Tuesday morning's commute turned into an extended delay for many when a semi truck overturned on the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) near Burr Ridge, Illinois. NBC Chicago reported the incident began around 6:07 a.m. in the northbound lanes at County Line Road, causing the closure of all northbound lanes and significant backups as far back as Bolingbrook.
According to CBS News, a hazmat response was necessary to manage a spill of epoxy resin that is said to have been contained. The truck sprawled across all lanes and shoulders, leaving traffic in a state of trap, with official projections suggesting a resolution could take several hours. The driver of the semi was transported to a nearby hospital, but the extent of their injuries has not been disclosed, traffic through the Village of Burr Ridge is at a standstill, officials are advising drivers to seek alternate routes to avoid the area.
"This area is jam packed," Kye Martin, NBC 5 traffic reporter, emphasized the state of the flow, or rather, the lack thereof, with an onlooker delay affecting outbound lanes as well. Meanwhile, Traffic Net has pointed to hours-long backups resulting from the crash. Police have yet to comment on the cause of the event as the site remains under investigation.
In a separate but no less disrupting occurrence, Illinois State Police are also handling a fatal motorcycle crash on I-94 at Sibley, causing closures on the southbound lanes near Dolton Avenue as reported by NBC Chicago; no further information has been given at this time, we witness not only the fragility of our daily transits but the unforeseen events that can so suddenly bring us to a halt, remind us of the unpredictability lurking beneath the surface of our well-paved paths.
