IL HJR0030

Designates the portion of Illinois Route 171 between Illinois Route 83 and U.S. Route 45 as the "Atomic Veterans Highway" to honor military service members involved in nuclear weapons development and testing.

Recognizes that approximately 400,000 U.S. servicemen from the Army, Navy, and Marines were present during atmospheric nuclear tests conducted between 1946 and 1962, either as witnesses or cleanup crews.

Acknowledges Illinois's role in the Manhattan Project, particularly Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, where the world's first artificial nuclear reactor (Chicago Pile-1) achieved criticality on December 2, 1942.

Requests the Illinois Department of Transportation to erect plaques or signs along the designated highway route identifying it as the "Atomic Veterans Highway" in compliance with state and federal regulations.

Directs that copies of the resolution be presented to the Secretary of Transportation and the Atomic Heritage Foundation.