ST. JOSEPH – In flooding, situations change often and with very little warning. Officials from the Missouri Department of Transportation were ecstatic to reopen Interstate 29 to traffic this morning after water over the road near mile marker 85 closed it late last night. However, just an hour later, our partners at the Iowa Department of Transportation reached out to coordinate closing the interstate once again, as water is over the road north of the border.
Just as it has been with the previous two closures of I-29, traffic is being rerouted at U.S. Route 71 (mile marker 57). Motorists can expect delays and should choose a different route at their earliest possible turn-off point.
I-29 detour information:
- Kansas City area thru traffic - use I-35 to Iowa
- St. Joseph area thru traffic - use U.S. Route 71 north
- Local traffic is able to utilize I-29 to reach their homes and businesses by either going north on U.S. Route 71 and west on U.S. Route 59 or northbound I-229 to northbound I-29.
For the most up-to-date information on this flooding event, visit:
- www.modot.org/2019-northwest-missouri-flooding
- www.traveler.modot.org/map or download MoDOT’s smartphone app
MoDOT is urging everyone to closely monitor conditions in their area, heed all evacuation notices, and never enter a water-covered roadway or drive around barricades. Just a few inches of flood waters can force a vehicle off the roadway. In addition, it is not uncommon for roadways and shoulders to be damaged when flooded, creating unsafe conditions for motorists.
Flooding may occur with little or no notice. Missouri Department of Transportation crews and our partners are monitoring road conditions closely, but floodwaters can rise quickly, before our crews and other emergency services are able to place barricades across the roadway.
If you come upon a flooded roadway without barricades, do NOT drive through the water. Pull over to a safe location and call the MoDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service line at 888 ASK MODOT (1-888-275-6636
) to report it.
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