CHICAGO (AP/WBBM) - Traffic on I-57 is moving again in Will County - after both directions of the highway were closed Saturday when tornadoes tore through the University Park area and sent power lines crashing down - some of them right on I-57
The National Weather Service said a sprawling storm system generated five separate tornadoes in Chicago's southern suburbs tearing roofs from homes, knocking down power lines and overturning semitrailers. And more storms are expected this evening.
But Comed says it still needs to do some more permanent repair work, so expect one lane in each direction to be closed in the University Park area "for the next several weeks," says Comed Senior Vice President Terry Donnelly.
"Right now we need that lane (in each direction) for safety clearances and heavy equipment clearances," Donnelly says.
Donnelly says some of the towers damaged by the tornado are well over 100 feet tall.
"We had five transmission towers - the big steel towers - damaged, including two of them that actually collapsed and were destroyed, and over seven spans of transmission conductors, damaged and sagging onto I-57. Actually one conductor fell right on the highway," Donnelly says.
As of 1 p.m. Monday, Donnelly said there were fewer than 600 customers still without power in the I-57 area around University Park, Richton Park and Monee, plus 3,000 customers without power elsewhere.
Seven downed high-voltage power lines had closed portions of the interstate over the weekend.
City Aviation officials said there were up to one hour delays at O'Hare and Midway, but that the situation was improving as the weather improves. Travelers are advised to call ahead.
Approximately 3,400 Commonwealth Edison customers are still without power.
A flash flood warning watch is in effect until Monday night.
Approaching storms have prompted a lakeshore flood warning that will remain in effect until 9 p.m. because a two-foot drop in Lake Michigan water near Chicago indicates a seiche is in progress across the southern parts of the lake, causing water levels to fluctuate rapidly.
On June 26, 1954, an eight-foot-tall Lake Michigan seiche swept eight people to their deaths. Most of them were fishing at Montrose Harbor.
Residents on or near the shore should be alert for rising water and evacuate docks, piers and breakwalls immediately, the weather service said.
A flash flood watch also remains in effect for northern Illinois until Monday night. A flash flood watch means conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Residents should be prepared to take action, the weather service said.
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