IDOT re-opens all lanes of I-290 after flooding repairs

BELLWOOD, Ill. (WLS) -- Illinois Department of Transportation officials re-opened all lanes of the Eisenhower Expressway near Des Plaines Avenue after a day of repairs for flooding. High-standing water shut down I-290 in both directions overnight.

IDOT opened inbound lanes late Tuesday afternoon, in time for the evening's rush hour.

The outbound lanes opened early Tuesday morning after crews managed to drain the water on those westbound lanes. The eastbound lanes remained closed between 1st Avenue and Harlem Avenue for several hours, as workers focused on clearing the water and mud left behind.

After the water receded, debris and mud remained on the expressway. Chopper 7 HD observed a spot in the right lane where the pavement buckled.

Storms rolled through the northwest suburbs Monday evening, dumping a large amount of rain in a relatively short amount of time. A flash-flooding alert was issued Monday night.

Illinois State Police Sergeant Rodney Collins said three or four cars were stranded in the flood water. People seeking higher ground waded through nearly waist-deep water to get to safety on top of a concrete barrier near 25th Avenue. No one was injured.

"At this point we believe this was a flash flood that put too much strain on our system," IDOT Spokesperson Guy Tridgell said. "Unfortunately this does happen in rare occurrences, where we receive these intense storms that are too much for our systems to handle."

IDOT crews did repair a manhole cover they say was damaged in the flood and caused the buckle in the right lane. They say the flood also gave them the opportunity to inspect the pumps and drainage systems, which they say are in good condition.

A similar standing water issue plagued the Eisenhower in June, when severe storms hit the area. It took IDOT workers hours to clear the water and re-open the expressway. A collapsed storm sewer was replaced after this incident.

CTA Blue Line service was temporarily suspended between Forest Park and the Harlem-Congress branch, the CTA said. Normal service resumed early Tuesday morning.

FLOODING in BELLWOOD

Tasha Reed came home to a flooded basement Tuesday morning.

At least one foot of water poured into Reed's Bellwood home during a flash-flood overnight. Fortunately, nothing valuable was damaged and the water drained.

"I was glad that my car wasn't there because it would have been flooded out," Reed said. "I knew my basement was flooded. It went all the way across and just didn't go that far back."

Many homes on Hyde Park Boulevard near Oak Street were surrounded by water and cars were partially submerged. The force of the flood broke the bottom of Letha Bell Lazenby's garage door panel. She said this is the third time this area has flooded this summer.

"I don't like to actually get my garage fixed because every time there is a flood warning, the garage door is going to be broken,"Lazenby said.

Xavier Mahone watched as his wife and child were removed from their apartment in the 900- block of 25th Avenue because water affected their electricity.

"It's flooded out here and it flooded in our house in the basement and the walls are popping electricity," Mahone said. "So I get my family out of there."

Fortunately, there are no reports of any major damage in Bellwood. The village is just hoping to dry out.