The US Coast Guard (USCG) closed a section of the Illinois River on Wednesday, a day after taking similar action on a stretch of the Mississippi River.
As with the first decision this was made to protect river users from the hazardous conditions caused by floodwaters. Rising water levels and dangerously fast currents have been the main effects.
The rivers are conduits for huge amounts of cargo transportation much of it done by barges which, for the time being, are sidelined.
Wednesday’s closure applied to the section of the Illinois River from Hardin, Illinois to Grafton, Illinois. It is just before the river joins the Mississippi.
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi, linking it to Lake Michigan.
Extreme weather throughout the Midwest has included blizzards, tornadoes and much heavier than usual rainstorms.
