Huge Pile-Up On I-294 Backs Up Traffic

Beware if you're heading out to get on I-294 for weekend travel right now. A 15-car pile-up between Willow and Lake-Cook Roads on the I-294 tollway has caused a seven mile long traffic jam, causing a complete highway clusterfuck.

According to Chicago Breaking News:

Police have shut access to the lane at Dempster Street as police wait for tow trucks to clear the damaged vehicles, [District 15 State Police Master Sgt. Ed] Petrik said. The drivers who are going the wrong way are having to cross traffic in local lanes to head back north at the Dempster entrance, causing a further driving hazard, Petrik said.

It was uncertain how long it will take to clear the highway because only one tow truck at a time can access the crash site, he said.

Update: And no sooner do we post...[via CBN]

A northbound express lane through a construction zone of the Tri-State Tollway was blocked for almost two hours this morning by a 15-vehicle crash, backing up traffic and causing frustrated drivers to try to turn around and drive south in the lane, state police said.

Traffic was moving again after the express lane was reopened about 11:40 a.m., but north of where the express lane ends one of three lanes on the highway was still blocked after noon, slowing traffic, police said.

So, not as bad but still pretty bad. Drive with caution.