“How long is 159th Street?” That is often the first question people ask about this major east-west thoroughfare in Chicago’s southern suburbs. East 159th Street stretches an impressive 24.63 miles. That is 39.64 kilometers.
East 159th Street starts in Lockport. It runs east to Calumet City. The street actually changes its name in some areas. From Wallace Avenue in Harvey to Interstate 94 in South Holland, it is called 162nd Street.
East 159th Street has other names too. It is called 9th Street in Lockport. In Calumet City, it is known as River Oaks Drive. When the street crosses into Indiana, it becomes 165th Street. In Plainfield, you might hear it called Renwick Road.
Navigating East 159th Street means crossing several major highways. You will find interchanges with Interstate 355 in Lockport. Further east, it meets Interstate 57 in Markham. In Harvey, 159th Street crosses Interstate 294. Finally, in South Holland, it intersects with Interstate 94.
East 159th Street has a complex route designation. It carries no routes from Hopkins Road to Broadway and Independence Boulevard. Illinois Route 7 runs along 159th Street from Thornton Street to Wolf Road. U.S. Route 6 follows 159th Street from Wolf Road to Torrence Avenue. There are no route designations from Torrence Avenue to Cline Avenue.
Starting at Thornton Street in Lockport, East 159th Street heads west as 9th Street. This is part of the Joliet address system. The road ends at Hopkins Road as Wheeler Road. From here to Wolf Road, the street is also Illinois Route 7.
Eastbound, 159th Street is exactly 19 miles south of Madison Street for its entire route. In Orland Park, Illinois Route 7 goes north on Wolf Road. East 159th Street then picks up U.S. Route 6 from Wolf Road. It carries this designation for the rest of its length.
Two miles east of Wolf Road in Orland Park, East 159th Street intersects U.S. 45. This is also known as LaGrange Road or 96th Avenue. On the border of Orland Park and Tinley Park, the street crosses County Road W32. That’s 80th Avenue. Shortly after, it meets Illinois Route 43, also known as Harlem Avenue.
In Oak Forest, East 159th Street intersects Illinois Route 50, Cicero Avenue. Continuing east, on the border between Oak Forest and Markham, it intersects Pulaski Road and Crawford Avenue. You will also find Kedzie Avenue and the major interstates here.
The first interstate is I-57 in Markham. Shortly after, you will cross I-294 in Harvey. While still in Harvey, East 159th Street meets Illinois Route 1, Halsted Street.
East 159th Street ends at Illinois Route 83 in Calumet City. This is also known as Torrence Avenue. U.S. Route 6 continues south on Torrence Avenue. The road continues east as River Oaks Drive. Entering Indiana, River Oaks Drive becomes 165th Street.
Other streets in the area also change names. For example, 157th Street becomes 160th Street. Also, 158th Street becomes 161st Street. Moreover, 160th Street becomes 163rd Street. Finally, 161st Street becomes 164th Street.