Chicago to Kansas City Expressway

I use the Missouri part of the described route several times a year, was last on it in September. If there is CKC Expressway signage on US-36 and I-35 in Missouri, I haven't noticed it. I like the road.

When going to Chicago, I like to follow I-72 from Hannibal to I-57, then north to Chicago. It is a bit more distance than I-55, but it goes in the way I want and I-57 is not as bad as I-55 for traffic.

On edit: saw image of the CKC sign, red and blue on white background. I have noticed that, on the bridge over the Mississippi.

Must be talking about the road labeled something like CKC. It runs through our area. It really isn't a road by itself but follows other routes from Chicago to KC. Some of it is 4-lane non-interstate but I'm not sure all of it is. The parts I am familiar with through Illinois and on west is a road I would travel.

paulj wrote:
So for much of the route, it's more a matter of labeling than new construction.

Yes you are correct. The highway signs for the "NEW" route started showing up last year, here in Missouri.

The Chicago Kansas City Expressway is some kind of marketing/development boondoggle signed as CKC 110. As near as I can tell it is simply a route cobbled together from existing highways.

Google maps even label the Eisenhower Expressway going west out of Chicago as the Chicago Kansas City Expressway! The signs started showing up on I-88 a few years ago. Pretty good explanation on Wikipedia scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Tracing the route on the Wiki article and G Maps, it looks like the 'new' part is mainly the Quad Cities to Hannibal stretch. Closer to to Chicago it uses existing interstates. Across Missouri it mostly uses US36, with I35 to drop down to Kansas City. So for much of the route, it's more a matter of labeling than new construction.

From the cities in central Illinois, I72 is the logical way to Hannibal.

Thanks for the prompt help. My DW is headed toward Kansas City from central Illinois on a business trip. I thought she would be going south to pick up I-70 but this morning her map showed to go on the Expressway. I wanted to have an idea of the road conditions and it looks like she has a good route. Thanks again, Jim.

Here's a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago%E2%80%93Kansas_City_Expressway

(double tap)

04fxsts wrote:
My wifes google map calls it that, officially US 36. Jim.

US 36 misses Chicago by about 150 miles.
US 36 enters IL from the east hear Chrisman IL in the central part of the state, goes thru Springfield to St Joe MO north of KC about 50 miles. From eastern IL to Springfield US 36 is 2 lane. West of Springfield IL I-72 follows old US 36. In MO US 36 is 4 lane, goes around the small towns, but not controlled access. US 36 in MO is a pretty good road.

BurbMan wrote:
Just Googled it and it shows as I-88 on the map. Was formerly state route 110 in IL and MO. Using satellite view on the map it is definitely a 4 lane divided highway with a grass median and limited access. Looks like a nice road!

I-88 is an interstate but only goes from the Chicago burbs to the Quad Cities in IL, not to KC. It's about a 350 mile drive from the Quad Cities to KC.

My wifes google map calls it that, officially US 36. Jim.