Large pothole on I-294 damages roughly 15 cars

Huge pothole on Chicago area highway damages more than a dozen cars

Prolonged extreme heat caused pavement on the Tri-State Tollway to buckle Monday morning, damaging multiple vehicles.

JUSTICE, Ill. - Prolonged extreme heat caused pavement on the Tri-State Tollway to buckle Monday morning, damaging multiple vehicles.

Illinois Tollway crews worked to repair the damaged pavement on northbound I-294 just south of the Mile Long Bridge near 88th Avenue.

Crews tried to fill the large pothole by the afternoon rush hour.

What we know:

The buckling created a pothole about 8 feet by 3 feet in size, damaging roughly 15 vehicles, according to Illinois State Police.

Two outside lanes were closed, so workers could complete the repairs. 

In a statement, the agency said:

"The Tollway has been working proactively to enable workers to quickly respond to any pavement issues caused by the heat, including having crews and materials on standby to ensure any potholes or other damaged pavement are rapidly repaired and cause minimum travel disruptions to our customers."

What's next:

The Illinois Tollway says crews and materials are on standby to respond quickly to any heat-related pavement issues.

Additional teams were sent Monday morning to help drivers with tire changes.

Drivers whose cars were damaged can file claims through the Tollway’s website by clicking "roadside assistance."