By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Interstate 29 isn’t the only major thoroughfare closed due to flooding.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reports flooding has forced the closing of more than 300 roads throughout the state.
U.S. Route 45 south of St. Joseph, from Route 116 at Rushville to just south of Iatan, has been closed. U.S. Route 59 from Rushville to Atchison, Kansas was closed earlier.
Flooding along the Grand River is disrupting travel in the Chillicothe and Carrollton area. MoDOT reports flooding has closed two sections of U.S. Route 65; one from Chillicothe south to Route H and the second from Carrollton to U.S. Route 24 in Waverly. Portions of U.S. Route 24, Route 10, and Route 139 are also closed.
A long section of U.S. Route 36 has been closed by MoDOT. Flooding in Caldwell, Linn, and Livingston Counties forced the closing this morning of Route 36 from Route 13 in Hamilton to Route 5 just west of Brookfield.
MoDOT is advising motorists to take detours. For those traveling east on Route 36, take Interstate 35 north to U.S. Route 136, then east onto U.S. Route 63 south. If westbound on Route 36, take U.S. Route 63 north to U.S. Route 136 west to I-35 south. Brookfield traffic can use Route 5.
I-29 was closed just north of St. Joseph at the U.S. 71 exit after floodwaters forced the interstate to close in southwest Iowa; a 67-mile stretch to the Iowa border.
Other major highways closed because of flooding include U.S. 54 at Louisiana, Missouri, and U.S. 36 west of Bevier at the Chariton River. Some streets near the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City also are closed.
All regions of the state have been affected by flooding, though northern Missouri has the greatest number of road closures.
The transportation department says Amtrak passenger train service between St. Louis and Kansas City also has been suspended. The trains use tracks that run near the Missouri River.
Click here to access the special Missouri Department of Transportation website on northwest Missouri flooding.
Click here for the Missouri travelers map.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.