Illinois DOT Battles Snowstorm for Over 50 Hours

ALTON/BELLEVILLE - Illinois Department of Transportation personnel have been actively managing snow and icy conditions on state roadways for more than 50 hours as of Monday morning, Jan. 26, 2026, according to Joe Monroe, IDOT operations engineer.

In an interview around 10 a.m. on Monday, Monroe said the team has deployed its full arsenal of snow-fighting equipment and materials, including salt, hot brine, and calcium chloride, to address the winter weather challenges. Temperatures were recorded at 4 degrees Fahrenheit when Monroe arrived at the facility on Monday.

“We’re making great progress,” Monroe said. “We should be making a second round and continue to get better and better throughout the day.”

Monroe noted that the department did not treat roads in advance of the storm but instead adhered to a plan focused on plowing and targeted chemical applications as needed.

“We stuck to the plan,” he said. “Only problems we had forced us to treat issues as they came up. Our people did what we were asked to do and did it well.”

Despite the efforts, Monroe highlighted ongoing challenges with interstate ramps, which remain problematic due to wind-blown snow and insufficient traffic to keep surfaces clear.

“All interstate ramps are problematic, no matter which way the winds blew on Sunday during the storm, because they are always getting wind-blown snow,” he said. “If we don’t get completely cleaned up because of the interstate ramps, it is something IDOT will be working on all day on Monday.”

Monroe described traffic on the interstates as “pretty robust” on Monday morning, which may aid in clearing some road surfaces. Monroe also mentioned that winds had not picked up significantly, which could help with snow management efforts.

IDOT continues to monitor conditions and adjust operations to maintain safe travel on Illinois roadways during the ongoing winter weather event.

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