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Southbound Dan Ryan Local Lanes To Be Closed Much Of The Day Near 26th Street

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Southbound local lanes on the Dan Ryan Expressway near 26th Street could be closed until mid-afternoon on Friday, after a semi-tractor trailer truck crashed into the median separating the expressway from the Chinatown feeder ramp.

Illinois State Police said the truck crashed into a median wall in the southbound local lanes of the Dan Ryan near 26th Street around 2:15 a.m.

Dan Ryan Truck Crash
A semi-tractor trailer truck crashed along the Chinatown feeder ramp, blocking the southbound local lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway on Sept. 20, 2019. (Source: Network Video Productions)

Police initially said the driver suffered minor injuries, but later said there were no injuries in the crash.

Authorities shut down the southbound local lanes of the Dan Ryan near 26th Street after the crash because of significant damage to the median wall dividing the expressway from the Chinatown Feeder Ramp.

A large chunk of concrete was missing from the left median wall after the crash, and a large crack was visible below the missing chunk of concrete.

DR wall
The median wall separating the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway from the Chinatown Feeder Ramp was damaged when a truck crashed into the wall on Sept. 20, 2019. (Source: Illinois State Police)

A utility pole also was knocked down in the crash.

Illinois State Police said the southbound Dan Ryan will be closed where the expressway splits into local and express lanes near 26th Street for much of the day on Friday as crews repair the damaged median wall separating the Dan Ryan from the Chinatown Feeder Ramp.

While drivers can enter the local lanes of the Dan Ryan at 31st Street, motorists leaving downtown heading south won't be able to get off the expressway between the Stevenson Expressway and Garfield Boulevard.

The right two lanes of the elevated portion of the Dan Ryan also will be closed between Cermak and 26th Street for much of the day. The two left lanes will be open.

The right lane of the outbound Chinatown feeder ramp also will be closed. Drivers can enter the Dan Ryan express lanes using the inbound and outbound Stevenson Expressway, or the King Drive interchange.

Crews expect to complete repairs to the median wall late Friday afternoon.

Illinois State Police said drivers should expect delays throughout the area until repairs are completed and all the lanes reopen.

DR wall 2
A truck caused major damage to a median wall on the Dan Ryan Expressway after crashing on the Chinatown feeder ramp on Sept. 20, 2019. (Source: Illinois State Police)
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