Originally proposed in 1967, the Illinois Department of Transportation re-opened the study to complete the east-west traffic couple through Carbondale, Illinois in 1988. The corridor ran approximately parallel to the existing alignment of Illinois Route 13 and covered an area bounded on the north by Main Street (Illinois Route 13) and on the south by Walnut Street. Existing traffic conditions had led to high accident rates, difficult turning movements and traffic patterns, and poor capacity for projected future traffic.  

Throughout the planning and preliminary design phases of the project, public officials and local citizens were kept informed and involved in the decision-making process. After analyzing the concerns and questions raised by citizens and officials at Carbondale city council meetings and public hearings and after reviewing the comments received at the Illinois Department of Transportation's public hearing, a final design for the Carbondale East-West Couple was recommended. An amenities committee was formed to continue work with affected residents to visually enhance the project area, including the Walnut Street Historic District. Decorative features were ultimately chosen to enhance the character of the historic district and speed bumps were installed to reduce traffic speed on interior connector streets. 

The final report was submitted in August , 1989 and the project was constructed in 1990.

Located just south of Murphysboro, Hickory Ridge road is part of the system of Forest Service roads providing access to local residents, farms, recreational trails and local scenic and picnic areas. The existing rural two lane Forest Highway consisted of a 16-ft. to 18-ft. aggregate surface with open ditches passing through the hilly terrain with a multiple curved alignment.  

Proposed improvements to the roadway included a new oil and chip surface with 2-ft. earth shoulders and drainage improvements that involved ditch grading and the placement of new culverts. Early coordination with environmental resource agencies and the local public resulted in the delineation of a local threatened and endangered species: the timber rattlesnake. In order to avoid and minimize impacts to this species, a special design was implemented that involved the placement of fencing and special culverts to channel the rattlesnake's movements under the roadway.  

Construction began on this project in January, 1998 and was completed in June, 1999.