Parts of I-55 in Channahon could reopen Thursday morning as crews clear debris from storm

CHANNAHON, Ill. (WLS) -- Parts of I-55 remain shut down in south suburban Will County as crews work to clear power lines downed during Monday night's severe weather.

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In an update Wednesday morning, Illinois State Police and ComEd said the road could reopen between U.S. 6 and River Road in Channahon early Thursday morning after clearing debris and vehicles.

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Chopper 7 flew above the scene and wires could still be seen strewn across the interstate after the storm knocked over two transmission towers and several power poles.

"Over the last 24 hours, our focus has really been on damage assessment, isolation of this damaged area to ensure that we switch out the rest of the grid to where it doesn't somehow get energized," Mark Baranek, SVP of ComEd technical services, said. "We grounded the system yesterday, which requires quite an evolution of literally getting grounds up on towers that are intact so that the workers can start handling the conductor and facilities here."

Illinois State Police said several vehicles were entangled in downed power lines. Five vehicles were involved in a crash, with two people transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

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Along I-55, the building for logistics company Hoffman Transportation suffered serious damage. It brand-new roof, installed last Friday, was blown off.

The confirmed Channahon tornado also toppled two transmission towers. Numerous high-tension, high-power ComEd electricity lines were ripped down, now stretching across the roads, including I-55.

"We had 10 tornados, broken tree limbs, down power lines," said ComEd Vice President Neena Hemmady. "The impact is massive. The amount of work that it takes to get these back up and running is massive."

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And an Exxonmobil Refinery is now without power, forced to flare some of its product as a precaution.

"And there's no harm to the public. We've been in contact with the EPA regarding all of this, and they have no issues with the flaring process," said Will County Emergency Management Agency Director Allison Anderson.

The I-55 closure could have global implications. Just east is a critical trucking and logistics hub and one of the largest inland ports, and the trucks that transport products and raw materials are now delayed.