COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announces several current continued road closures continue due to flooding in the area: Brussels Ferry; Kaskaskia Street and Illinois 3 Truck By-Pass (Water Street) in Chester; Southbound traffic on U.S. 67 at the Clark Bridge, near West Alton, continues to be shifted to the northbound lanes; all lanes of Illinois 155 outside of Prairie du Rocher; Illinois Route 3 at County Road 5, Rockwood to the levee at Cora /Jackson County Line; and Illinois 100 from Illinois 3 to Stump Lake Road in Grafton.
The following roads will be open later today: Illinois 3 at Mary’s River to Rockwood. As the rivers recede the Department plans to conduct debris removal plus inspections of culverts and roadways which could be positioned to be reopened and allow safe passage to all. Please be alert for equipment and workers on these roadway segments so this effort can be completed in a timely and safe manner.
The Department will continue monitoring State roadways in the affected areas of Illinois. Based upon current hydrological forecasts, flooding has or may require closure of State Highways and Ferries along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Over the next several days, we will provide updates, as warranted, when developments occur.
Traffic control devices and directional signage, including dynamic message boards, have been deployed to guide motorists safely around major closures. Travelers are advised to consider alternate routes or allow additional time to travel known flood-prone areas. Regardless, all motorists are urged to be patient, reduce speed and exercise added caution throughout the Metro East region – as traffic patterns and travel times will likely be affected.
Since this is a very dynamic situation, please see the Department’s website: http://www.idot.illinois.gov/home/Comm/emergency-road-closures for the latest information on roadway closures throughout Illinois. Detailed information on the Metro East is also available at http://apps.dot.illinois.gov/stl-traffic/. For IDOT District 8 updates on Twitter, please follow us at @IDOTDistrict8.
