Transportation
Transportation is easily one of our biggest assets.
We have it all — planes, trains, and automobiles, as well as barges!
Highway
Peru is strategically located along Interstate 80, a transcontinental east-west corridor that sees between 27,400 and 31,200 vehicles each day in the segments on either side of Exit 75. We are also five miles from the interchange with Interstate 39 — a 320+ mile highway that runs between central Illinois and north central Wisconsin — that carries between 19,100 and 19,400 vehicles per day in our vicinity.
Waterway
The Illinois River is a main tributary of the Mississippi River measuring approximately 273 miles, and connects the “Great River” with the Great Lakes at Chicago. The waterway is used primarily by barges that transport bulk goods, such as grain, corn, soybeans, coal, and oil. Peru’s position along the Illinois River thus provides the city with year-round barge transportation.
Railway
Peru Industrial Railroad, LLC — one of OmniTRAX’s affiliate railroads in Illinois — operates a small but vital 3 miles of track in Peru , and has a direction connection with Illinois Rail, LLC, which interchanges with BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, and CSX railways. Access to this extensive rail network enables Peru to ship to 2/3 of the USA in 2 days or less.
Air
The Illinois Valley Regional Airport is municipally-owned and located in Peru . The airport has 2 lighted, paved runways capable of accommodating business aircraft. With GPS and localizer approaches, its 6000′ × 100′ runway routinely handles business jets up to a Global Express location. The new 4000′ × 75′ crosswind runway makes the airport usable for all sizes of aircraft in almost any conditions.
The airport is served by Midwest Avtech, a full-service Fixed Based Operator that provides jet fuel and aviation gasoline in addition to aircraft maintenance and servicing. Hangar space is available for long -term or transient aircraft storage. There is an on-site meeting room for conducting business, and charter flights can be arranged directly out of the Illinois Valley Regional Airport.
The airport is within close proximity to several hotels, many restaurants and car rental services. Its location near the intersection of Interstates I-80 and I-39 makes it convenient to all of north central Illinois. With Starved Rock State Park only 8 miles away, the Illinois Valley Regional Airport is a popular facility for tourists from all over the region.
Daily Traffic Counts
See Peru’s traffic counts from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
