159th Street (Chicago)
  | |
|---|---|
| 9th Street (Lockport only) River Oaks Drive (Calumet City only) | |
| Length | 24.63 miles (39.64 km) |
| Location | Chicago Southland |
| West end |   IL 7 / IL 53 (Broadway, Independence Boulevard) in Lockport |
| East end |   US 6 / IL 83 (Torrence Avenue) in Calumet City |
159th Street is a major east-west street in the southern suburbs of Chicago. It runs east from Thornton Street in Lockport, crossing Interstate 355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway) in Lockport, Interstate 57 in Markham, Interstate 294 (Tri-State Tollway) in Harvey and Interstate 94 (Bishop Ford Freeway) in South Holland, on its way to its east end at U.S. Route 6 and Illinois Route 83 (Torrence Avenue) in Calumet City. 159th Street carries Illinois Route 7 from Thornton Street to Wolf Road, and carries U.S. Route 6 from Wolf Road to Torrence Avenue.
Route description
159th Street begins at Thornton Street in Lockport, where it continues west as 9th Street (Joliet address system). From here until Wolf Road, the street carries Illinois Route 7. It travels east, exactly 19 miles south of Madison Street for its entire route. In Lockport, 159th Street intersects Interstate 355. In Orland Park, Illinois Route 7 continues north on Wolf Road, while 159th Street picks up U.S. Route 6 from Wolf Road, for which it carries for the remainder of its route. Two miles further east (still in Orland Park), the road intersects U.S. Route 45 (LaGrange Road/96th Avenue). On the border between Orland Park and Tinley Park, 159th Street intersects Illinois Route 43 (Harlem Avenue). In Oak Forest, the road intersects Illinois Route 50 (Cicero Avenue). Continuing east, 159th Street intersects major interstate highways. The first is Interstate 57 in Markham. Shortly after, it intersects Interstate 294 (Tri-State Tollway) in Harvey. While still in Harvey, the street intersects Illinois Route 1 (Halsted Street). In South Holland, 159th Street intersects Interstate 94 (Bishop Ford Freeway). 159th Street finally ends at Illinois Route 83 in Calumet City, also known as Torrence Avenue. U.S. Route 6 continues south on Torrence Avenue. The road continues east as River Oaks Drive.
162nd Street
From Wallace Street in Harvey to Interstate 94, 159th Street is actually called 162nd Street. Other numbered streets in this area also change designation. For example, 157th Street becomes 160th Street, 158th Street becomes 161st Street, 160th Street becomes 163rd Street, 161st Street becomes 164th Street, 162nd Street becomes 165th Street, 163rd Street becomes Taft Drive (166th Street), and so on.
