Army Trail Road - History

History

Army Trail Road followed an Indian Trail for early settlers who traveled in covered wagons in the early 19th century. Its name is based on the fact that the General Winfield Scott's troops used this route during the Black Hawk War. Near its end at the Fox River is a stone marking the graves of U.S. Army soldiers of the Indian War era.

Until December 1989, Army Trail Road was the southern terminus of the freeway portion of Illinois Route 53, which was subsequently designated I-355. In December 1989, the North-South Tollway was opened extending the limited access highway south to I-55 and reducing the traffic flow caused by the concurency of Route 53 and a short stretch of Army Trail Road.

In late 2004, construction began on parts of the road to widen the road to six lanes. A divider was to be set in place including new turn lanes and paving of the road. Project has completed sections of the road in Addison and was expected to be completed in November 2005. It is four lanes in parts east of Illinois Highway 59 to a few hundred feet west of Illinois Highway 59 where it enters the Village of Wayne, Illinois. It remains two lanes to its western end at Illinois Highway 25 and is "rural" looking through Wayne and its horse farms.