Highways 25 and 74 open at Dutchtown

Highways 25 and 74 are open at Dutchtown after being closed for nearly a week as the Mississippi River continues its slow retreat from last week's flood crest.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said Highway 25 reopened Sunday, and Highway 74 reopened at 9 a.m. Monday.

Route A also is reopened.

The roads were closed last week when backwater flooding from the Diversion Channel crept over them as the Mississippi River was rising to its crest of more than 44 feet. Flood stage at Cape Girardeau is 32 feet. At 5 p.m. Monday the Cape Girardeau gauge read 41.86 feet, just under the 42-foot level designated as "major" flooding. A steady decline was forecast, with the river reaching 39 feet by Saturday.

Mark Shelton, MoDOT's district engineer, said cleanup of Route A and highways 25 and 74 has been taken care of.

"There should not be any distractions or damage to the roadways. The roads are in good shape for travelers," Shelton said.

As it was during an earlier spring flood crest, low-lying Dutchtown again was saved from flooding by sandbagging efforts before last week's crest.

One of the few remaining businesses in Dutchtown will open its doors again Tuesday, according to business owner Cathy Heuring. Cathy and Don Heuring own Dutchtown Used Furniture, which closed with the roads last week.

"We lost a week's pay due to being closed and we are glad the roads are opened again," Cathy Heuring said.

Although their business has never experienced any flooding, the road closures forced them to close their doors, since there was no way for customers to visit the store.

Some state lettered routes in Scott and Perry counties and some roads in low-lying areas near the river in Cape Girardeau remained closed Monday.

Cape Girardeau County emergency management director Dick Knaup on Monday said county roads 233, 236, 241, 525 and 651 were open, but covered with water. Old Route V also was covered. Highway 177 had water over it, but was open, Knaup said. County roads 654 and 657 still were closed.

Pertinent address:

Dutchtown, Mo.