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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Traffic diverted as I-74 undergoes emergency road work
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A stretch of Interstate 74 will be closed for the remainder of the day due to emergency road repairs, according to state police. In a post on their Facebook page, Illinois State Police Troop 5 said early Monday morning that the westbound lanes of Interstate 74 between mile markers 120 and 125 are closed down. That's the stretch of interstate that passes through Carlock and Dry Grove township. The road closure comes after the pavement buckled, according to Paul Wappel, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Transportation. Traffic headed westbound on I-74 is being diverted off the highway at mile marker 125 onto U.S. Route 150 to Carlock. Cars will then get back on the highway at mile marker 120, the post said. It was not made immediately available what the emergency road repairs are for. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Memorial Day Weekend Travel: Safety Tips and Construction Alerts for Central Illinois
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and with it comes one of the busiest and most dangerous travel periods of the year. Whether you're heading out by car, plane, or train, safety and preparation are key for a smooth kickoff to the season. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Friday before Memorial Day is traditionally the busiest travel day of the year, with heavy traffic expected across the state. It's also a day when road fatalities tend to spike. 'Buckle up, don't drive impaired. There's going to be extra law enforcement out and about throughout the state looking for people who aren't buckled up or who are driving impaired,' said Paul Wappel, an IDOT spokesman. 'If anybody sees someone obviously drunk or impaired behind the wheel, call 911 right away. Don't drive distracted. Don't speed. Be patient—there's likely going to be a lot of vehicles on the road.' While many lanes across the state are opening for holiday travel, some will remain closed: Eastbound War Memorial Drive (U.S. 150) at Adams Street (Illinois 29) – Lane reductions continue. Adams Street (Illinois 29) between Lorentz Avenue and Eureka Street – Lane reductions continue. I-74/474/Illinois 6 interchange – Lane reductions continue. I-74 near Brimfield – Lane reductions continue. Illinois 78/97 just north of U.S. 136 – Lane reductions continue, with traffic controlled by temporary signals. Feather Road and Armington Road over I-155 – Both roads are currently closed. U.S. 24, 2 miles east of Chenoa – Lane reductions continue, with traffic controlled by temporary signals. Illinois 9 east of I-55/74 in Bloomington – Lane reductions continue. Westbound I-74 ramp at I-55 (exit 163) – Closed. Market Street (U.S. 150/Illinois 9) between Hinshaw Avenue and Truckers Lane in Bloomington – Lane closures continue. Travelers should allow extra time, check real-time traffic updates, and use caution through all work zones. Beyond the roads, health officials also remind everyone to stay safe in the sun and around water. Whether boating, swimming, or relaxing outdoors, remember to use sunscreen, stay hydrated, and always wear a life jacket near open water. Wherever you're headed this weekend, a few precautions can go a long way in ensuring a safe and enjoyable start to your summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Most ramps at I-57, I-74 interchange will be open by year's end, IDOT says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — After more than four years of construction, the project to reconfigure the interchange of I-57 and I-74 in Champaign could reach a major milestone in the next six months. IDOT expects most of the interchange's ramps to be open and in use by the end of the year. Paul Wappel, IDOT's Public Information Officer based in Springfield, provided the following timeline of both recent developments and what's still to come. Champaign County forms carbon sequestration task force The ramp from westbound I-74 to southbound I-57 closed on March 2 in order to allow for construction both on and under the bridge carrying I-74 over I-57. The flyover ramp that will serve this connection in the future is anticipated to open this summer. The ramp leading from southbound I-57 to westbound I-74 reopened earlier this month after a three-week closure to build a temporary connection between the two highways. The permanent connection will be completed in the fall. The ramp leading from northbound I-57 to westbound I-74 opened Monday night and simultaneously, two ramps closed: the ramp from northbound I-57 to eastbound I-74 and the ramp from eastbound I-74 to Prospect Avenue. The closures are expected to last one month to establish a temporary connection between the two highways. The ramp from eastbound I-74 to Prospect Avenue also closed that night. 'People say enough is enough' — Citizens Utility Board fighting record-breaking gas rate hike A temporary ramp from eastbound I-74 to southbound I-57 is open. Currently, workers are completing bridge work and preparing for pacing with an anticipated opening in summer. Southbound I-57 to eastbound I-74 is currently closed and is expected reopen in the fall. Also currently closed is the ramp from eastbound I-74 to northbound I-57. The flyover ramp serving that connection is still under construction, with the bridge deck still being built. IDOT anticipates it opening in 2026. While all the ramps are planned to be open and in service by the middle of 2026, pavement reconstruction on both highways is expected to continue into December of 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
