Snow Drifting Causes Uneven Road Conditions on Illinois Highways

Illinois Department of Transportation crews worked early Sunday, Jan. 26, 2026, to clear state highways across the region amid challenging winter conditions, officials said.

Joe Monroe, an operations engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation, reported around 9 a.m. on Jan. 25, 2026, that all state highways remained open.

Monroe and his crews were actively clearing routes throughout the region. He said the plowing operation had been ongoing for the past 24 hours.

Monroe had visited state highways in Jersey, Madison, and St. Clair counties as of 9 a.m. on Sunday to make an assessment of road conditions.

Monroe described significant differences in road conditions between Interstate 55 and Interstate 64 in the region.

“The difference was unbelievable because of the snow blowing out from the farm fields and catching the pavement,” he said on I-55. Interstate 255 was experiencing similar issues with snow drifting onto the roadway from surrounding fields, Monroe said.

While surveying the roads, Monroe advised any motorists who ventured out on Sunday to stay behind plows to allow crews to work safely and efficiently. “We have everything open right now,” he said during the morning assessment.

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