After four-plus days of complete closure, it is finally all systems go for drivers on Kansas Highway 99 south of Emporia.
The Kansas Department of Transportation opened the northbound lane of traffic around 7:30 am, using a flagger to get traffic in both directions around the flood zone. KDOT then opened the southbound lane shortly before 9:30 am.
KDOT says there is some shoulder damage immediately south of Emporia, and scattered damage was noticeable from Road 155 south to Road 140. Repair plans and timelines are pending.
County roads connecting to K-99 remain underwater for the most part, and the part of Road 150 that has emerged just east of the highway has significant damage.
The Cottonwood is now around 23.7 feet and falling. It crested at 26.11 feet Thursday.
The only other river in flood areawide is the Neosho at Neosho Rapids. The river continues to dip towards the 22-foot flood stage, but it’s still at 25.37 feet and may not go below flood stage until late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
The current Lyon County road closure list can be found below.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates as the flooding continues.
8:30 am Sunday: Traffic now moving on K-99 south of Emporia as Cottonwood recedes; KTA closes floodgates
Kansas Highway 99 has started reopening just south of Emporia.
The highway has been closed since Wednesday due to flooding. The river dipped to 23.94 feet as of 6:30 am Sunday, below the mark where the river clears the highway and allowing the Kansas Department of Transportation to let one lane of traffic start flowing. KDOT says there is some shoulder damage immediately south of Emporia. Repair plans and timelines are pending.
The opening of Highway 99 means the Kansas Turnpike Authority has now closed its floodgates at mile marker 122.5.
The Cottonwood is now at 23.73 feet and falling.
The only other river in flood was the Neosho at Neosho Rapids. The river continues to dip towards the 22-foot flood stage, but it’s still at 25.4 feet and may not go below flood stage until late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
Lyon County’s road closure list held steady Saturday and may not see any changes until Monday:
-1900 Road 60
-Road 140 from Road H to Road K-5
-Road 145 from Road G to Road H; west of Neosho Rapids river bridge
-Road 150 from Road C to Road E; Road E to Road F; from Road H to Road K-5; from Road M to Road N; from Road N to Road R; west of Road X
-Road 155 from Road K to Road K-5
-Road 160 from Road N to Road R; Road R to Road S
-Road 170 from Road N to Road R
-Road 177 West of Road P5
-Road 240 from Road D to Road E
-Road A from Road 170 to Road 180
-Road B-2 from Road 170 to Road 180
-Road B-5 from Road 170 to Road 180
-Road C from US Highway 50 to Road 180
-Road E from Road 140 to Road 160
-Road F from Road 160 north
-Road G from Road 140 to Road 145
-Road G5 from Road 170 to Road 175
-Road H from Road 140 to Road 145
-Road J from Road 130 to Road 160
-Road K from Road 130 to Road 155
-Road M from Road 137 to Road 150
-Road N from Road 160 to Road 170
-Road P from Road 160 to Road 170
-Road R from Road 160 to Road 170; from Road 140 to Road 160
-Road S from Road 130 to Road 137
-Road T from Road 130 to Road 150
-Road W from Road 122 to Road 145; south of Road 155
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
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