Part Of Irving Park Road Closed After Trucks Hit Low Bridge Near O'Hare
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The state has closed part of a major thoroughfare near O'Hare International Airport for the next four months, after truckers didn't follow directions, and crashed into a low bridge.
The Illinois Department of Transportation had set up a detour for trucks on Irving Park Road at York Road in Bensenville, warning them of a low bridge at the new railroad flyover, which opened Sunday.
Several truckers ignored the detour signs, and tried to get under the bridge anyway, despite its clearance of only 12 feet 6 inches.
The trucks hit the bridge, and although IDOT has not said how badly it might have been damaged, the state has closed Irving Park between York and the South Access Road at the southwest corner of O'Hare, for the next four months.
IDOT said 37,000 vehicles use that half-mile stretch of Irving Park Road each day.
South Access Road will remain open to cargo deliveries to O'Hare, accessible through two detours, while Irving Park is closed:
Eastbound traffic on Irving Park will turn north on York Road/Elmhurst Road, then east on Touhy Avenue and Higgins Road, and south on Mannheim Road.
Westbound traffic will turn north on Mannheim Road, west on Higgins Road and Touhy Avenue, and south on York Road/Elmhurst Road.