Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that a pavement preservation project will begin Thursday, July 18, on Illinois 128 from Illinois 33 in Beecher City to the Shelby County line. The project is expected to take about a week to complete. 

This 2.5-mile project will help preserve and maintain the existing pavement. One lane will be closed at times to complete the various operations. Flaggers will be used to direct motorists through the work zones. Further improvements on Illinois 128, including resurfacing in Shelby County to Illinois 16, are scheduled in 2025.  

Motorists are encouraged to allow for extra travel time through the work zone. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. 

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Four of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $12.1 billion of improvements statewide on 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges and 762 additional safety improvements. 

For IDOT District 7 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict7 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.  

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – Many residents throughout the viewing area have been left with damage caused by heavy flooding Tuesday.

Residents of Cahokia Heights are finding themselves trapped by unprecedented flooding, one of many areas devastated by the relentless rain.

Residents in the Private Mathison Apartments woke up to a nightmare, discovering their parking lot was submerged in water at 4 a.m. Power outages plagued the area until 2 p.m.

Many families remain trapped inside, waiting for the water to drain. Despite a visit from the Housing Authority, residents are still in the dark about any plans to address the issue.

Meanwhile, in south St. Louis, Jamiesha Steed of Ridge Crest Apartments faced a terrifying ordeal when her ceiling caved in during the extreme downpour.

“My ceiling came in for one. A week ago, the light was leaking and I let the leasing office know. They told me they couldn’t do nothing about it then. But I feel like they could’ve prevented it, because now I don’t have a room” Steed said.

She also faces mold and water damage, with little to no response from maintenance. The leasing office referred FOX 2 to New Earth Corporate, but calls went unanswered.

“They came out here and they looked at it and they told me they can’t do anything about it and to close the door,” Steed said.

In St. Louis County, Castle Point resident Chanel Howard shared her distressing experience. Her basement flooded due to backed-up pipes, with water reaching a foot and a half deep.

“From the rain, the pipe backed up, I guess, or the drain backed up, and now my basement was flooded,” she said.

Howard remains without help, and her planned bedroom for her and her baby is now ruined.

“I wanna cry, honestly. I got stuff from my mom that passed that’s damaged now,” she said.

The stories of just some residents paint a grim picture of the impact of the relentless rain across our region, leaving residents seeking answers and urgent assistance.