Public advised to avoid unnecessary travel
information provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (April 16, 2020) — The Illinois Department of Transportation is warning the public that winter weather will affect much of the state this evening through Friday night, with some areas possibly receiving up to 8 inches of snow. To prepare, IDOT will have its snow-and-ice teams pretreating roads and bridges as necessary, with plowing operations likely to continue into the weekend.
“Our crews are prepared to make our roads as safe as possible,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Transportation is an essential service, with the safety of the traveling public continuing as a top priority. Although traffic volumes are down due to people staying at home during the pandemic, I want to remind motorists that if you do have to be on the road, please slow down, anticipate slick conditions, and build plenty of extra time in your schedules.”
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, beginning Thursday evening, for heavy, wet snow across central and northern Illinois, with accumulations of 6 inches in the Peoria area, northwestern Illinois and Chicago area. Higher amounts, up to 8 inches, are possible from Macomb to Galesburg.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, Gov. JB Pritzker has issued a state-at-home order for Illinois through April. If you must travel, be advised your destination could have significantly higher amounts of snow than where your trip originated. Visibility and slippery conditions will be a challenge for the duration of the storm.
For regular updates on statewide road conditions, visit GettingAroundIllinois.com.
