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National Connectivity
Upgrading Route 51 from Moweaqua to Centralia establishes Route 51 as
the most direct four-lane route from Canada, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
on the north to Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana on the
south. Traveling on Route 51 offers the following advantages over the
current north-south interstate routes:
- South of Bloomington, existing routes require travel through St.
Louis and eastern Missouri, thereby by-passing Southern Illinois and
depriving Illinois of potential highway generated revenue.
- Travel along I-55 or I-57 requires travel through the congested Chicago
metropolitan area.
- Travel along Route 51/I-39, and I-43 or I-94 allows travelers to
by-pass Chicago.
- Traffic diverted to Route 51 will reduce the already heavy volume
of traffic along I-55 and I-57.
- Additional traffic along Route 51 provides increased economic opportunities
for the Route 51 Coalition Communities.
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