HAZELGREEN, Mo. -- Repairs to flood-damaged Interstate 44 at Hazelgreen in Laclede County are complete, and the interstate is back open to traffic at that location. Motorists can now travel I-44 across southern and mid-Missouri, but the interstate is still closed for 25 miles in St. Louis from Route 100 to Interstate 270.
"Interstate traffic cannot use I-44 to travel all the way across Missouri. We have numerous north-south and east-west roads closed in the eastern counties along I-44, and there is not an easy way through, especially for trucks," said David Silvester, district engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Central District.
Motorists wishing to travel across Missouri should take Interstate 49 at Joplin north to Interstate 470 in Kansas City to connect to I-70 and then east to St. Louis.
U.S. 50 at Mt. Sterling in Gasconade County and U.S. 63 at Vienna in Maries County are still under water and are not expected to open until later this week. U.S. 50 is also closed in Franklin County, and Route 47 is expected to close in Warren County.
Drivers are encouraged to check MoDOT's Traveler Information Map, located at www.modot.org, or call the department's toll free number, 1-888-ASK-MODOT, to get updated information on state highway and road conditions.
In Cole County, roads listed as closed, as of 11:30 a.m. today, were:
- North Branch Road at the 11100 block
- Campbell Road at the 7600 block
- Payne Road at the 8700 block
- Murphy's Ford Road at the 1300 block
- Engineers Road at the 9500 block
- Railroad Street at the 9200 block
- Water Street at the 2100 block
- Meadowsford Road at the 2800 block
Motorists should take extra care in their travels during this time and never attempt to get around roadway barricades or drive across flooded roadways. MoDOT also recommends allowing extra travel time if detours are necessary.