Holiday travelers on the Bishop Ford Freeway got a rude awakening early Saturday when heavy rain turned stretches of I-94 on Chicago's Far South Side into a shallow lake, stranding drivers and backing up traffic for miles.
At one point near 130th Street, eyewitness photos showed a dark SUV riding so low in the water that a person had climbed onto the roof while Illinois State Police troopers steered other vehicles around the flooded lanes. The mess hit during the busy holiday weekend rush and led to long delays for anyone trying to get through the corridor.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, state police urged motorists to stay away from I-94 northbound at the Steel Bridge near Doty Avenue while crews worked to manage traffic and drain the water. The outlet reported that southbound lanes in the same stretch were also flooded and causing major slowdowns.
Illinois State Police told FOX 32 Chicago that "one trooper had to enter the water to help a driver out of the flooded water," while other troopers handled traffic control around the scene. A photo shared with the station showed a dark-colored SUV partially submerged just before 130th Street.
The Bishop Ford has already been a headache this year, thanks to a roughly $93 million rehabilitation project that began in March and narrowed lanes in key sections. As our March reporting noted, that setup can turn even routine downpours into gridlock, and Saturday's storms were no exception. The project scope is laid out in detail by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Where It Flooded And What Drivers Should Do
The National Weather Service had flash-flood and flood warnings in place across parts of Cook County early Saturday after thunderstorms dumped an estimated 1 to 5 inches of rain in spots. Those totals left underpasses and low-lying stretches like the Bishop Ford especially vulnerable to ponding and fast runoff, according to local alert feeds. LocalConditions compiled NWS alerts that cautioned drivers about water-covered roads and rising creeks around the region.
Motorists headed through the Far South Side should be ready for lingering delays and think seriously about alternate routes such as I-57 or the Tri-State Tollway when possible, officials and earlier coverage advise. The Illinois Department of Transportation project page lists suggested detours and links for real-time travel information for drivers planning trips through the work zone.
Illinois State Police remained on scene directing traffic and assisting stranded motorists while tow operators and city crews worked to pull out vehicles and clear the floodwater. This is a developing situation, and we will update if officials release new information or if road conditions change.
