Section of Murphy's Ford Road closed for winter

It's another sign of winter: Cole County's Public Works Department said Monday afternoon it's closing the 1300 block of Murphy's Ford Road, at the North Moreau River until next April.

In winter conditions, the hill in western Cole County gets icy and becomes impassable, the department said in its news release.

The section south of the hill can be reached from West Meller Road.

The section to the north of the river still can be reached from U.S. 50.

The road is expected to stay closed until April 1 - depending on weather conditions then.