the Memorial Bridge carrying I-72 and over the near underwent lane reductions to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction starting May 12, 2025, followed by a full closure for up to 30 days beginning May 30, 2025, to complete structural repairs preventing further deterioration; the work concluded by June 17, 2025. In , the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) initiated a year-long resurfacing project on August 11, 2025, between the Old U.S. 36 interchange and U.S. 67 west of Jacksonville, involving pavement preservation and potential delays. Bridge-specific interventions have been recurrent. A 2011 routine revealed mine subsidence damage to the I-72 bridge on the east side of the River in Pike County, necessitating repairs. More recently, IDOT replaced the Bridge Street overpass in with an $8.3 million project, completing substructure elements including beams, piling, piers, and abutments by late 2024. Preparatory work at the I-72/I-57 interchange near Champaign began September 9, 2024, including crossover pavement construction for anticipated 2025 bridge reconstructions over I-57. Additionally, the replacement of the Old Illinois Route 47 overpass near White Heath in Piatt County started March 31, 2025, reducing I-72 to one lane in each direction through November 2025. Challenges include traffic disruptions from closures and lane restrictions, as well as the demands of preserving aging pavements and bridges amid increasing usage. IDOT's Rebuild Illinois program allocates funds for such efforts, including $34.9 million for pavement maintenance in Pike County from 2026 to 2030 and bridge deck overlays in Scott County. Subsidence risks from underlying mining activities and the need for coordinated interstate repairs highlight ongoing vulnerabilities, with Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation prioritizing safety-critical fixes over open traffic where possible.

Safety and incidents

Accident patterns and statistics

In Illinois, where the majority of Interstate 72 spans approximately 179 miles, state interstates collectively recorded 37,285 crashes in 2022, including 174 fatal incidents (134 urban and 40 rural) and 5,312 injury crashes. Specific data for I-72 indicate elevated risks in certain segments, particularly in Pike County, where the route experiences frequent severe collisions linked to its rural, higher-speed profile and intersections with routes like I-172; the county ranks among Illinois's most dangerous for crashes , with multiple fatalities reported, such as a 2023 three-vehicle pileup killing two occupants. Urban-adjacent interchanges show patterns of heavy-truck involvement; for instance, the I-57/I-72 junction in Champaign County saw 20 crashes with commercial vehicles from 2011 to 2015, contributing to broader freight corridor safety concerns in District 7, where I-72 segments exhibit above-average severe and fatal rates tied to truck traffic. Rural stretches, including those east of Springfield, report sporadic but high-severity events like rollovers and head-on collisions, often at mileposts near 114-119, as documented in investigations. The short Missouri portion, about 2 miles in Marion County near , sees minimal reported incidents due to low mileage and traffic volume, with statewide data not isolating this segment but noting overall interstate fatalities in Missouri at around 1,057 for across all routes. Comprehensive I-72-specific metrics, including annual vehicle miles traveled-adjusted rates, are tracked by IDOT and MoDOT but require query-based access via their crash databases rather than public aggregates.

Contributing factors and responses

Speeding has been identified as a significant contributing factor to accidents on in , with issuing citations for drivers exceeding 100 mph in a 70 mph zone, including instances of 109 mph and 115 mph recorded in late 2020 as part of a broader statewide trend of excessive speeds on interstates. Rural segments of I-72, characterized by higher posted speeds and lower density, amplify the risks associated with such behavior, leading to higher crash severities when incidents occur. Single-vehicle rollovers, often linked to loss of control from over-speeding or evasive maneuvers, have resulted in fatalities, such as the 2025 crash involving a Monticello teenager west of . Driver error, including failure to maintain lane or improper vehicle handling, contributes to multi-vehicle collisions, as seen in a 2025 two-vehicle crash east of Springfield that injured three individuals. Tire blowouts and mechanical failures have also played roles in injury crashes, exemplified by a 2025 incident in Sangamon County requiring hospitalization. Pedestrian-involved fatalities, such as a 2025 hit-and-run near New Berlin, highlight vulnerabilities at access points and shoulders. In the short segment, head-on and multi-vehicle crashes have caused deaths, including a 2023 three-vehicle incident in Pike County killing two. Statewide data indicates that decision errors (e.g., driving too fast for conditions) account for 33% of crashes, with performance errors like improper steering at 11%, patterns likely applicable to I-72 given its alignment with general interstate trends. Responses to these factors include enhanced enforcement by Illinois State Police, focusing on speed and impairment patrols, alongside infrastructure upgrades by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Resurfacing projects, such as the 2025 effort west of Jacksonville, aim to provide smoother surfaces reducing hydroplaning risks and improving traction. Bridge rehabilitations address structural deficiencies, like differential settlement on the Sangamon River Bridge, which compromised safety and necessitated repairs to prevent secondary hazards. IDOT's broader Rebuild Illinois program incorporates safety enhancements, including $16 billion in statewide highway and bridge improvements as of 2024, with I-72 benefiting from ramp patching and shoulder additions to mitigate rollover and merging risks. In Missouri, the Department of Transportation maintains crash dashboards for identifying high-risk areas, though specific I-72 interventions remain limited due to the route's brevity.

