Tri-State not closing after ComEd changes plans

Plans to shut down the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) just east of Milwaukee Avenue for two hours Tuesday afternoon so ComEd can replace power lines knocked down by a construction accident Tuesday morning have been rescinded.

The Tri-State will not be shut down Tuesday afternoon and ComEd says the work will be done at another, unspecified time. The tollway was scheduled to be closed at noon, a release from ComEd this morning said. But about 1:15 p.m. a second release said the closure would be delayed until an unspecified date and time.

About 8:05 a.m., traffic came to a stop on the Tri-State just south of Willow Road when a construction crane knocked over the two wires, according to Illinois State Police Tollway District Master Sergeant Thomas Gartner.

Traffic came to a complete halt for about 45 minutes after the wires fell onto the road. Some ComEd customers in the area lost power, which was quickly restored. By about 8:50 a.m. traffic, albeit slowly, was moving through the area after ComEd crews moved the wires out of the way, Gartner said.

The crane was not operated by a ComEd contractor, according to the release. There were no serious injuries reported, Gartner said, though the operator of the crane was treated by an ambulance crew. He did not know the extent of the injuries.