I-180 comes in from the west, IL 71 from the east (both routes end at the bridge in the interchange), and IL 26 comes in from the south and goes westward across the Illinois River multiplexed with I-180. (This changed in about 1990. Previously, IL 26 crossed the Illinois river on the road just south of I-180 with no direct connection to I-180. In essence, IL 26 was the 'frontage road' at the steel mill interchange. There is now an interchange where the two routes crossed immediately off the map to the left. This occurred between the 1989/90 and the 1991/92 IDOT map issues.)
Hennepin, IL (population 669 - 1990 Census) is one of the smallest places to see the end of an Interstate highway route. The sole purpose of the existange of this curious spur is the LTV Steel mill across the highway from the little village. I-180 was built to serve the steel mill when it was found that the existing surface roads would be cost-prohibitive to upgrade to handle the 'expected' heavy highway traffic that the mill would generate. The matter remains open to serious debate, though, as this continues to be one of the loneliest routes on the entire I-system.
Just west of here, I-180 takes a turn to the north at a somewhat sprawling 'Y' interchange with a short un-numbered I-compatible spur that connects to IL 29 toward Peoria. There are *no* 'green signs' of any kind on this southward spur. Also, there is *no* interchange where these two route actually cross. One of the proposed 'alternate' routes for a possible 'direct' I-route connection from Peoria to Chicago would use this spur (**I recommend** redesigning the I-39/55/74 interchange in Normal, IL to allow direct free-flow between I-55 (north) and I-74 (west). This is a very direct routing between Chicago and Peoria, and would be a *LOT* less expensive than building a new ROW interstate highway along any other corridor.). I do forsee upgrades along parts of IL 29 in the Peoria to Chillicothe area, but none further north.
Prior to the construction of I-180, IL 71 fed directly into IL 26, with this corridor crossing the Illinois River on the rather intersting bridge that still exists. The I-180 bridge is a very uninspiring drive.
I-180 is about 20 km long, but is not 'mileposted', nor are any of the interchanges numbered.
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