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IDOT: Two-way traffic on burned I-74 bridge at least a month away
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
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DOWNS -- It could be almost winter before traffic returns to normal on Interstate 74 near Downs, but two-direction traffic could return in a little more than one month if the eastbound bridge can support it. | Updated photo gallery | New video

The westbound bridge over Kickapoo Creek has been closed since Saturday when a gasoline tanker rolled over and caught fire, damaging the span. The eastbound bridge has been restricted to a single lane.

On Monday, Illinois Department of Transportation structural engineers checked to see if the eastbound bridge, with some repairs, could hold two lanes of traffic, said Jerry Cearlock, the IDOT district operations engineer in charge of the cleanup.

He said about 25 IDOT staff worked 24-7 to get the fire out, set up and post detours, re-evaluate routes, and assess damage.

The single eastbound lane was reopened at midnight Saturday. All westbound traffic must turn off at the U.S. 136 exit southeast of LeRoy, either to take the main detour toward U.S. 51 or to use U.S. 150 to reach Downs and LeRoy, said Cearlock.

If the eastbound bridge meets requirements for two-way traffic, workers would then build a median crossover, improve the shoulders and make any needed repairs to the bridge deck.

“We don’t know if it’s doable,” he said of the possibility of making the eastbound bridge two-directional.

“It will likely be four to six weeks. We hope it can be sooner,” Cearlock said. “If local traffic can avoid the area, it will be a big benefit for everyone.”

Meanwhile, temporary traffic lights and detour signs are directing westbound motorists. One stoplight will be placed where the detour shifts from Interstate 74; another will be installed in Heyworth at a four-way stop intersection. The lights will replace flaggers now directing traffic. “It should be done by dark tonight (Monday),” he said.

Repairs to the westbound bridge, could be done “hopefully before winter,” he said. “That’s our best guess,” he said.

Motorists westbound on Interstate 74 will see a flashing message board about four miles before the U.S. 136 turnoff southeast of LeRoy. Traffic now slows about half a mile to that exit, Cearlock said.

“We know (the delay) can be frustrating,” said IDOT spokeswoman Marisa Kollias. She asked the public to be patient. The agency’s “first priority is public safety,” she said.

“Be alert and slow down. Be patient, be careful” Cearlock agreed.

Environmental impact

The fire damaged some nearby trees and grass, but minnows continue to swim in a nearby channel of Kickapoo Creek, said Illinois Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Jill Watson.

The IEPA is investigating three weekend accidents involving spills. Truck accidents in Quincy and Yorkville involved diesel spills.

At the I-74 bridge, Kickapoo Creek has two channels. A dry bed for overflow water was closest to the fire; the second channel has active minnows, she said.

Bodine Environmental of Decatur will pull fluids -- mostly firefighting foam -- from the dry creekbed to prevent runoff into the Kickapoo.

Soil samples are being taken to see if soils need to be scraped and removed, she said. IEPA staff will be returning later this week to investigate further, she said.

Driver died of blunt trauma

The accident occurred when a westbound gasoline tanker lost control about 1 p.m. and crashed into the guardrails before tipping over and catching on fire. The driver, Lowell Kolbus, 71, of Mattoon, died. He had been hauling a load to Ottawa.

Results of Monday’s preliminary autopsy show Kolbus died from blunt chest trauma, McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling said in a statement. Confirmation of identity through dental records should be completed within days, and toxicology tests should be finished within six weeks, she said.

Hazardous material haulers in Illinois must have state approval that includes a “threat assessment,” including fingerprinting and a background check, said Terry Montalbano, the commerical drivers’ license administrator for Secretary of State Jesse White.

The approval is in addition to CDL requirements in Illinois, which includes a requirement for drivers to complete their written and road tests only in English, an automated format to prevent memorized answers, and a multi-part skills and road test, Montalbano said.

The Hours of Service law authorizes truckers to drive up to 11 hours and limits them to 14 hours in a duty period, said Matt Hart of Mid-West Truckers Association in Springfield.

