The Marion County Highway Department has received direction from the Illinois Department of Transportation to reduce traffic on the Route 161 Extension Bridge over Skillet Fork to one lane with a likely 11 ton weight limit.
Highway Engineer Mike McCormick says the restrictions are due to a deterioration of the spans of one of the approach bridges. A repair solution is in design that will allow for two-way traffic when completed. McCormick is pushing the state to complete design work by the end of the month when an emergency contract can be left for repairs. He says the actual repair work will likely take a few months to complete.
McCormick says the one way traffic will be directed by stop lights. Larger truck traffic will have to detour over either US 50 or Illinois Route 15.
With the latest problems with the bridge, Marion County is now seeking a 100-percent federal grant to replace the bridge.
