Many roads in Missouri River Valley are damaged and made dangerous by floods; repairs are expensive propositions

Flood damage on state Highway 12 in Nebraska in March (Nebraska Department of Transportation photo)

The bomb cyclone followed by historic flooding damaged more than crops in the Midwest; it also wreaked havoc on roads, and it will be a long time before many are repaired, because the damage is so extensive and fixing it is so expensive. Iowa estimates that needed repairs to state-controlled roads will cost $90 million. But local roads have been damaged too, and repairs for those are typically the responsibility of counties, Terri Queck-Matzie notes for Successful Farming.

"As the floodwater flowed south in the Missouri River, it led to widespread flooding in northern and central Missouri. Travel in these areas remains treacherous and cumbersome with many roads still closed due to flood damage," Russ Quinn reports for DTN/The Progressive Farmer. And in rural Nebraska, state Highway 91 and U.S. Route 30 both had sections washed away by floodwaters, and only recently opened again after three months of repairs.

Damage and closures on main roads means more vehicles are taking detours on rural roads, many of which are also damaged, and not suited to handle the big trucks hauling gravel and sand for road, railroad and levee repairs. That has caused several accidents, some serious, Quinn reports. "Please slow down and keep an eye out for farm equipment on these rural roads. Be courteous and share the road," he advises.