CAIRO, Ill. (WSIL) — For more than a century, the towering railroad overpass has greeted drivers entering Cairo—a weathered landmark that has watched generations come and go. Now, its days are numbered.
Starting Sunday, September 14, U.S. 51 into Cairo will shut down from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews begin dismantling the century-old structure. The project, led by Wissinger Construction Company of Cairo, will remove the bridge built back in 1917.
City leaders announced the closure on Facebook, but the news quickly spread—and so did concerns.
Some residents worry about how the closure will affect late-night workers. “How do we get out of town for work? I work late nights,” one person asked online. Others are frustrated by the timing, with the Blues Festival expected to draw travelers the sa