Traffic on the Eisenhower Expressway was brought to a crawl Thursday morning after an investigation shut down lanes in both directions in Chicago's west suburbs. The closure stretched between 25th Avenue and Wolf Road and left drivers facing a massive backup.
The incident started around 10 a.m., when an SUV in a middle lane was found with its windows blown out. A bomb squad unit from the Cook County Sheriff's Office responded, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also came to the scene as state police investigated the area between Mannheim Road and Interstate 294.
Illinois State Police said Mannheim Road to I-290 was closed, along with Mannheim Road over I-290 and the eastbound Interstate 88 ramp to eastbound I-290. The public was told to avoid the area, and alternate routes included Roosevelt Road, 31st Street and Cermak Avenue.
The missing piece is what caused the SUV's windows to blow out in the first place. Authorities had not explained that by the time of the report, and extended closures were expected as the investigation continued.
