CLARK COUNTY, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — “People are calling, they’re upset because they haven’t gotten notified that this road is closed,” said Clark County Sheriff Bill Brown. “They’re getting here, they’re having to turn around and it’s an inconvenience.”
Sheriff Brown said he wasn’t aware of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) closure until after the work began.
“We didn’t have any notification that it was happening at all,” Brown said. “The bridge behind us was damaged a year or year and a half ago and they’re getting ready to make repairs on that bridge. The work they’re doing here now is part of the process.”
Sheriff Brown said he spoke it IDOT Tuesday morning and going forward they hope to have better communication to keep the citizens informed.
“This is a big deal. I mean emergency services gets to many of our residents through this road,” Brown said.
Drivers may experience frustrations while making a U-turn at the closure, but Sheriff Browns says the work is necessary.
“Things have to get worse before they’ll get better. In any type of improvement project, including our roads. I’m thankful that they’re in Clark County fixing our roads and our bridges. But we got to do better at communicating, they need to let us know.”
When asked what the project will entail, Brown gave the general plan for the project.
“To make a crossover, to get interstate traffic off the interstate westbound over on the Route 40, back up to the interstate and back on,” Brown said.
Brown asks drivers to slow down and practice patience while being courteous to other drivers.
“When it’s done it’ll be better. The bridge will be safe, the repairs will be made,” Brown said.
This portion of the project is expected to take about six weeks.
