Major flooding from the Missouri River is starting to have a bigger impact on motorists making their way through western Iowa. Iowa Department of Transportation spokesperson Dena Gray-Fisher says there are several roads at risk of being closed.
“We’re starting to the see the water come up and we’ve had some closures of ramps,” Gray-Fisher said. “We’re watching and we hope the public will look to the D.O.T. for information on road closures.” Motorists can get the latest road closure information by calling 5-1-1 or online at: www.511ia.org.
The flooding is creeping closer to Interstate 29 in a number of locations between Council Bluffs and Sioux City. Gray-Fisher says there’s no levee system protecting roads between the two cities, except for a small agricultural levee near Missouri Valley. Many roads, including I-29, could be closed over the next week and remain covered by flood waters for several weeks.
That would increase the potential of damage to roadways. Gray-Fisher says several bridges connecting Iowa to neighboring states are also in jeopardy of closing. Those include bridges along Highway 30 near Missouri Valley, Highway 175 near Anawa, Highway 2 in Fremont County and Highway 34 near Pacific Junction.