Highway Transportation
Two vehicular transportation arteries, Interstate 57 and Illinois 13, intersect in the heart of Williamson County and provide highway access to the rest of the nation. In addition, interstate highway 24 intersects I-57 in the southern part of the county and I-64 is only 30 miles north of the county near Mt. Vernon, Illinois plus routes 37 and 148 also run north and south in the county. A network of all-weather county roads crisscross the county and provide easy access to all areas.
Air Transportation
The Williamson County Regional Airport is located at the intersection of Illinois routes 13 and 148. This full-service facility has an 8000+ foot runway and can service all types of aircraft. Cape Air provides six daily flights to and from St. Louis, MO, opening travelers from Williamson County to the airline connections in a major midwestern transportation hub.
Rail Transportation
Williamson County is home to the Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad (CO & E), a local short-line railroad providing cargo transport to and from two major U. S. rail carriers, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad. Cargo can be placed on these carriers and taken to any destination in the continental United States, as well as Mexico and Canada. The CO & E cooperates with local transload operations, providing shippers with the opportunity to combine truck and rail to obtain the best possible tariffs.
Port Transportation
The Jackson-Union Regional Port District is located less than 35 miles from the county’s western boundary and the Shawneetown Regional Port District is only 50 miles from the county’s eastern boundary, providing barge transportation opportunities on both the Mississippi River system and the Ohio River system. This effectively provides access to the world through ports on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.