A crash on Interstate 88 in the western suburbs of Chicago caused major traffic backups Thursday afternoon, with motorists facing delays of up to an hour as crews worked at the scene.
The collision occurred during the beginning of the afternoon rush hour on I-88, creating a significant traffic disruption between Aurora and Naperville. By about 4 p.m., aerial footage from NBC Chicago Sky 5 showed that all but one of the westbound lanes had been blocked following the crash.
The scene appeared to be near a bridge carrying railroad tracks over the interstate. Emergency and road crews could be seen working around the crash area as traffic moved slowly through the remaining open lane.
The resulting congestion stretched for several miles. Traffic was reported backed up from the area near Eola Road in Aurora toward North Washington Street in Naperville, leaving hundreds of motorists caught in the afternoon gridlock.
Total Traffic estimated delays of as much as one hour around 4 p.m. Drivers traveling westbound through the Aurora and Naperville areas were urged to expect significant congestion and allow additional time for their journeys.
Authorities had not immediately released details about how the crash occurred or whether anyone was injured. The number of vehicles involved and the condition of those at the scene were also not immediately available.
The Illinois Tollway regularly provides traffic and incident information for I-88, which serves as a major east-west route through Chicago’s western suburbs. (X)
As crews continued working at the crash scene, motorists faced a difficult afternoon commute, with the lane closures causing backups well beyond the immediate location of the collision. Further details were expected as authorities continued investigating the crash and working to clear the roadway.
