This road buckling on I-39 near La Salle, IL was so bad and extreme that it literally sent some cars flying off course into an adjacent freeway ditch.

Several cars traveling on Northbound I-39 in Illinois near La Salle get a rude surprise as they approached the I-80 interchange, a large road buckle several feet long and at an extreme angle jutted out of the road with no signs warning them of the impending road obstruction. This road buckle was so bad that it sent several cars flying into the adjacent median.

Check out the viral photo making its rounds below.

Here’s what the same strech of road looks like on Google Maps, unbuckled and completely straight.


According to HOI ABC on their latest report on the buckled road earlier today,

Illinois State Police said the left, northbound lane of I-39 buckled around 7:18 p.m. on Tuesday evening. It caused damage to three total vehicles, including one single vehicle crash. They said no one was seriously injured.

Buckling roads are a common occurence happening shortly after periods of intense heat or even at temps as low as 90 degrees. Water that’s seeped between the cracks enlarges any existing cracks as cold weather expands the water. Then, when the heat hits these cracks and the pavement expands unevenly, buckling occurs as streches of pavement push up out of the ground.

Check out the traffic cam video that shows a typical buckled section of freeway as cars try their best to navigate it.

The one in LaSalle County posted above is much more extreme and probably caused more damage to vehicles that hit it but were never reported.

As for this particular piece of buckled road.

(IDOT) said the repairs will likely last through the 4th of July holiday, so expect a lane closure there.

Road buckling is unfortunate, but, as mentioned, common occurrence throughout the United States. This is all the more reason to stay vigilant while you’re driving because even on a relatively straight stretch of road, anomalies like this pop up.

Have you ever suffered a hit from a piece of buckled asphalt? Let me know your experience in the comments below!

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