Flood Update: Lake County Road Closures To Snarl Traffic; Drone Footage Of Flooding

UPDATE: Lake County officials announced Monday evening that Route 173 and Route 120 have reopened.

MORE ON PATCH

• Lake Co. Officials Urge Flood Victims To Report Damage Online
• Flooding Photos: Chain O' Lakes Neighborhoods Underwater

ORIGINAL ARTICLE POSTED ON JULY 16

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Flooding continues to wreak havoc on Lake County, and many major roadways are expected to be closed through the Monday morning commute. Lake County officials are warning commuters that major traffic delays and problems are expected as areas along Routes 60, 120, 132 and 173 are closed. In addition, U.S. Route 41, between Route 21 and North Delany Road in Gurnee, will be closed.

The closures should snarl traffic for those traveling through Lake County on Monday morning.

Here is a more detailed look at where major roadways will be closed in Lake County:

• Route 60 between Route 21 and North St. Mary's Road near Vernon Hills is closed
• Route 120 between Route 21 and North River Road near Libertyville is closed
• Route 132 between Route 21 and O'Plaine Road in Gurnee is closed
• Route 173 between North Kilbourne Road and U.S. 41 near Wadsworth is closed
• U.S. 41 between Route 21 and North Delany Road is closed
• Other roadways near the Des Plaines River and Fox River/Chain O' Lakes are also closed.

Last week, flooding also closed many streets, causing traffic delays. With portions of Route 60 and 120 also closed this week, major delays are expected, according to a news release from Lake County.

County officials said the amount of traffic using Routes 22, 137, 176 and Wadsworth and Deerfield roads, as well as Washington Street, will far exceed capacity.

For a full list of road closures throughout the county and updates on closures, visit Lake County PASSAGE.

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Tips For Morning Commute

• Check Lake County PASSAGE before you leave your house so you can have the latest road information to plan your route
• Allow yourself plenty of time to get where you are going
• Use alternate routes far from these closure areas wherever possible
• Drive cautiously and show patience to other road users.

Flooded Gurnee Drone Footage

Those Needing Assistance

The American Red Cross has a 24/7 Flood Hotline open for individuals needing cleanup kits, water, or other assistance at 847-220-7495. The Red Cross also has emergency shelters currently open at Jefferson Middle School, 600 S. Lewis Ave. in Waukegan, and at Magee Middle School, 500 N. Cedar Lake in Round Lake.

For those who have damaged homes, the Lake County Emergency Management Agency has an online form that can be filled out. Residents affected by flood damage are asked to provide information on that damage.

"Assistance is based on knowing where damage has occurred," according to a post from the Lake County Emergency Management Agency Facebook page. The form can be found here.

Des Plaines River Levels

A flood warning remains in effect for the Des Plaines River in Russell, Gurnee, Des Plaines, Riverside and Lincolnshire. Major flooding was occurring and in the forecast for the Des Plaines River in Gurnee, Russell, Des Plaines and Lincolnshire as of Sunday night. Minor flooding was occurring along the river in Riverside, according to the National Weather Service.

The Des Plaines river had crested in all of those communities and was expected to fall through this week. The river was expected to be below flood stage in Russell by Thursday afternoon, in Gurnee by Thursday evening, in Des Plaines by late Thursday morning and in Lincolnshire by Friday morning.

For more updates, visit the National Weather Service website.

More on Patch

• Chicago-Area Weather: Flooding Continues / Heat And Humidity Is Coming
• Rainfall Totals: Which Chicago-Area Town's Got Over 7 Inches Of Rain?
• Lincolnshire Marriott Theatre, Resort Evacuated; Performances Cancelled
• Flooding Causes Lake Co. Roadway To Collapse

All Patch Flooding Coverage From The Past Week Can Be Found HERE.

Photo caption: Several roadways remained closed due to flooding in Lake County. Photo via Lake County PASSAGE