This morning, as I readied my daughter for camp, I noticed an unusual sight outside my window. I saw a Palatine police vehicle with "Truck Enforcement" driving slowly down my street and coming to a stop in front of my neighbor's house. What was most strange is: we don't live in Palatine!

Then I saw semi's, cube trucks...basically all manner of oversized vehicle coming to a halt in front of my house. Later, some state troopers arrived, lights flashing.

As I carefully pulled out of the driveway, I rolled down my window and asked the Smoky, "I live over here; what is going on?"

"Oh, just doing weight checks," he responded.

Click click WHIRRRRRR.

OK. I got it: all westbound truck traffic was being diverted from the 4-lane arterial expressway in front of our home to the frontage road (on which I live.) Why westbound only? Because about 1/2 mile west of my house is the on-ramp to an elevated state highway. Apparently this mobile weigh station was set up in response to the Minneapolis bridge disaster. Our governor issued immediate inspection of all IL bridges (according to the news.) However, there was nothing about mobile weigh stations mentioned in any news reports I heard.

So, now I am pondering if route 53 (the highway I mentioned) is truly safe for me to use if it is now the target of an emergency weigh-in.