UPDATE 12:00 p.m.: It’s being reported that all lanes of I-55 and the frontage roads have reopened.
Illinois State Police District 18 have shut down Interstate-55 northbound and southbound lanes including the frontage roads between the Carlinville and Litchfield exit due to down power lines.
According to a press release issued shortly before 9 a.m. by Trooper Heath Bryan, the shutdown was caused by an electrical fire on a power pole outside of the Pioneer Plant. The interstate has been shut down for a couple hours now.
Traffic is being diverted toward Illinois Route 4 for northbound and southbound re-routes. Northbound traffic is exiting at Litchfield (Exit 52) and turning west to come into Gillespie before heading north on IL-4 toward Carlinville and back to I-55 via IL-108.
Southbound traffic is exiting at Carlinville (Exit 60) and turning west on IL-108 toward Carlinville and turning on IL-4 to head south toward Gillespie. After reaching Gillespie, southbound traffic is traveling east on IL-16 back to I-55.
It is unknown when the interstate and frontage roads will be reopened.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
There are plenty of ways to keep up on BenGil news:
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter
Follow us on Twitter for the fastest breaking news updates and score updates
Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take