(The following appeared on the Globe Gazette website on July 26, 2010.)
AMES, Iowa — Flood waters continue to affect city streets, county and state roadways, and railroads in eastern Iowa, according to Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) officials.
Current state highway closures are listed below. In addition, many county roads and city streets are flooded or have been damaged by flood waters Iowans are urged to continue to closely monitor conditions and never enter a water-covered roadway. When encountering a flooded area, turn around and find an alternative route. Turn around-don’t drown.
DM&E Railroad impact
The rising Mississippi River in Davenport is putting area rail operations at risk and will potentially cause rail traffic to be diverted away from the Quad Cities. Crews from the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E), a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, are working to protect power along the Iowa rail lines.
When the Mississippi River level reaches 17.3 feet, possibly this afternoon, the DM&E will shut down a stretch of railroad in Davenport. At 4 a.m. this morning, the water level was at 16.2 feet (flood stage 15 feet), minor flooding is already occurring and major flooding is forecast. Tuesday evening’s expected river crest is around 19.1 feet and flood waters could disrupt electrical power to crossings between Davenport and Muscatine. Until the Mississippi is back within its banks, Davenport rail traffic will be rerouted to Savanna, Ill., and La Crosse, Wis.
National Weather Service flood warnings remain in effect in Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Cedar, Clay, Clinton, Dallas, Des Moines, Dickinson, Fremont, Greene, Hamilton, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Mahaska, Marshall, Muscatine, Plymouth, Polk, Scott, Sioux, Van Buren, Wapello and Webster counties.
Roadways reopened since last notice
Iowa 13 between Delaware County roads D-13 to D-22 near Manchester
Roadways currently closed
U.S. 61 in Scott County between Iowa 22 and U.S. 6 near Davenport (The road is closed because it is being used as a staging area for flood preparation work. Follow the local detour.)
Iowa 5 between 600th and 610th streets near Exline in Appanoose County, approximately 1.3 miles north of the Missouri state line (Major damage to the bridge at this location occurred during flooding last week. The road is expected to be closed for three months or more while bridge repair work is performed.)
Iowa 136 between Jones County Road E-17 and Richland Road, north of Onslow
For current updates on road conditions – 24 hours a day, visit www.511ia.org or call 511.
For weather and other emergency information, stay tuned to NOAA weather radio or your local radio and TV stations.