^Northbound trailblazer at Illinois 64 near Lombard and Glendale Heights, November 2022.
Illinois Route 53 runs north-south in the western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago, extending south into rural areas to end in Gardner. The northern end is in Long Grove at Illinois 83, and somewhat south of there, Illinois 53 takes the form of a freeway for about 10 miles. Illinois 53 then joins Interstate 290 for a bit, once Interstate 290 gets its northern start at Interstate 90. Soon, Illinois 53 will divert from Interstate 290, continuing south as a surface road. Interstate 355's corridor follows closely along Illinois 53's journey through suburban DuPage County. In Will County, Illinois 53 follows the west side of the Des Plaines River until Joliet, whereas Interstate 355 runs on the east side of the river. In Joliet, Illinois 53 crosses the river, and leaves town to the south, forming a 4-lane highway with a wide grassy median that passes through more rural areas. Illinois 53 shrinks down to a 2-lane road entering Wilmington, where the highway bends westerly and southwesterly. Illinois 53's southwestern end protrudes slightly into Grundy County, with the final terminus sitting in Gardner at Interstate 55.
Illinois 53's northern end is a split from Illinois 83 near Long Grove:
Illinois 53's northern end is a split from Illinois 83 near Long Grove:
As it enters the Palatine area, Illinois 53 joins US Route 12 southeast:
Shortly after that, Illinois 68 crosses US Route 12, and Illinois 53 turns easterly along Illinois 68...
Illinois 53 leaves from Illinois 68 to join the "53 extension" freeway south toward Schaumburg:
Illinois 53 follows the freeway under US Route 12 (which it could have just taken straight to the interchange...I don't know why it deflects east on Illinois 68 just to cross US 12 again...); a partial interchange provides access only to/from the south on Illinois 53:
Still in the Palatine area, Illinois 53 has a fountain interchange accessing US Route 14:
Illinois 53 has another fountain interchange, this time connecting to Illinois 62 at Rolling Meadows:
Illinois 53 meets Interstate 90 at a cloverleaf interchange where Interstate 290 begins and runs south with the continuation of Illinois 53 (note the "Route I-290 Begins" signage on the left side):
Illinois 53 and Interstate 290 have a collection of ramps to access roads, meant to reach Illinois 58 and Illinois 72 by Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg:
Illinois 53 has an interchange with Illinois 390:
On the west side of Itasca, Illinois 53 crosses Illinois 19:
After passing under the northernmost piece of Interstate 355, Illinois 53 crosses US Route 20 in Addison:
Entering Lombard, Illinois 53 crosses Illinois 64:
Illinois 53 crosses under Interstate 355, and now that it's on the west side of the tollway, it passes under Illinois 38 in Glen Ellyn, where a couple of side roads provide connectivity...
Illinois 53 crosses Illinois 56 as it heads south out of the Glen Ellyn area:
Illinois 53 passes under Interstate 88 with a partial interchange that only connects to/from the easterly leg of the tollway...
In Lisle, Illinois 53 passes under US Route 34, where a small fountain interchange provides a connection:
Illinois 53 has an interchange with Interstate 55 in Bolingbrook...
Illinois 53, now following along the west side of the Des Plaines River, is joined by Illinois 7, coming from the bridge carrying it westward out of Lockport:
In Crest Hill, Illinois 7 ends its concurrency with Illinois 53 to head westward:
In downtown Joliet, Illinois 53 crosses US Route 30, where both routes follow their own pair of one-way streets, and US Route 6 comes from the eastern leg of US Route 30 to join Illinois 53 south:
On the south side of downtown Joliet, Illinois 53 sends US Route 6 west along a street that also carries US Route 52, and US Route 52 joins Illinois 53 south from here (it's the meeting point of three different duplexes!):
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Illinois 53 heads out of inner Joliet sharing the road with US Route 52, and this road meets a full interchange with Interstate 80:
Just after passing under Interstate 80 and an eerily narrow underpass under a railroad, Illinois 53 splits with US Route 52, which turns easterly:
After passing through Elwood, Illinois 53 reaches Wilmington, where it meets the northwestern end of Illinois 102:
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At Braidwood, Illinois 53 crosses Illinois 113, just across the railroad tracks from the southern end of Illinois 129...
After running through Godley and Braceville, Illinois 53 reaches its southern end, at Interstate 55's exit numbered "exit 227". Illinois 53 bypasses Gardner by wrapping around its south side. Those heading south overall on Illinois 53 will wind up facing north at a stop sign; a left turn toward the west leads to Interstate 55, and a right turn toward the east will place a driver in the heart of Gardner.
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