I-180 runs south from
Interstate 80 near
Princeton in
Bureau County about 10 miles before turning east and crossing the
Illinois River terminating in
Hennepin. The highway was originally opened in the 1960s with its main purpose being to connect the LTV steel plant in Hennepin to the major artery, I-80. The plant was ostensibly involved with the nation's Department of Defense. It was also proposed to extend the highway south to
Peoria to expedite access to
Chicago.
At one time the freeway was dubbed the "Heart of Illinois Freeway." It has since experienced a major decline in traffic after LTV declared banckruptcy in 2000.
