4 years, 11 months ago by Scott Hardy
Crest of 28.2 feet at Quincy, 28.8 feet at Hannibal
The Mississippi River is now expected to rise to over 28 feet at Quincy by the end of the week, which has forced the closure of the Memorial Bridge.
The National Weather Service revised its' flood forecast late Wednesday morning, after the area received over two inches of rain Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. At Quincy, the river's now expected to crest at 28.2 feet Friday morning. That will trigger the city of Quincy to start sandbagging efforts, especially at the wastewater treatment plant. Due to the water, the Illinois Department of Transportation closed the Memorial Bridge Wednesday afternoon. At Lock and Dam 21, the river will crest at 27.5 feet early Friday morning. That level would force Missouri 168 east of Palmyra near the BASF plant to close. At Hannibal, the river will crest Friday afternoon at 28.8 feet, just three feet below the record flood from 1993. Sandbagging operations may have to begin on the Sny levee in Pike County, Illinois. That level would close Missouri 79 from just south of Hannibal to Missouri Route N, Highway 36 approaching the Mark Twain Bridge, Warren Barrett Drive east of Lemon Street, and Missouri 168 northwest of Hannibal. At Keokuk, the river will crest Thursday night at 23.8 feet, which may force Warsaw officials to sandbag at the water treatment plant. Highway 96 between Nauvoo and Hamilton would also be affected. At Canton, a crest of 24.1 feet is expected Friday afternoon, and at La Grange, a crest of 24.6 feet's expected Friday morning. That has already caused Route B into La Grange to close at US 61, and could see Main Street in La Grange flood at several locations, including City Hall. Downstream at Lock and Dam 22 at Saverton, a crest of 27.3 feet's due Friday morning. That would close Route E, and cause flooding to homes in a subdivision just south of the lock and dam, and in Monkey Run.
At Louisiana, a crest of 26.2 feet's expected Friday afternoon. That will close the Illinois approach to the Champ Clark Bridge, several sections of Highway 79 and cover the south end of Main Street. It will also force the city to install flood gates and sandbag to protect the city's water treatment intake.
