(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A stretch of Interstate 55 in Channahon, Ill., is expected to remain closed until early Thursday morning as ComEd crews continue to work on repairing extensive damage to their system.
Using cranes, bucket trucks and 16 bulldozers, ComEd is working to stabilize its system after two massive, steel transmission towers went down as tornadoes ripped through the area along Interstate 55.
Senior Vice President of Technical Services Mark Baranek described the damage.
“Some of the wood structures on the other transmission lines were literally twisted and snapped above ground, so we also have roughly 30 transmission structures, in addition to these two lattice towers, that came down,” he said.
ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones said they’ve restored power to 80% of customers who lost it and are focused on safely removing and rebuilding their infrastructure.
Quiniones said they’re target is to have work completed by midnight Wednesday night.
Illinois State Police said two people suffered minor injuries in a crash around the downed lines involving two semi trucks and other vehicles. Once ComEd clears the highway, state police officials said their crews would remove the vehicles involved in that crash.
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