Take a look
Saturday’s gasoline tanker wreck on the Kickapoo Creek bridge has closed three of four lanes on Interstate 74. (Pantagraph/DAVID PROEBER)
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Reader comments on this story - 36 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

To: IAR wrote on Jul 11, 2007 6:49 AM:

" Man, ease up there Ivy League. I think it's pretty entertaining when people use moot/mute incorrectly. "

.... wrote on Jul 11, 2007 12:42 AM:

" I just have to say that I am glad that the IDOT crews worked 24/7 to get the fire out. When all of the other fire departments that responded actually put it out and did a great job. "

Pot calling the kettle, black wrote on Jul 10, 2007 11:06 PM:

" mo·ron –noun 1. a person who is notably stupid or lacking in good judgment. Seems that a Certified Safety Professional (Did you make that up?) would know that a professional driver does not "lose control" In all sympathy to the family, this was an accident, plain and simple. Odds are, we'll never truly know what happened that day. I'm sure that driver did all he could. I would say the moron in this story is the so called "professional" resorting to name calling. THAT'S poor judgment! "

You Kidding Me? wrote on Jul 10, 2007 9:47 PM:

" The next thing one of these so called experts about bridge building will want is a Ferry Boat to cross the Kickapoo. I'm sure that the Army Corp Of Engineers will be right there! Get a couple of 200' 2x4s and open er up! You first, No, You first! I thought so! "

TO:To Just Wonderful wrote on Jul 10, 2007 6:54 PM:

" Just for your information I am a CSP and trainer of drivers in safety!! CSP= Certified Safety Professional, moron. As for the others it states in the article that the driver lost control and struck the guardrail of the bridge. Does not take rocket science to read that there were no skid marks reported only the strike against the railing. "

to Monkey Wrench wrote on Jul 10, 2007 4:56 PM:

" First of all, if you think you can repair an entire bridge span in a month, you need to hit your self a few times with that monkey wrench. Nearly every beam in that structure is bowed, the concrete is weakened, and all must be removed before repairs can begin to be made. New spans must be ordered...they just don't have the correct ones just sitting around the IDOT yard. There is also prep things that need to be accomplished such as re surveying and etc. Let them do it right, and it might be the only bridge in Illinois that is the same height as the highway. "

Yeah right wrote on Jul 10, 2007 4:44 PM:

" is closer to the truth than those defending the IDOT workers. Believe that some of the posters " confuse " private contractor personnel who swelter away in the heat and freeze in the cold with IDOT highway maintainers ( big orange trucks ) who would NOT miss a coffee break or lunch break if every bridge in Mc Lean county sustained heavy damage ! "

Ty wrote on Jul 10, 2007 3:52 PM:

" Shouldn't "normal" be capitalized in the first sentence? Har har... "

to Monkey Wrench wrote on Jul 10, 2007 3:47 PM:

" Have you ever seen IDOT employees work..... or the last there of. Maybe we could all make the state pay for a private jet or helicopter to take us to work every day - that is what the governor does. "

To lulz wrote on Jul 10, 2007 3:09 PM:

" Every structure, building or bridge has to be built to maintain certain standards regarding fire. The steel or alloy used to make the structure is tested and set to with stand certain levels of heat for certain amounts of time. Even with that said those levels of heat and time typically depend on what the steel is being used for. Odds are that the steel in the bridge was made to withstand a good level of heat but nothing like a concentrated fire on it for an extended period of time. The same is true with the twin towers. Though the building was made to withstand a fire it would not have been a fire with the temperature levels of burning fuel, as is the same case with the bridge. Most office building fire ratings are able to withstand the typical office fire with a burning desk or paper, etc, with some sort of factor of safety added to that. The fire that burned in the twin towers burned a lot hotter and a lot longer than any fire preventatives that the office would have had would have been able to handle. "

Hmm wrote on Jul 10, 2007 1:50 PM:

" As far as I know Heyworth and IL State Police have been working together with the traffic.. AND HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTETNION TO THE TRAFFIC THAT IS COMING THROUGH. "

lulz wrote on Jul 10, 2007 1:33 PM:

