Both directions of Interstate 290 -- the Eisenhower Expressway -- reopened early Tuesday morning after flooding hours earlier forced authorities to close the roadway.
Illinois State Police closed the Ike between Manheim Road and Harlem Avenue at around 11 p.m. The closure was later limited to the Des Plaines Avenue area exit, but vehicles were still being forced to exit the highway in that area.
The westbound lanes were reopened to traffic at about 4 a.m. but debris and mud gathered on the eastbound lanes. Forest Park firefighters used hoses to clear that debris. All but the far right lane of the eastbound lanes were reopened at 5:30 a.m.
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The far right lane remained closed because authorities were concerned about water damage to the roadway.
IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell said the flooding was likely the result of a collapsed sewer that caused "some pavement failure in the far right lane."
"That area received as much as four inches of rain a very short period of time," he wrote in an email to NBC Chicago. "Repairs likely to be completed by early afternoon."
The water rose to an estimated four feet deep, stranding several motorists who abandoned their vehicles and were seen standing and walking on the concrete median barrier. One car bobbed with the ebb and flow of the water.
The Chicago Transit Authority also temporarily suspended service on the Blue Line between the Forest Park and Harlem-Congress Branch stations. Service was fully restored by about 4:15 a.m.
Des Plaines was especially hard hit earlier in the day, with several flooded streets bringing traffic to a standstill because of water-logged roads.
Police reported extensive flooding at Rand Road near Golf Road and Northwest Highway west of Graceland.
Residents stacked sand bags to try and lessen the impact from flooding that seems to happen all too often in the suburb's neighborhoods.
"We're out here soaking wet just try to ... we've actually had neighbors helps us, cause we're taking buckets and running down the street," said Iris Ziemann, who's house was taking on water.
In Bellwood, residents on Tuesday were salvaging what they could after severe flooding filled basements and rattled nerves. The rising floodwaters forced some, like Geno Stamp, to find alternative places to sleep.
Stamp chose his truck.
"The sewage came in. It happens every time," he said.
Local
National Weather Service forecasters at 10 a.m. released the following rainfall totals:
O'Hare International Airport: 2.76 inches
Midway International Airport: 1.89 inches
Berwyn: 4.5 inches
Valparaiso, Indiana: 0.12 inches
Wheeling: 2.13 inches
Barrington: 2.04 inches
Shabbona: 2.35 inches
Rochelle: 1.47 inches
Flash flood advisories were issued in Cook County and DuPage County until 1:30 a.m.
