Illinois Route 53
Illinois State Route 53 is a north-south state highway that runs south from Long Grove at Illinois State Route 83 to Gardner at Interstate 55 west of old U.S. Highway 66, a distance of about 80 miles.
Illinois 53 is one of the few remaining state highways routed along expressways in the state, joining Illinois 56, Illinois 6, Illinois 137 and Illinois 3. Southbound, it forms the other half of the Interstate 290/IL 53 combination in Schaumburg before being routed west onto Biesterfield Road and back south onto Rohlwing Road. Until its first junction with I-55 by Bolingbrook, it remains a mostly 2 to 4 lane road, largely replaced by the I-290 and I-355 combo.
South of the first junction with I-55, Illinois 53 follows old U.S. 66 and parallels Interstate 55, entering downtown Joliet, which is about four miles east of I-55. Illinois 53 also passes directly in front of the old Illinois State Penitentiary in Joliet. It then continues on to Gardner, going around the southern part of town before ending at I-55.
Historical note: Illinois 53 was once called Alternate US-66.