" It didn't take that long to fix that collapsed road in L.A.! Also about the towers reference, I bet you anything that the bridge was not designed with the thought that a tanker would run into it. The towers -were- designed to withstand high temperatures such as fire. Don't really hate to say it. "

Elle wrote on Jul 10, 2007 1:28 PM:

" I don't blame any of the IDOT workers for taking as many breaks as they needed considering the job(s) they do. I wouldn't have wanted to be out in the heat like we had this past weekend, trying to direct traffic that is full of road rage idiots. It seems everyone is so critical of these workers but it's only because they work out in public which makes them an easy target. If you looked around your place of employment, where the public cannot see, I bet you would see your fellow employees taking breaks, playing on the computer or just doing something other than work. "

To: krp wrote on Jul 10, 2007 1:27 PM:

" If people would slow down Heyworth police would not have to be out there enforcing the speed limit, which is 30 mph through town, not 45 or 50 like some seem to think it is. "

MONKEY WRENCH wrote on Jul 10, 2007 11:30 AM:

" Seems to me, that if they really wanted to, that bridge could be repaired or rebuilt in less than a month. I mean come on, why in the world will it take till winter before that bridge is repaired and westbound traffic restored? Isn' this a case of commerce being disrupted? Since it is an Interstate, wouldn't that fall under the responsibilty of the Federal government? Get the Army Corps of Engineers out there and get it done! "

krp wrote on Jul 10, 2007 11:19 AM:

" it looks like the detour could mean a financial bonanza to Heyworth with speeding fines. they had the police out keeping an eagle on traffic into town rather than helping direct traffic through the four-way stop. "

downs supporter wrote on Jul 10, 2007 11:14 AM:

" Exactly where did it say that the Mayor of Downs was single-handedly responsible for the re-route? Nowhere. This is all unfounded speculation and rumor. If you read the other posts it says that law enforcement and IDOT decided what the best detour route would be. Don't blame the Downs Mayor for something he didn't have anything to do with. "

another wrote on Jul 10, 2007 11:02 AM:

" to: just wonderful: Do you realize that there was liquid in that tanker truck. Have you ever driven a vehicle with weight in the back of it??? It doesn't matter what the reaction time is....if you turn the wheel too fast to try and over correct the material in the back of the truck doesn't move the same way. Try driving any vehicle with weight in the back of it. Have some compassion for others and quit acting like you know everything. "

to IDOT wrote on Jul 10, 2007 10:47 AM:

" Lets see you work out in the 90 degree weather with out hardly any breaks and work 6am -8pm every night plus saturdays. I bet you couldn't do it if you tried. I give a lot of credit to the workers that work on the roads during the summer months in this heat. Good job to the many workers to bust their butt everyday. "

To: Just Wonderful wrote on Jul 10, 2007 10:38 AM:

" My dad is 73 and he can run circles around me. Age is not the issue here. "

IAR TO: JUST WONDERFUL wrote on Jul 10, 2007 10:17 AM:

" I know there are many grammatical errors on this site, but one of my pet peeves is when people say "MUTE POINT". It is MOOT POINT, not mute point. It is not that the point is unable to speak; it is that the point is irrelevant. It is pronounced moot, like the noise a cow makes; not mute like music. Please people; attempt to divest yourselves of your ignorance. "

To Just Wonderful wrote on Jul 10, 2007 10:14 AM:

" I'm sorry, but where does it say that it was the driver's fault? To my knowledge we do not know what caused this accident. Could have been to avoid another vehicle etc. There aren't any eye witnesses stepping forward to let us know what exactly happened. Let's not assume, because we all know what that does!!!! "

to IDOT wrote on Jul 10, 2007 10:12 AM:

" I don't think that anyone was trying to say that IDOT put out the fire single handedly. If you read it gives a paragraph that explains the many things they did to help this situation. It DID NOT say that they put the fire out all by their very selves. As for them sitting and eating donuts etc. I know for a fact that they worked from 12:30 pm til 7 am in teams of 2 and yes, one of them may have been taking a much needed break for coffee and breakfast. Let's see YOU work that long with NO breaks. "

no way wrote on Jul 10, 2007 10:06 AM:

