Chicago traffic: Part of Indiana Toll Road shut down after utility pole fire; train service affected
South Shore Line delayed in Gary; Metra Electric accepting passengers
LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) -- Both directions of the Indiana Toll Road will be closed until Monday night in northwest Indiana, after a utility pole fire, Indiana State Police said. Train service is also affected.
State police tweeted about the fire about 5:40 a.m., and said emergency officials are concerned the 110-foot pole could collapse and bring power lines onto the roadway.
As of 10:15 a.m., the fire had been put out.
Traffic is being diverted at Exits 5 and 10 in Lake County, police said.
LIVE look at Chicago traffic for Monday morning commute
The highway is closed between Calumet and Cline avenues.
A midday update from NIPSCO said that due to the extent of repairs needed, the road closures are expected to continue through "the later evening hours" for the safety of travelers. They did not give an exact time for when they expected roads to reopen.
The South Shore Line was also stopped in Gary. Metra Electric will be accepting South Shore passes.
The South Shore Line will run a temporary weekend/holiday schedule between Hammond and Chicago Monday, starting with westbound train 606, departing Hammond at 12:10 p.m. The first eastbound train will be train 505, departing Millennium Station at 1:22 p.m. Trains will make all scheduled intermediate station stops between Hammond and Millennium.
Train and bus service will continue to be suspended to all stations east of Hammond until the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, or NIPSCO, has completed its repairs.
Officials asked commuters to plan for extra time and possible delays.
It was not immediately clear how the pole caught fire.
