Illinois Route 146
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by IDOT | ||||
| Length: | 92.93 mi[2] (149.56 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1926[1] – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| From: |   Route 34/Route 74, Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge across the Mississippi River to Cape Girardeau, Missouri |
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| To: |  Illinois Route 1 north of Cave-in-Rock |
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| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Alexander, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Illinois state highway system
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→Illinois Route 146 (IL-146) is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of Illinois. It serves the extreme southern region of the state, commonly called Little Egypt or the Illinois Ozarks. IL-146 is 92.93 miles (149.56 km) long.[2] An east–west highway, it serves Hardin County, Pope County, Johnson County, and Union County. These are some of the least-populated counties in Illinois. IL-146 serves two sections of the Shawnee National Forest.
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[edit] Route description
IL-146 generally follows a land route of the Trail of Tears, a trail taken by bands of approximately 9,000 Cherokee who were forced to march through southern Illinois from November 1838 until January 1839 as part of a U.S. government mandated relocation. In 2006, the state of Illinois designated IL-146 as a historic highway and route of the Trail of Tears.[3]
IL-146 intersects with two U.S. Interstate Highways: Interstate 24 at exit 16 near Vienna, and Interstate 57 at exit 30 near Anna.
IL-146 passes through an area of Illinois noted for scenic beauty and significant tourist visitation. State-operated parks and recreation areas on or adjacent to IL-146 include, from west to east:
- Union County Conservation Area near Jonesboro
- Trail of Tears State Forest near Jonesboro
- Cache River State Natural Area near Vienna
- Dixon Springs State Park near Dixon Springs
- Rauchfuss Hill State Recreation Area near Golconda
- Rose Hotel State Historic Site in Elizabethtown
- Cave-in-Rock State Park in Cave-in-Rock
The city of Jonesboro was the site of an open-air debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858. The site of the debate is preserved as a picnic area and park in Jonesboro.
[edit] History
SBI Route 146 originally ran from East Cape Girardeau east to Golconda. In 1937 it was extended east to Elizabethtown, replacing a leg of Illinois Route 34. In 1942 the road was extended east to Cave-In-Rock. There have been no changes since 1942.[1]
[edit] External links
- Rose Hotel Bed and Breakfast in Elizabethtown
[edit] References
- ^ a b Carlson, Rich. Illinois Highways Page: Routes 141 thru 160. Last updated April 15, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2006.
- ^ a b Illinois Technology Transfer Center (2006). "T2 GIS Data". http://www.dot.state.il.us/gist2/select.html. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ "House Joint Resolution 142", Illinois 94th General Assembly, adopted November 29, 2006. [1]
