Illinois freeway reopens early

CHICAGO, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Illinois highway engineers have reopened a portion of Interstate 94 earlier than expected.

The Bishop Ford Freeway was closed for repair after a dump truck slammed into an overpass Friday morning, The Northwest Indiana Times reported Sunday.

"The crews that we got out there were very determined to get the job done," Illinois Transportation Department spokesman Mike Claffey said. "It was (reopened) a lot sooner than I thought."

State highway engineers originally had warned the northbound lanes of the freeway would remain closed all weekend while they inspected the overpass, which was displaced by several inches, the newspaper reported.

The driver of the dump truck owned by M&J Cartage of Chicago was issued numerous citations, including several equipment violations, the Illinois State Police said.