Economic and regional impact

Connectivity and commerce facilitation

Interstate 72 spans approximately 184 miles across , extending from its western terminus at U.S. Route 61 near —facilitating direct access across the via the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge—to its eastern end at Interstate 74 near . This routing connects rural western Illinois communities, such as those near Quincy (via Interstate 172) and Pittsfield, to urban centers including Jacksonville, Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign-Urbana, enabling efficient east-west passenger and goods movement within the state's agricultural and heartland. As a key segment of the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, Interstate 72 serves as an alternative freight corridor to the more congested Interstate 70 and Interstate 80 routes, linking Midwestern logistics hubs and providing access to north-south trade pathways associated with former NAFTA corridors. This designation supports regional commerce by streamlining truck traffic between Kansas City, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois, with truck vehicle miles traveled comprising 22.04% of total vehicle miles on the corridor as of 2007 data. The highway's infrastructure bolsters interstate trade between and by integrating with (overlapping much of its length) and riverine transport at crossings, forming a unified corridor that civic and economic development efforts have promoted for over 50 years to enhance , distribution, and agricultural exports from to broader national markets.

Development effects on communities

The construction and operation of Interstate 72 have facilitated commercial at interchanges, promoting growth in , retail, and sectors in accessible communities across west-central and northeast . In , the highway's presence has bolstered manufacturing and distribution by providing efficient links to and markets, with local economic strategies highlighting I-72 as a key asset for industrial expansion. Similarly, Quincy and Springfield have leveraged I-72 for enhanced regional commerce, including support for business parks and corridors that draw from interstate traffic volumes exceeding 10,000 vehicles daily in urban segments. In , the route's alignment through has aided workforce inflows, with over 3,600 non-resident commuters daily contributing to labor availability for local industries, though partial interstate standards along US 36 have prompted calls for full designation to attract freight-dependent firms. State funding of $2.5 million in 2023 for an engineering study underscores expectations that upgrades could yield measurable gains in site marketing and job creation, as evidenced by certified sites like Warren Head within five miles of the corridor. Conversely, I-72's bypass routing north of smaller communities such as Pittsfield, Griggsville, and Barry has reduced downtown through- by up to 50-70% in comparable rural cases, correlating with declines in local retail vitality due to lost transient customers, though regional access improvements have offset this via peripheral development. Empirical analyses of similar bypasses indicate net positive long-term effects on community through safer streets and time savings, with traffic diversion enabling repurposing of core areas but challenging small-town merchants without adaptive investments.

Future and ongoing projects

Scheduled improvements

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has programmed several preservation and rehabilitation projects for Interstate 72 (I-72) in fiscal years 2025-2030, focusing on pavement resurfacing, bridge repairs, and interchange enhancements primarily in districts. In District 6, reconstruction of approximately 5.2 miles includes intersection improvements, turning lanes, sidewalks, and utility adjustments, tentatively scheduled during FY 2026-2030. Bridge rehabilitation at the I-72/I-57 interchange near Champaign began preparatory work in September 2024, with structural bridge improvements set to start in 2025 and conclude in fall 2026; this will involve lane reductions and delays during peak construction phases. Pavement resurfacing west of Jacksonville, covering multiple miles in Morgan County, initiated on August 11, 2025, as part of broader efforts to rehabilitate over 3,200 miles of state highways by 2030. The replacement of the bridge carrying Old Route 47 over I-72 near White Hall in Piatt County, which reduced I-72 to one lane per direction starting March 31, 2025, remains ongoing through November 2025, involving full closure of the local road and new piling, beam, and deck installation. In , where I-72 spans a short segment near concurrent with , the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) completed rehabilitation of the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge in June 2025 following a full closure in May; no additional major interstate-specific projects are listed in the Northeast District's 2025 construction guide, though general rural road enhancements under the Governor's program target completion by November 1, 2025, potentially benefiting adjacent connectors. These initiatives align with state priorities for safety modernization and system preservation, funded through programs like Rebuild .

