UPDATE: Flash flood warning on Osage River below Bagnell Dam
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Travel routes on land and water continue to reopen as local rivers slowly fall.
In Jefferson City, West McCarty, West Main and Kansas streets, and Missouri Boulevard from High Street to U.S. 50 are open again, Jefferson City Public Works Director Matt Morasch said Tuesday afternoon.
West Miller is still closed because of flooding, Morasch said.
Though roads near downtown Jefferson City are opening again, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that drivers after the morning rush hour today should expect lane closures for westbound traffic on U.S. 50 because of shoulder repairs needed due to the flooding.
"Recent flooding has undermined a section of the westbound shoulder of Route 50 near the Capitol Plaza Hotel," according to MoDOT's news release.
MoDOT crews will close the far-right westbound lane between Broadway and Missouri Boulevard at 9 a.m. to repair the shoulder, and the closure is expected to last about two hours.
"The shoulder damage does not impact the driving surface of the road and is not a danger to motorists," MoDOT added.
Crews began repair prep work Tuesday afternoon, "and utility crews were on hand to ensure that utility lines were not compromised by the floodwaters and that it was safe for crews to work on filling the hole," according to the news release.
The Missouri Department of Conservation also announced in a news release Tuesday that all MDC river accesses on the Osage River from Bagnell Dam to the Route B bridge in St. Thomas are open again.
That means the Bagnell Dam, Tuscumbia, Kings Bluff, Osage Tavern and Thomas Ferry accesses are open again.
"In accordance with this reopening, MDC has begun removing barriers and reopening accesses on this section of river. While these accesses are now open, some areas may remain inaccessible due to high water. Boaters should avoid creating wakes in areas still experiencing high water conditions, and be alert for floating debris," according to the MDC's news release.
The decision to reopen certain accesses came in accordance with the Missouri Highway Patrol's Water Patrol Division reopening the Osage River for recreational use along the same stretch Monday.
The Osage River and MDC accesses on it from below the Route B bridge in St. Thomas to the Missouri River remain closed until further notice - "until river conditions improve, and public safety can be assured," according to the MDC.
That means the Pikes Camp, Mari-Osa Delta and Bonnots Mill accesses remain closed until further notice.
"Flooded river conditions below St. Thomas remain unsafe for recreational boating on this stretch of river. Recreational boat traffic could impede emergency flood relief efforts and place human life and property in jeopardy," according to the MDC.
"Barriers and signs indicating access closures should be present near the entry to these river accesses. It is unsafe and unlawful to move these barriers or to navigate around them," the MDC stated.
Updates on area closures can be found at nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places.