IDOT Crews Work Through Night to Clear Winter Roads

ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE/BELLEVILLE - Illinois Department of Transportation engineer Joe Monroe commended his crews for their efforts overnight to manage state roads during the morning commute on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, amid challenging winter weather conditions.

The area was hit with sleet and 4-6 inches of snowfall throughout most of the region on Tuesday, making it almost impossible for IDOT to clean the roads in their mission. The precipitation was non-stop throughout most of the day, Monroe said.

Monroe described the night as difficult, with more snow than initially forecast and sleet complicating cleanup efforts.

“It was a tough night, and both shifts worked hard; that is all you can ask," he said. "More possible snow is in the forecast for this Saturday and Sunday. We are cleaning up some things more because we may have snow back in the forecast for the weekend. The sleet that came down initially made it harder for us during this storm."

The sleet, combined with chemicals applied to the roads, melted quickly but increased the complexity of managing the storm. Monroe noted that traffic volumes between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. were “unbelievable” on Tuesday, creating what he called an “artificial rush hour."

"Schools were letting out early, and commuters were heading home at that time (1 to 3:30 p.m.). Things were better shape yesterday by 5 o'clock to head home. It was hard for our people to get out and treat the highways because of the increased traffic at that time stage."

Looking ahead, Monroe mentioned forecasts indicating additional snow expected over the weekend, although he cautioned that those predictions remain uncertain.

“One model has a pretty good amount of snow for the weekend from Saturday to Sunday," he said. "But we are still pretty far out with the forecast. I try to stay ahead pretty far ahead of things; I am blessed with good front-line supervisors and the others who treat the highways."

Monroe said having such an excellent staff paid off the last 24 hours with this storm.

Monroe emphasized the department’s focus on proactive management and safety.

“We are pushing a little further with the possible snow forecast for this weekend, so we will be able to manage the next storm a little better. We are taking a little extra time today. We want to make the roads safer throughout the rest of the week,” he said.

The Illinois Department of Transportation continues its efforts to keep roadways safe as winter weather conditions evolve.

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