EFFINGHAM —
An accident on south and westbound Interstate 57 and 70 forced all interstate traffic off the route and shut down south and westbound lanes from Montrose to Altamont and from Neoga to Watson, congesting traffic and creating a maze of vehicles for more than 25 miles on Monday afternoon.
According to Illinois State Police, two southbound semitruck drivers who were hauling modular homes on Interstate 57 missed their exit and wound up in the construction zone near the Little Wabash River Bridge west of Effingham on Interstate 70 near mile marker 99 at 1:36 p.m.
The first truck attempted to go through the construction zone, but hit a concrete barrier and became wedged in the narrow construction lane. The second truck, along with traffic, built up behind the accident.
Traffic behind the trucks had to drive backward about a mile to where the interstate split and motorists were rerouted to Interstate 57, state police said.
A double-bottom semitruck that was part of the congested traffic was pulling two trailers and was unable to drive the vehicle backward that far. As a result, a tow truck was necessary to assist with the double-bottom semitruck, which is part of the reason why the interstate was closed for so long, state police said.
The semitruck drivers hauling the modular homes were lost, as their destination was originally for Interstate 72, state police said. Damage was done to only one of the modular homes.
For approximately four hours, westbound traffic on Interstate 70 was pulled off in Montrose. State police and Illinois Department of Transportation rerouted traffic onto U.S. 40 through Teutopolis and Effingham, and motorists were able to get back on the interstate in Altamont.
As for traffic coming off of Interstate 57, state police pulled off those motorists into Neoga and rerouted them onto U.S. 45 through Effingham. Southbound traffic was able to get back onto the interstate near Watson.
State police and IDOT blocked all interstate entrance ramps onto the south and westbound lanes in Effingham and the entrance ramp in Montrose. State police also assisted with traffic control at exit 162, where lines of vehicles were stalled on U.S. 45 coming and going from Effingham.
In Montrose, interstate traffic was backed up about five miles east of town, state police said. Getting from Montrose to Teutopolis was a chore, as traffic was stalled for several hours on U.S. 40 between the two towns.
Part of the reason traffic was stalled for so long on U.S. 40 is because a semitruck broke down on the highway around 6 p.m., state police said.
Already saturated with traffic jams, Effingham became even more congested when interstate motorists drove city streets to their rerouted destinations. The few short blocks on West Fayette Avenue that carry both U.S. 40 and U.S. 45 were bumper-to-bumper with traffic, and some motorists reported waiting in traffic on the interstate for more than an hour.
The interstate was reopened at approximately 6:30 p.m., according to scanner traffic.
Samantha Newburn may be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or samantha.newburn@effinghamdailynews.com.
Local News
Related Photos
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traffic becomes congested along Interstate 70 east of Montrose Monday afternoon after an accident on the interstate west of Effingham forced south and westbound lanes on Interstate 57 and 70 to be closed for about four hours. Traffic was backed up about five miles east of the small town. Samantha Newburn
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A semitruck hauling a modular home hit a concrete barrier and became wedged near the Little Wabash River Bridge along westbound Interstate 70 west of Effingham Monday afternoon. Traffic behind the accident was forced to back up on the interstate and reroute to Interstate 57 near the split. Samantha Newburn
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Illinois State Troopers and Illinois Department of Transportation personnel direct traffic coming off of Interstate 57 and 70 in Effingham Monday on U.S. 45 at exit 162 near Pilot Truckstop. An accident in the construction zone on Interstate 70 west of Effingham forced south and westbound lanes to be closed for approximately four hours. Samantha Newburn
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An Illinois State Trooper directs traffic at the intersection of Spring Creek Road and U.S. 40 in Montrose Monday afternoon after an accident in the construction zone on Interstate 70 west of Effingham forced south and westbound lanes on Interstate 57 and 70 to be closed for approximately four hours. Samantha Newburn
Discussion
Accident closes interstates
Traffic forced to reroute for several hours Monday
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