Mudslide along Illinois 157 causes road closure, power outages

Illinois 157 was closed Monday morning to all traffic between Illinois 15 and Foley Drive near Belleville and East St. Louis because of a mudslide, the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency confirmed.

The mudslide also caused sporadic power outages in the area, including the traffic lights at Illinois 15 and Racehorse Drive, at the Flying J truck stop. An Alorton police officer was at the intersection during Monday morning rush-hour traffic.

Mud several inches thick covered both lanes of the road for about 200 yards and apparently came from a man-made pile like those found near construction sites.

Herb Simmons, director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, said the Illinois Department of Transportation was at the scene.

“They’re cleaning the road now but it’s still closed. They’re waiting to make sure it’s not going to slide any more,” Simmons said.

There are homes along the hillside of the road; Simmons did not know whether any homes were in danger on Monday morning.

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 9:45 AM with the headline "Mudslide along Illinois 157 causes road closure, power outages."