A small area of pavement on Omega Road has buckled due to the ongoing extremely hot weather.
The buckle is across one and a half lanes of traffic in the 5500 block of Omega Road between Penrod and Monical Road and north of US 50.
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says at normal roadway speed, drivers could lose control and need to slow down. The county highway department is placing caution signs on the damaged section of the roadway until repairs can be made.
Meanwhile, Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman is cautioning motorists to be on the lookout for pavement buckling on roads throughout the state. He notes while it is impossible to predict where or when failures may occur, they have the necessary staffing and materials in place to make repairs as quickly as possible. He is asking the public to stay alert and avoid driving over buckled roads, if possible while giving crews plenty of room to work.
Pavement failures can be reported to IDOT by calling (800) 452-4368 or by reaching out to law enforcement via 911.
Additionally, motorists who must travel during extreme heat are urged to carry drinking water. Osman says becoming stranded could be dangerous without proper hydration, as dehydration can occur quickly in these conditions.
