Illinois Route 103 Explained

State:IL
Type:IL
Maint:IDOT
Route:103
Length Mi:9.18
Length Round:2
Length Ref:[1]
Direction A:West
Terminus A: in Ripley
Direction B:East
Terminus B: in Frederick
Counties:Schuyler
Established:1924
Previous Route:102
Previous Type:IL
Next Type:IL
Next Route:104
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:IL 103 highlighted in red

Illinois Route 103 (IL 103) is a 9.18-longNaN-long state route in west-central Illinois, United States. The route, entirely in Schuyler County, runs from U.S. Route 24 (US 24) near Ripley east to the intersection of US 67 and IL 100 across the Illinois River from Beardstown. In addition to connecting Ripley and Beardstown, IL 103 serves the community of Sugar Grove. The highway is part of both the National Highway System and the Lincoln Heritage Trail. It is maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The route was established in 1924 between Ripley and its current eastern terminus; its western terminus was moved north to its current location in 1932.

Route description

Route 103 begins at a junction with U.S. Route 24 in Woodstock Township in southern Schuyler County, northeast of Ripley. The route follows the LaMoine River eastward, passing through a forested area. After the river turns to the south, the highway continues east through farmland. Route 103 intersects County Route 9 before entering the unincorporated community of Sugar Grove, where it meets County Route 1. After passing through Sugar Grove, the highway enters Bainbridge Township, where it makes a small southward dip through a tree-lined area. After passing a small group of buildings and crossing a creek, the route returns to its eastward trajectory and passes north of the community of Cottonwood. Route 103 runs through open farmland at the eastern end of its route, crossing two creeks and passing several farm buildings. The highway ends at a junction with U.S. Route 67 and Illinois Route 100, across the Illinois River from Beardstown.[2]

Route 103 is an undivided two-lane road for its entire length.[2] The entire route is part of the National Highway System, a network of roads deemed significant to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[3] It is also part of the Lincoln Heritage Trail, a series of highways connecting places with historic connections to Abraham Lincoln.[4] According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the annual average daily traffic on Route 103 in 2019 ranged from 1250 vehicles near the western terminus to 1400 on its eastern half; 70 of those vehicles were trucks.[5]

History

The State of Illinois designated Route 103 in 1924 between Ripley and Beardstown.[6] A road between Ripley and the route's current eastern terminus was first marked on state highway maps in 1924; this route began at Ripley and ran parallel to and south of the current route on its western half, before turning north and following the eastern half of the current alignment.[7] Route 103 was first numbered on the 1929 Illinois highway map.[8] The western terminus of Route 103 moved from Ripley to its current location in 1932, shifting the western half of the highway to its present alignment.[9] The community of Layton, which was near Sugar Grove, was marked along the route until 1951.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Illinois Technology Transfer Center . T2 GIS Data . 2013-02-24 . 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121117121013/http://gis.dot.illinois.gov/gist2/ . 2012-11-17 . dead .
  2. . Schuyler County General Highway Map . PDF . 1984 . December 18, 2010 . March 6, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306041018/http://www.dot.state.il.us/maps/county/schuyler.pdf . dead .
  3. Web site: National Highway System Map of Illinois . https://web.archive.org/web/20081016160644/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/maps/il/il_Illinois.pdf. dead. October 16, 2008. Federal Highway Administration. December 19, 2010.
  4. Web site: Illinois Official Highway Map 2009-2010 . . December 19, 2010 . July 16, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716132241/http://www.dot.il.gov/maps/frontsideborder.pdf . dead .
  5. Web site: Average Annual Daily Traffic . Getting Around Illinois . . August 1, 2020.
  6. Book: Illinois Blue Book, 1923-1924 . 1923 . State of Illinois . November 10, 2010 . 263.
  7. Web site: 1924 Illinois Road Map . Illinois Automobile Department . November 12, 2010.
  8. 1929 Official Illinois Highway Map . Illinois Automobile Department . I-5 . November 9, 2010.
  9. Web site: 1932 Official Illinois Highway Map. Illinois Automobile Department . December 19, 2010.
  10. Web site: 1951 Official Illinois Highway Map . Illinois Automobile Department . December 19, 2010.