Post by cooter on Dec 7, 2007 20:45:39 GMT -5
Happened this morning... major damage to the 115th st. bridge... closed indefinitely! THIS A MAJOR DISASTER FOR TRAFFIC FLOW...
Copy and paste the link below... for a vid and pics....
www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-bishop-ford_webdec08,0,6650441.story?coll=chi-news-col
From NBC5 Chicago
CHICAGO -- A dump truck crash caused the shutdown of the Bishop Ford Freeway, Interstate 94, on Friday morning on the Far South Side -- and the northbound lanes may remain closed until Monday.
The crash occurred about 10:20 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the Bishop Ford near 115th Street, according to Illinois State Police District Chicago Trooper R. Shelton.
The truck, possibly traveling at high speeds, crashed into the overpass at 115th Street, spilling its load of gravel across the roadway and visibly damaging the structure. Fire department responders said the bridge suffered "major structural damage."
The Illinois Department of Transportation said damage to the 115th Street bridge is some of the worst it has seen from a truck hit. There was both horizontal and lateral movement as much as 6 to 9 inches.
The goal will now be to open the northbound lanes in time for the Monday morning rush hour.
NBC5's Charlie Wojciechowski reported that the southbound lanes were reopened at about 1:15 p.m. Friday. However, it will be necessary to again temporarily close the outbound Bishop Ford when the truck that struck the bridge is extricated. The timing of this has not been determined.
IDOT warned drivers that major delays are still expected during the rush hour on the outbound Bishop Ford.
An IDOT spokesman said that no traffic was being allowed on the interstate overpass at 115th Street. It is unclear when that overpass might be reopened.
Traffic was being diverted at the 115th Street exit -- drivers are being allowed to exit and re-enter the roadway at 115th, bypassing the bridge. Outbound, all traffic was being forced off at 111th Street. The reopening of the southbound lanes did not mean traffic was going smoothly. At 1:15 p.m., cars remained backed up for miles, waiting to get past the incident.
Alternates include Torrence Avenue and Interstate 57.
An IDOT spokesman said he did not know when the northbound lanes would be reopened, adding that it's likely to be a while before a determination regarding the bridge can be made.
Sky5's Mike Anzaldi said that he suspected the roadway would have to remain closed for several days or longer if the bridge is damaged. He said that there appeared to be significant damage to the structure from his perspective in Sky5.
Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said the driver of the truck was taken in good condition to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County following the crash.
Another car slammed into the back of the truck, but a father and son in that vehicle refused medical treatment, Langford said.
"They were very lucky," Langford said. "The irony is the truck was carrying a load of fine, loose gravel, and the impact dumped the load. The car struck the gravel instead of the truck and that helped cushion the impact. It would have been a lot worse if they had hit the truck."
Additional information provided by Sun-Times News Group
Copy and paste the link below... for a vid and pics....
www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-bishop-ford_webdec08,0,6650441.story?coll=chi-news-col
From NBC5 Chicago
CHICAGO -- A dump truck crash caused the shutdown of the Bishop Ford Freeway, Interstate 94, on Friday morning on the Far South Side -- and the northbound lanes may remain closed until Monday.
The crash occurred about 10:20 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the Bishop Ford near 115th Street, according to Illinois State Police District Chicago Trooper R. Shelton.
The truck, possibly traveling at high speeds, crashed into the overpass at 115th Street, spilling its load of gravel across the roadway and visibly damaging the structure. Fire department responders said the bridge suffered "major structural damage."
The Illinois Department of Transportation said damage to the 115th Street bridge is some of the worst it has seen from a truck hit. There was both horizontal and lateral movement as much as 6 to 9 inches.
The goal will now be to open the northbound lanes in time for the Monday morning rush hour.
NBC5's Charlie Wojciechowski reported that the southbound lanes were reopened at about 1:15 p.m. Friday. However, it will be necessary to again temporarily close the outbound Bishop Ford when the truck that struck the bridge is extricated. The timing of this has not been determined.
IDOT warned drivers that major delays are still expected during the rush hour on the outbound Bishop Ford.
An IDOT spokesman said that no traffic was being allowed on the interstate overpass at 115th Street. It is unclear when that overpass might be reopened.
Traffic was being diverted at the 115th Street exit -- drivers are being allowed to exit and re-enter the roadway at 115th, bypassing the bridge. Outbound, all traffic was being forced off at 111th Street. The reopening of the southbound lanes did not mean traffic was going smoothly. At 1:15 p.m., cars remained backed up for miles, waiting to get past the incident.
Alternates include Torrence Avenue and Interstate 57.
An IDOT spokesman said he did not know when the northbound lanes would be reopened, adding that it's likely to be a while before a determination regarding the bridge can be made.
Sky5's Mike Anzaldi said that he suspected the roadway would have to remain closed for several days or longer if the bridge is damaged. He said that there appeared to be significant damage to the structure from his perspective in Sky5.
Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said the driver of the truck was taken in good condition to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County following the crash.
Another car slammed into the back of the truck, but a father and son in that vehicle refused medical treatment, Langford said.
"They were very lucky," Langford said. "The irony is the truck was carrying a load of fine, loose gravel, and the impact dumped the load. The car struck the gravel instead of the truck and that helped cushion the impact. It would have been a lot worse if they had hit the truck."
Additional information provided by Sun-Times News Group