Lyon County’s road network is getting closer to being fully reopened.
That’s largely thanks to the Lyon County Highway Department which has been hard at work removing barricades from various county roads following the torrential rainfall and resulting flooding from a week ago. As of Tuesday afternoon, the following roads have been reopened to traffic:
Road 140 From Road K to Road K5 (HWY 99)
Road 160 From Road G to Road H
Road 160 From Road H to Road J
Road 190 From Road L to Road L5
Road G From Road 155 to Road 160
Road G From Road 50 to Road 60
Road S From Road 130 to Road 140
Road S From Road 150 to Road 160
Road T From Road 130 to Road 140
Road T From Road 140 to Road 150
Tuesday’s reopenings follow the removal of barricades from roughly 40 other road segments on Monday.
Road A from Highway 50 to Road 180
Road B2 from US Highway 50 to Road 175
Road B-5 from US Highway 50 to Road 175
Road C from US Highway 50 to Road 180
Road D from Road 170 to US Highway 50
Road D from Road 250 to Road 260
Road E from Road 145 to Road 150
Road E from Road 260 to Road 270
Road F from Road 162 to Road 170
Road G from Road 160 to Road 170
Road M from Road 130 to Road 140
Road P2 from Road 175 to Road 180
Road R from Road 150 to Road 160
Road R from Road 160 to Road 170
Road X from Road 30 to Road 40
Road X from Road 40 to Road 50
Road 135 from Kansas Highway 99 to Road M
Road 140 from Road J to Road K
Road 140 from Road N-5 to Road P
Road 147 from Road A to Road C
Road 150 from Road D to Road E
Road 150 from Road E to Road F
Road 150 from Road M to Road N
Road 150 from Road P to Road R
Road 150 from Road R to Road S
Road 170 from Road N to Road R
Road 170 from Road D to Road E
Road 180 from Road M to Road N
Road 180 from Road Y to Road Z
Road 200 from Road R to Road S
Road 220 from Road S to Road T
Road 240 from Road C to Road D
Road 240 from Road D to Road E
Road 240 from Road E to E5
Road 250 from Road D to Road E
Road 260 from Road A to Road B
Road 260 from Road D to Road E
Road 265 from Road A to Road B
Road 270 from Road D to Road E
Road 270 from Road E to Road F
We have the full list of reopened roads online with this story at KVOE.com. Now, while the road network is slowly returning to normal, Assistant Lyon County Engineer Jim Brull has asked drivers to continue driving cautiously, especially on roads that have just recently reopened, noting that while they are being made passable, they’re not all back to 100 percent.
Additionally, authorities are encouraging drivers to check the Lyon County road closure map at LyonCounty.org to make sure any recently reopened roads were opened by the county and not by passersby. You can visit the Lyon County closure map by clicking here.
As for ongoing closures, the list has shrunk considerably. Barricades remain at the following locations:
Road 140 from Road H to Road J
Road 145 from Road G to Road H, from Road V to Road V-6
Road 150 from Road J to Road K, Road K to Road K5 (Kansas Highway 99), Road W to Road X
Road C from Road 147 to End
Road D from Road 150 to Road 160
Road H from Road 140 to Road 145
Road J from Road 140 to Road 150, Road 150 to Road 160
Road K from Road 140 to Road 150, Road 150 to Road 155
Roam M from Road 140 to Road 150
Road S from Road 310 to Road 320
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates as they become available.
4:50 pm Monday: FLOODS: Lyon County road network slowly returning to normal as dozens of roads reopen by Monday afternoon
The Lyon County Highway Department has been busy restoring the county’s road network Monday and they’ve been successful based on the lengthy list of road openings.
The following roads were reopened early Monday afternoon:
Road A from Highway 50 to Road 180
Road B2 from US Highway 50 to Road 175
Road B-5 from US Highway 50 to Road 175
Road C from US Highway 50 to Road 180
Road D from Road 170 to US Highway 50
Road D from Road 250 to Road 260
Road E from Road 145 to Road 150
Road E from Road 260 to Road 270
Road F from Road 162 to Road 170
Road G from Road 160 to Road 170
Road M from Road 130 to Road 140
Road P2 from Road 175 to Road 180
Road R from Road 150 to Road 160
Road R from Road 160 to Road 170
Road X from Road 30 to Road 40
Road X from Road 40 to Road 50
Road 135 from Kansas Highway 99 to Road M
Road 140 from Road J to Road K
Road 140 from Road N-5 to Road P
Road 147 from Road A to Road C
Road 150 from Road D to Road E
Road 150 from Road E to Road F
Road 150 from Road M to Road N
Road 150 from Road P to Road R
Road 150 from Road R to Road S
Road 170 from Road N to Road R
Road 170 from Road D to Road E
Road 180 from Road M to Road N
Road 180 from Road Y to Road Z
Road 200 from Road R to Road S
Road 220 from Road S to Road T
Road 240 from Road C to Road D
Road 240 from Road D to Road E
Road 240 from Road E to E5
Road 250 from Road D to Road E
Road 260 from Road A to Road B
Road 260 from Road D to Road E
Road 265 from Road A to Road B
Road 270 from Road D to Road E
Road 270 from Road E to Road F
Assistant Lyon County Engineer Jim Brull says that while these roads may no longer be barricaded, that doesn’t mean they are back to 100 percent when it comes to travel conditions. He tells KVOE News crews will make the roads as passable as possible; however, Brull is still advising drivers to be cautious as repair work continues.
