^Looking northeast along Illinois 96 at Illinois 9 in Dallas City, January 2020.
Illinois Route 96 is a north-south route very close to the Mississippi River in west-central Illinois. It's the westernmost north-south route in the state (except around Quincy), passing through Nauvoo, Quincy, and Hamilton.
North of La Harpe, Illinois 96 spawns from Illinois 94, taking over for that route as the north-south highway closest to the Mississippi River:
At Dallas City, Illinois 9 joins from the east, so Illinois 96 and Illinois 9 head west together:
Across the river from Fort Madison, Iowa, Illinois 9 splits from Illinois 96 to cross the great river: