Feb. 15--Lake-effect snow that is expected to hang around Chicago until the middle of the afternoon is causing slippery conditions on some area roadways close to Lake Michigan, leading to multiple accidents like the one that fouled up traffic on the Kennedy Expressway Sunday morning and afternoon.
On the inbound express lanes on the Kennedy Expressway, 38 vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction crash that temporarily closed the expressway, according to the Illinois State Police officials. As of 1 p.m. the express lanes remained closed, according to state police.
The crashes were reported at about 10 a.m. and spanned the express lanes between North Avenue and the Ohio Street off-ramp, officials said. Police said 15 people were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
Police said the snow conditions were responsible for the chain-reaction crash as there are no shoulders on the express lanes. The expressway was reopened at about 11 a.m., police said.
The city Department of Streets and Sanitation has about 200 trucks out, plowing where needed and laying down salt to help mitigate the effects of the occasionally heavy snowfall, according to Anne Sheahan, a department spokeswoman said.
Roads and expressways closest to the lake -- Lake Shore Drive for example -- will be most at risk for slippery conditions until the roads start to clear.
The National Weather Service said that the snow showers could result in some instances of sharply reduced visibilities and that there could be accumulations of up to 1 or 2 inches before the snow tapers off in early to mid afternoon. The agency warned drivers to be prepared for winter driving conditions.