Long-term expansion proposals

In Missouri, a primary long-term proposal involves designating the existing corridor as an extension of Interstate 72 westward from its current terminus in to St. Joseph, where it would connect to Interstate 29. This approximately 200-mile extension aims to alleviate congestion on , a major trucking route between Kansas City and , by providing an alternative east-west corridor across northern . Proponents argue that US 36, which is already largely a divided freeway with interchanges, meets interstate standards in many segments, making the redesignation feasible with minimal new construction beyond safety and capacity upgrades. In May 2023, the Missouri General Assembly allocated $2.5 million in the state budget for a feasibility study to evaluate the conversion, including potential improvements to signage, ramps, and bridges to achieve full interstate compliance. However, Governor Mike Parson vetoed the funding in July 2023 as part of broader cuts exceeding $500 million from the $50 billion budget, citing fiscal priorities amid competing transportation needs like bridge repairs and rural road maintenance. The veto effectively stalled the initiative, though advocates, including regional economic development groups, continue to promote it as part of the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway vision for enhanced freight movement and tourism. No active long-term widening or lane addition proposals exist for the core Interstate 72 alignment in or , where current efforts under programs like Rebuild Illinois focus on preservation rather than capacity expansion. Further extensions beyond St. Joseph, such as to near Cameron, have been discussed in circles but lack legislative momentum or funding commitments.

Exit list

Interstate 72 begins at an interchange with US 61 in , which serves as the unnumbered western terminus. The route features one numbered exit in Missouri, using mile-based numbering aligned with the potential future extension along US 36.
miExitDestinationsNotes
157157US 36 Bus. west / US 61 Bus. south / MO-79 south / Route N north – Downtown Hannibal, LouisianaEasternmost exit in Missouri; serves Boyhood Home and Museum area.
I-72 crosses the Mississippi River via the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge into Illinois, where exit numbering resets to milepost-based from the state line eastward. The following table lists all exits in Illinois from west to east.
CountyLocationmiExitDestinationsNotes
PikeNear Hull11IL 96 / IL 106 – Hull, PaysonWesternmost exit in Illinois.
PikeHull44I-172 / IL 110 – Hull, QuincyAccess to Quincy via I-172 spur.
PikeBarry1010IL 96 / IL 106 – Hull, Payson, BarryDuplicate access near western end.
PikeBarry2020IL 106 – BarryLocal access.
ScottNew Salem3131New Salem, PittsfieldUnincorporated area access.
Scott–MorganGriggsville3535US 54 / IL 107 – Griggsville, PittsfieldConnection to state routes.
ScottBluffs4646IL 100 – Bluffs, Detroit, MeredosiaRiver town access.
MorganWinchester5252IL 106 – WinchesterCounty seat access.
MorganJacksonville60A–B60AUS 67 – JacksonvilleSouthbound lanes.
MorganJacksonville60B60BI-72 Bus. / US 67 – JacksonvilleBusiness loop and overlap.
MorganJacksonville6464IL 267 – Jacksonville, GreenfieldNorthern access.
MorganJacksonville6868I-72 Bus. / IL 104 – JacksonvilleEastern business access.
CassAshland7676Ashland, AlexanderRural access.
SangamonNew Berlin8282New BerlinSuburban Springfield access.
SangamonSpringfield9191Wabash Ave. – Loami, SpringfieldLocal streets.
SangamonSpringfield9393Veterans Pkwy. / IL 4 – Chatham, SpringfieldMajor commercial area.
SangamonSpringfield9494Stevenson Dr. / E Lake Dr. – SpringfieldState government area proximity.
SangamonSpringfield96A96AIL 29 south – Taylorville, SpringfieldPartial interchange.
SangamonSpringfield96B96BIL 29 north / S Grand Ave. – SpringfieldPartial interchange.
SangamonSpringfield98B98BIL 97 – SpringfieldSouthern access.
SangamonSpringfield103A103AI-55 south – I-72 westbound, SpringfieldJunction with I-55; directional.
SangamonSpringfield104104Camp Butler – SpringfieldCemetery and military site.
SangamonRiverton108108Riverton – SpringfieldNorthern suburb.
Sangamon–ChristianBuffalo114114Buffalo, DawsonRural villages.
Christian–MaconMt. Auburn122122Mt. Auburn, IlliopolisSmall towns.
MaconNiantic128128NianticUnincorporated.
MaconDecatur133A–B133US 51 – DecaturPartial cloverleaf.
MaconDecatur138138IL 121 – Lincoln, DecaturEastern access.
MaconDecatur141A141AUS 51 Bus. south – DecaturBusiness route.
MaconDecatur141B141BUS 51 north – Bloomington, DecaturNorthern continuation.
MaconDecatur–Oreana144144IL 48 – Oreana, DecaturBypass connection.
MaconArgenta150150ArgentaVillage access.
MaconCisco156156IL 48 – Cisco, Weldon, ArgentaRural route.
PiattMonticello164164Bridge St. – MonticelloLocal.
PiattMonticello166166IL 105 west / Market St. – MonticelloCounty seat.
PiattWhite Heath169169White Heath Rd. – White HeathUnincorporated.
PiattClinton172172IL 10 – Clinton, White HeathEastern connection.
ChampaignMahomet176176IL 47 – Mahomet, SeymourEastern terminus area; continues as IL 47 north to I-57.
Mileages are approximate and based on state line references; actual distances may vary slightly due to alignments. Business routes and overlaps with US 36 occur along much of the length in Illinois.

