Some Jackson County roads are still closed due to flooding. Several county officials compiled a road closure map in a joint effort to help with detours and ensure safety.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ill. (WSIL)-- Some Jackson County roads are still closed due to flooding. Several county officials compiled a road closure map in a joint effort to help with detours and ensure safety. That map includes major and local roadways, including the closed roads here at Riverside Park.
Many people were out enjoying the park's paths even though parts of the park are submerged under water. Cyndi Roberts says she was not surprised to see that water came up from the Big Muddy River. She say the map county officials created will help people know before they arrive that some areas are not accessible.
“I think it's really helpful for anybody as you're traversing through the community to pick the right path. And if you're using Google Maps and it shows that then you can safely get to where you're going,� Roberts said.
Roberts says she would find the map useful when she is traveling to other parts of the county. She says she had to change her route a couple of times when she drove with flash-flooding from the storms last weekend.
“There's only so much we can manage, and so we have to just be patient and accept that this is the situation right now and move forward,� Roberts said.
Orval Rowe with the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency says it is a joint effort between local and county officials to help update the public.
“They can look at it, see where they're traveling to and from, and see if that's going to affect the travel for their day,� Rowe said.
He says people can find the map on the Jackson County EMA under the road closure tab.
Rowe says they are busy working to update the map as the water levels change.
“Once the water starts decreasing, then we're going to have to start making sure we're opening the roads back up,� Rowe said.
Rowe says they always want to remind people to turn around when they see water in the roadways or the roads closed off.
“You're not sure what's underneath that pavement. Especially now, if you've had three or four feet of water, it's been running across there for the last three or four days. There may not be pavement or may not be a road under that,� Rowe said.
Jackson County officials say they will continue updating that map as roadways clear up for people to use. Â
