Friday, July 4th, 2008
Traffic warning: I72/55 mayhem

If any of my fellow Springfield people are planning to use this stretch of road, I have a cautionary tale.
I left home at 11am this morning and got straight on the highway at Stevenson heading East/South. On getting to the bottom of the whirlygig entrance ramp I immediately felt like I was in a parking lot. The traffic was almost stationary and it took about 40 minutes for me to get to where the I72 and I55 diverge. I could see up ahead that they are doing some resurfacing work (good choice of day folks!) on the I55 and the traffic was backing up considerably. So I was going to get off at 6th street but the 72 was clear from then onwards.

The East bound carriageway is fine so on the way home I came back and, after getting off at the Stephenson exit, I made a special effort to look right over the bridge and there were cars as far as I could see.

In summary, the I55/I72 is totally chock-a-block from at least South Grand until at least 6th street. It is possible it extends way beyond those points.
Tags:  traffic
11 Comments
mrsshoo
1) Holy cow. I wonder how much those workers are getting paid today?!
Mrs. Shoo   Friday, July 4, 2008
nheinzel
2) The "carriageway"? How quaint!! That stretch of highway is notorious. If there's not construction, there's a wreck..... We got held up there this past week. Turned out it was a semi (a little farther down I-55) full of butter that had burned up. There's got to be a joke in there somewhere!!
!   Friday, July 4, 2008
SallyPants
3) I'm really surprised they're working today. I thought everyone except Walmart employees had the day off.
SallyPants   Friday, July 4, 2008
jnjnj05
4) My husband was on his way to Peoria, but made it through Springfield by 10:45 or so. Sounds like he got lucky on 55 through there!
Jenn   Friday, July 4, 2008
George
5) Definitely. The aforementioned distance between the two exits is around 2 miles I'd guess.....that took 40 minutes or thereabouts.

Keep tuned ! for more quaintisms in the future.
LimeyGeorge   Friday, July 4, 2008
MommaJes
6) LimeyGeorge,
Yep. It is I. Thanks for the welcome. I did get the info from the most recent email from your wife.
Simple to blog here. Nice as well.
sorry for the traffic, hopefully Lil Lucy wasn't crying and bugging. She is sure looking like a cutie pie these days.
Jesika
MommaJes   Friday, July 4, 2008
billpearch
7) I'm glad I'm not heading that direction. Unfortunately, we have to go to McHenry later this afternoon.
Bill   Friday, July 4, 2008
ben
8) It wasn't due to the construction....there was a roll over. I only know cause I got stuck in it on my way out West....called the news station....and could not believe they didn't tell me when I walked in to avoid that road.
Biker Ben   Friday, July 4, 2008
lgrant
9) Butter stick to another route today--sounds like a greasy section of highway. Fats the truth! :)
LGrant   Friday, July 4, 2008
nheinzel
10) I knew you could do it, Linda!!
!   Friday, July 4, 2008
lgrant
11) Sorry--you got me inspired and feeling my word-oats. LOL
LGrant   Friday, July 4, 2008
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