Interstate 172

Interstate 172 (I-172) is a 19.69-mile-long auxiliary Interstate Highway spur entirely within the U.S. state of Illinois, connecting Interstate 72 (I-72) near Fowler to U.S. Route 24 (US 24) in Quincy. It serves as the sole auxiliary route of its parent, I-72, and runs concurrently with Illinois Route 110 (IL 110), designated as the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway. The route functions as a rural freeway providing direct access from the I-72 corridor to the Mississippi River city of Quincy. The highway begins at an interchange with I-72 in western McDonough County, heading northward through Adams County as a four-lane divided freeway. It passes rural areas and intersects local routes such as IL 57 and IL 96 before terminating at a partial cloverleaf interchange with US 24 and IL 104 on the southern outskirts of Quincy. I-172 features five interchanges, including access to via IL 96. As a non-chargeable Interstate, its construction received no federal funding under the Interstate program, relying instead on state resources. Construction of the freeway segment occurred as part of the Central Illinois Expressway project, with a 7.5-mile section opening to traffic on , 1989. The full route from I-72 to Quincy was completed prior to its designation as I-172, which was officially approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on April 22, 1995, following a proposal to extend I-72 westward that was modified to create this spur instead. The (FHWA) lists the route's length at approximately 19 miles in official summaries. Recent maintenance includes an 8.6-mile pavement preservation project in Adams County initiated in June 2024 by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

Business routes

Interstate 72 features a single business route, designated as Business Loop Interstate 72 (BL I-72), which serves the city of Jacksonville in west-central . This loop provides access to the city's and commercial districts by utilizing the former alignment of , which predates the construction of the I-72 bypass to the south. The route begins at the interchange of I-72, U.S. 36, and U.S. 67 southwest of Jacksonville, proceeds north concurrently with U.S. 67 for approximately 4 miles into the city center, then overlaps with U.S. Route 36 Business eastward along Morton Avenue (also signed as Illinois Route 111 and Illinois Route 267) through retail and business areas for about 3 miles, before diverging south along U.S. 67 to reconnect with I-72 southeast of the city. The business loop spans a total length of 9.7 miles (15.6 km) and was established following the completion of the I-72/U.S. 36 bypass around Jacksonville in the late , allowing through traffic to avoid the urban core while directing local vehicles through key economic hubs. It intersects several state routes within Jacksonville, including Illinois Route 78 and Illinois Route 104, facilitating connections to surrounding communities and supporting regional commerce. No other business routes or spurs exist along the I-72 mainline, reflecting the highway's predominantly rural character outside major urban centers.

References

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