Wickcliffe, Ky.–Floodwaters are threatening a critical transportation artery between Kentucky and Illinois. Floodwaters are at the edge of the roadway on the levee that carries US 51 to the Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge between Wickliffe, KY and Cairo, IL.
Last night, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet personnel posted “High Water” signs along US 51 near the 7 mile marker just off the Kentucky end of the “Cairo” Bridge to alert motorists to flood waters edging out onto the roadway.
The levee leading to the bridge on the Kentucky side of the river remains OPEN this morning. The Cairo gauge was showing 53.4 ft. this morning with a crest off 55 ft. expected this weekend.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is advising regular commuters who rely on the bridge to get to and from work in a neighboring state to make advance plans in case traffic has to be halted at the site on short notice.
KYTC District 1 Spokesperson Keith Todd suggested commuters consider staying with friends or relatives closer to work to help avoid a lengthy detour. Some river industries in the Wickliffe-Cairo area have made contingency plans to boat workers back and forth across the river should US 51 have to close.
Todd noted that crews will do what they can to keep traffic moving. However, the safety of motorist will be the deciding factor in efforts to keep traffic flowing.
“If our crews start seeing vehicles with tire damage from drift floating across the driving surface, or if they start to see icing as temperatures drop overnight, the flooded roadway will be closed,” Todd said. “Traffic will be maintained as long as it is safe.”
That will put river levels near where floodwaters would normally threaten highway traffic at the site. This morning, a KY Highway Crew pre-positioned signage and barricades at strategic locations to prepare for the possibility of halting traffic.
KYTC engineers are battling two issues at the site. (1) Drift is washing up onto the roadway creating a hazard for passing vehicles, and (2) the low temperature overnight is expected to be about 32 degrees creating the opportunity for ice on the roadway.
Detouring around the site via I-24 and I-57 requires an 80+ mile trip to get from Wickliffe to Cairo.
NWS photo.
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