Interstate 72 is an interstate highway in the midwestern United States. Its western terminus is in Hannibal, Missouri at an intersection with U.S. Highway 61; its eastern terminus is at Interstate 57 in Champaign, Illinois.

Length

Major Cities Along the Route

• Hannibal, Missouri
• Springfield, Illinois
• Decatur, Illinois
• Champaign, Illinois

Intersections with other Interstates

• Interstate 55 in Springfield, Illinois (multiplex 6 miles)
• Interstate 57 in Champaign, Illinois

Noteable Bridges Along the Route

• Valley City Eagle Bridges (Valley City, Illinois) - 2 2-lane bridges (one bridge each direction) over the Illinois River
• Mark Twain Memorial Bridge (Hannibal, Missouri) - 1 4-lane bridge (2 lanes each direction) over the Mississippi River, river bottoms, and the Sny Levee.

Spur Routes

• Spur into Quincy, Illinois, I-172

Notes

• The concept of I-72 across Missouri was to create the Kansas City - Chicago Expressway, a rural 4-lane route between Kansas City, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois. This would reduce the amount of through traffic in the St. Louis, Des Moines, and Quad Cities metropolitan areas.

• The first (and only) exit west of the Mississippi River in Hannibal, Missouri is Exit 157 (MO 79). Based on this mile marker, the future western terminus of I-72 would be at Cameron, Missouri at the intersection with I-35.

• I-72 continues west of Hannibal, Missouri as US 36. In 2004, US 36 was upgraded to a 4-lane expressway between US 61 and US 24 (7 miles). Also, an interchange with MO 15 was installed in Shelbina, Missouri. Four miles east of Macon, Missouri, US 36 resumes 4-lane expressway status to just east of New Cambria, Missouri. At the Linn County, Missouri line, US 36 is now 4-lane (completed in 2004) the rest of the way into St. Joseph, Missouri.

• Many highway mavens want to extend I-72 westward across Missouri and Kansas into Colorado. This would create an alternate route to Interstates 70 and 80. In addition, it would relieve traffic congestion on I-70 between Denver and St. Louis, and it would help relieve the traffic on I-80 between Omaha and Chicago, too.

• Likewise, an eastward extension is also envisioned for I-72. It would go across Indiana (multiplexing with Interstate 74 for some time), loop around Columbus, Ohio and end in Pittsburgh.

• In August 1957, Caltrans proposed I-72 for what is now I-580, but AASHO denied the request. The number I-5W was eventually approved on November 10, 1958.[1][2]

Reference

• 2005 Rand McNally "The Road Atlas 2005" - newest feature- interstate mileage by state