The rising Mississippi River has closed sections of roads in low-lying parts of Cape Girardeau as National Guard soldiers were finishing work Wednesday to keep water away from homes and off highways in Dutchtown in anticipation of Friday's flood crest.

Cape Girardeau city government spokeswoman Nicolette Brennan on Wednesday said barricades were set up at North End Boulevard at Big Bend Road; North Water Street at Second Street; North Water Street at Third Street; La Cruz and South Third streets and at Cooper Street.

State routes also were closed in Perry, Scott and Stoddard counties because of river and backwater flooding.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday the river was at 41.32 feet and rising on the Cape Girardeau gauge where flood stage is 32 feet. The National Weather Service was predicting a crest of about 42 feet Friday before the river begins to slowly drop.

National Guard soldiers sent to Dutchtown to help erect barriers against the rising waters were wrapping up work Wednesday. Guard spokeswoman Michelle Queiser said about 80 10-foot concrete barriers were set up along Highway 74 at Dutchtown, and another 10 to 15 barriers were placed at Highway 74's intersection with Highway 25. Low-lying Dutchtown is the site of frequent backwater flooding from the nearby Diversion Channel, a major Mississippi River tributary.

Flood waters cover the intersection of Water Street and Second Street Wednesday, April 24, in Cape Girardeau. The Mississippi is expected to crest by Friday morning in the Cape Girardeau area. (ADAM VOGLER)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday said water was rising against the earthen levee along the Diversion Channel near Nash Road, but the levee was holding strong.

About 50 Guard soldiers, based in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, Mo., began their work Monday. Queiser expected them to finish by 5 p.m. Wednesday before heading back to the Cape Girardeau armory, where they will be on standby for the crest.

"They've made great time in the past two days, better than we thought even with the rain this morning," Queiser said Wednesday afternoon.

Palettes of extra sandbags were placed in key spots in case they're needed to reinforce flood barriers, Queiser said.

If the river reaches 42 feet, the crest will be the 11th-highest recorded, according to the National Weather Service. However, the water will not endanger as many homes as it once did, before buyouts after major flooding the last two decades.

msanders@semissourian.com

388-3625

Pertinent address:

Dutchtown, MO

North End Boulevard and Big Bend Road, Cape Girardeau, MO

Water Street and Second Street, Cape Girardeau, MO

North Water Street and Third Street, Cape Girardeau, MO

La Cruz Street and South Third Street, Cape Girardeau, MO

Cooper Street, Cape Girardeau, MO