Traffic & Transit

Joliet's Route 53 Closed, Road Damaged From Floods

The Joliet Fire Department said that Sunday's heavy rains caused several sections of Route 53 to break.

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The Illinois Department of Transportation has closed a section of Route 53 on Joliet's east side because of Sunday's flooding damage.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has closed a section of Route 53 on Joliet's east side because of Sunday's flooding damage. (Photo by John Ferak, Joliet Patch Editor)

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Fire Department announced Monday that one of the city's major thoroughfares, Route 53, sustained heavy damage from Sunday's rains. A section of the four-lane road between Patterson Road and Doris Avenue has been closed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Large sections of asphalt broke apart between Doris and Patterson Road. There was also several inches of standing water underneath the train viaduct.

By 11 a.m., semi-trailers were being diverted away from Route 53 at Mills Road, and the detour was also causing a major backlog of traffic near Joliet's Richards Street exit.

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"At this time it is unknown how long the road will be closed," Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey said.

Image via John Ferak/Patch

Find out what's happening in Jolietfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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