Flooding causes road closures across Minnesota
DELANO, Minn. – Across Minnesota, riverside communities are dealing with road closures due to flooding.
The Crow River in Delano is at its highest it's been in nine years, and it's not done rising yet. It's risen about 5 feet in less than a week, and is expected to rise another 3 feet before it crests in major flood stage sometime Tuesday night.
Delano has closed the Bridge Avenue Bridge, and detours are in place with barriers on both ends. Lots of logs and other debris have been getting stuck under it, so the city has been trying to keep up with removing them from the water so the river can continue flowing.
Mayor Holly Schrupp says city crews will likely be out Monday installing a flood wall along the river to protect downtown. It's a process that will take about four hours. Schrupp says they're prepared.
On Monday the city of Delano will start installing flood walls to protect downtown. The Bridge Ave river bridge is now closed. More at 10pm @WCCO pic.twitter.com/x7Xtl2Xzcy
— Kirsten Mitchell (@Kirsten_TV) April 16, 2023
"We're taking the necessary steps to protect the public and make sure we're closing streets and things as we need to," Schrupp said. "If people come downtown, just make sure they're careful and they're aware of their surroundings because right now the river is moving very quickly."
Parts of 90th Street near County Road 17 are also closed due to rising water levels.
For some perspective, Mayor Schrupp says last fall, you could practically walk across the river without getting your ankles wet because it was so dry. Now, they're seeing the opposite problem.
In northern Minnesota, part of Highway 29 is closed near Floodwood, about 45 miles west of Duluth. The highway is closed near Stremmel Road due to the St. Louis River flooding. Drivers are asked to use Trunk Highway 73 and Highway 133 as alternate routes. St. Louis County officials gave no timeline for the closure.
READ MORE: Stillwater businesses start to see flooding as St. Croix River rises faster than expected
In St. Paul, Water Street/Lilydale Road along the Mississippi River is closed and won't reopen until the river has receded, the city said. Several trails, parks and facilities are also closed.
Warm temperatures following an active winter with heavy snowfall are causing flooding concerns for many Minnesota communities. State leaders say they are prepared to aid communities impacted by the flooding.