BRIDGE WORK CLOSES GRAPEVINE TRAIL

McCLURE, Ill. Motorists who travel the Grapevine Trail blacktop road between McClure and Tamms will have to use an alternate route for the next five to six weeks.

Last Monday, the Illinois Department of Transportation closed a portion of the road near the Egyptian School, west of Tamms, to take out the old bridge over Sandy Creek, 11 miles east of McClure. Construction of the new bridge is expected to be completed in late September, weather permitting.

Raymond McCrite, coordinator of student transportation for the Egyptian School District, said state officials told him the road between the school and Tamms will be closed for at least six weeks.

"They tried to close the road earlier in the summer, but they made them keep it open until now because of all the flooding," said McCrite.

Although the state has not put up detour signs, McCrite said motorists can detour around the bridge construction site by turning south at the Grapevine Trail intersection with the Tamms-Olive Branch blacktop road. Drive south two miles on the Tamms-Olive Branch blacktop road to the intersection of Davey Road, then turn left onto Davey Road and drive east three miles to Route 127 at Sandusky, Ill. Turn left on Route 127 to go north to Tamms.

McCrite said part of the road is blacktop and the other half is gravel. "But it's in pretty good condition right now," he added.