" to Just Wonderful....take the HazMet test at the DMV and get your CDL. These guys have to renew these and pay a lot more for them every year. Know your facts before you pass judgement. If you can't pass the test, you don't get the endorsements, or keep your CDL. "

Bloviavich Mem. Bridge wrote on Jul 10, 2007 10:02 AM:

" Special session of congress required to get this done by '08. "

Rose wrote on Jul 10, 2007 9:46 AM:

" To Just Wonderful: Who seems to know it. SHAME ON YOU. A man died. Try to show some compassion and sympathy for his family. My deepest sympathy to his family "

To: Just Wonderful wrote on Jul 10, 2007 9:24 AM:

" Just wondering what kind of experience you have of driving large trucks that makes you an expert. I really get a kick out of people that are experts on everything. "

to: yo Downs Mayor wrote on Jul 10, 2007 9:17 AM:

" Regardless of what your opinion is as to traffic re-routing.... your last sentence was completely in-appropriate. Don't use this man's life to make rude comments. And by the way.... "beat" your spelling classes weren't taken at Tri-Valley!! "

Just Wonderful wrote on Jul 10, 2007 8:29 AM:

" a 71 year old man driving a Hazardous Materials truck causes the accident by losing control. Just imagine if this was not the interstate but was Veterans Parkway or Main Street and he hit other vihicles or structures and started a fire of this magnitude. Given he would not have been traveling as fast but with a truck such as this a fire could still easily occur if the tank is ruptured on a fire hydrant or some other object. 71 years old you do not have the same reaction times and sight, I know the argument will come out about experience but once you reach a certain age that becomes a mute point as age induced deterioration overtakes control. Face it this guy should not have been driving a Hazardous Materials truck!!! "

This will~~ wrote on Jul 10, 2007 8:29 AM:

" go alot smoother if everyone is patient, and just go with the flow. Idot is doing everything they can! "

Hate to say it, but... wrote on Jul 10, 2007 7:17 AM:

" I find it interesting that only a week ago everyone on here was arguing about 911 conspiracy theories, with one of the main topic points being that there was no way a fire could "melt" or "weaken" the steel support structures of the twin towers. After what happened to that bridge after a little tanker truck hit it, I don’t' feel I need to sit here and defend the point anymore. All that's really necessary is, "We told you so!!" "

Come on wrote on Jul 10, 2007 6:59 AM:

" IDOT, assess the eastbound bridge, do what it takes to stableize it and get about building the temporary crossways in order for traffic to not have to divert through Heyworth and elsewhere. With the heavy equipment and large trucks available today this shouldn't be a long drawn out process. If private trucking firms are allready committed then use your own IDOT highway maintainers to haul in the needed fill material. Let's " gitter done " ! "

yo Downs Mayor wrote on Jul 10, 2007 6:57 AM:

" beat you are loving the lack of people in your town. The BP station has got to be suffering. Beat your tax dollars from local businesses are less this year. To bad someone had to die to get you what you want, no traffice on your streets. "

Yeah Right wrote on Jul 10, 2007 6:51 AM:

" So IDOT worked 24 / 7 to get the fire out...... Not sure but I think the great volunteer fire departments of Downs and the surrounding areas put the fire out. Only thng I saw of the IDOT workers were sitting in their trucks and drinking coffee on over time after setting baracades up... How funny for the IDOT people to take any credit at all for putting the tragic fire out.... And we all know how IDOT works.. Does any one really think it is going to be any time soon before 2 way traffic is restored or back to normal.... I dont think so.... "

IDOT wrote on Jul 10, 2007 6:20 AM:

" As hard as those guys work it will be closed till Christmas. "

Dr. Orangutan Chief Cardiologist Miller Park Zoo wrote on Jul 10, 2007 5:39 AM:

" This main artery could be repaired in just a few days. If only we could use the resources that sit idle and laugh at the Guberment. "
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