Hooker Cut is named for the land formation this stretch of land passes through.  Workers gouged a passageway so the four-lane highway could be constructed. At the time, Route 66 in this area was two-lanes and very dangerous. The new cut and four-lane segment of highway was created to bypass the dangerous two-lane portion of Route 66.

It's believed this is the first segment of four-lane Route 66 in Illinois.