Friday, March 29, 2024

Flood update: Water levels to recede, but some roads still closed

February 23, 2018
<p>A flooded trail behind Holmes Hall on Feb. 21, 2018.</p>

A flooded trail behind Holmes Hall on Feb. 21, 2018.

Photo by Annie Barker | The State News

The flood water levels are expected to start receding Friday, though roads are still closed off.

The Red Cedar River remains at a water level of above 10 feet, but is expected to start receding, according to an Infrastructure and Planning and Facilities, or IPF, update.

Several roads are still blocked off. The barriers will remain up until the river levels decrease.

Flood warnings are expected to last until March 3. IPF employees urge bystanders to still respect the barriers for their own safety. 

Affected roads and areas due to flooding can be viewed on this map

"We are assessing the damage right now, and we won't fully be able to assess it to the water has retreated," said IPF Design Representative Scott Gardner. "Currently we peaked at about 10.28 (feet) which makes it the sixth largest flood documented in this area, and we are seeing the water slowly go down."

Based on the histogram, the water should lower to nine feet at 7 a.m. Saturday, according to Gardner. Once below nine feet, if the river cooperates, Gardner said IPF hopes to be able to open some of the roads up.

The amount of time it will take for everything to return to normal and all areas reopened is dependent on the amount of sediment and debris left by the flood water and how extensive the clean up will be. The amount of debris left behind will be unknown until the water has resided.

Along with road and sidewalk closures on MSU’s campus, there are other areas affected by the flood water including Okemos, Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Transportation have the intersection of Grand River Avenue and Okemos Road due to flooding. Pedestrians have to seek alternative routes to get to shops and restaurants on these streets. 

“We still have motorists trying to make it through the Okemos Road and Grand River Avenue intersection," Meridian Township Police Capt. Greg Frenger stated according to a press release. "There have been 15 vehicles disabled as a result of driving through this area today."

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