All I-55 outbound lanes blocked as plume of smoke billows from semi-truck fire

All outbound lanes on I-55 near Chicago’s South Side were closed just ahead of rush hour Monday as a semi-truck fire sent a plume of smoke into the air from the expressway.

Around 3:10 p.m., all lanes on the Stevenson Expressway were closed near Ashland as a semi-truck fire burned in one of the lanes.

As of 3:45 p.m., delays of up to an hour were expected as solid traffic built, according to Total Traffic.

Video posted to social media showed a semi-truck stopped in the middle of the expressway, with its cab fully engulfed in flames and a large plume of smoke rising into the air.

Illinois State Police did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s inquiries.

No additional information was immediately available.

Check back for more on this developing story.