Additionally, Brull and Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell advise drivers that just because a road is no longer barricaded, it doesn’t necessarily mean the county has cleared it. Fell says, “Sometimes barricades are prematurely moved by drivers themselves, which he and Brull remind residents is illegal and dangerous, especially after a flooding event, as it can put others’ lives at risk.
For those who may be wondering if a road has been reopened by the Highway Department Fell says there are resources available to find that information.
You can access the county’s road closure map by clicking here.
In addition to reopening the road network over the past several days, highway crews have been surveying flood-related damage, with information needing to be compiled and turned into the Kansas Division of Emergency Management for an initial damage assessment by June 18. There is no word on a possible dollar amount in damages just yet, however, Fell says the local threshold to make the county eligible for federal assistance is just under $150,000.
Also, to be eligible for federal assistance, the county would have to declare a local state of disaster. The last time the county did so was at the start of the annual burn season back in March.
While the county’s road closure list has shrunk significantly in recent days, it is still plenty long.
Barricades remain in place at the following roads.
*Road 50 from Highway 99 to Road R
*Road 130 between Road H and Road F
*Road 140 between Road J and Kansas Highway 99
*Road 145 from Road V-6 to the Neosho River bridge outside Neosho Rapids
*Road 150 between Roads D and F; between Road K and Kansas Highway 99; between Roads M and N; between Roads W and X
*Road 160 from Road N to Road R
*Road 170 from Road M7 to Road R1; from Road Y to Road Z
*Road 165 from Road M to Road N
*Road 200 from Road R to Road S
*Road 225 from Road F to Road F5
*Road 250 from Road H-5 to Road J-7
*Road 260 from Road G to Road H-5
*Road D from Road 260 to 270
*Road F from 225 to 235
*Road J between Roads 140 and 160; between Roads 240 and 250
*Road K between Roads 130 and 150
*Road M from Road 190 to Road 197
*Road N from Road 160 to Road 170
*Road P from Road 40 to Road 60; from Road 150 to Road 170
*Road R from Road 150 to Road 170
10:45 am Monday: FLOODS: Plant life may need replanting, depending on situation; Soden’s Grove Park likely reopening this week
The most recent round of flooding isn’t doing crops any favors, especially those in lowland areas south of Emporia.
Lyon County Extension Ag Agent Brian Rees says crops need both moisture and oxygen to survive — and right now, as one can imagine, there has been an abundance of moisture and a lack of oxygen. Rees says corn can survive a rather lengthy period underwater, but beans will likely struggle.
Speaking of plants, Extension Horticulturist Travis Carmichael says vegetable gardens may need different levels of post-flood care, depending on the source and duration of the flooding.
The Sertoma Club’s miniature train in Soden’s Grove has not resumed operations after shutting down its regular schedule last week. Spokesperson Teri Summey says club members plan to gauge the situation this week before announcing future plans.
Soden’s Grove Park, meanwhile, was tentatively reopening to the public Monday with a baseball game, but Director of Public Lands and Facilities Kevin Hanlin says the reopening will likely happen later this week — perhaps as soon as Tuesday. The baseball game is still taking place, so residents in attendance are asked to park on Soden Road. There is some flood trash to clean up but there is no major damage. Soden’s Grove patrons are asked to park on paved areas because the grass is still soggy.
Separately, Hanlin says more information could be divulged as soon as Tuesday about a replacement pump for the Jones Aquatic Center. One of the existing pumps was struck by lightning during the June 3 storms and needed to be replaced. Once it’s in from Chicago, extra time is needed to balance the chemicals before the Aquatic Center can reopen to the public. The Aquatic Center has had limited public opportunities this season due to the weather and the pump situation.
Excess water has been noted in Evergreen Cemetery along the east side of Kansas Highway 99 between Roads 135-140, specifically in Section 2, but Sexton Ed Rathke says that is due to drainage and not actual flooding. He says drainage issues in a nearby ditch cause the appearance of flooding. He also says there are planned drainage within different sections to direct water away from plots.
The start of the week looks to be dry and seasonal with temperatures in the 80s before slight chances of showers and storms Thursday through Saturday — overlapping Chase County’s River Suite on Friday and the Grand Finale Symphony in the Flint Hills on Saturday. Chase County Emergency Management Director Scott Wiltse is among a lot of people watching the forecast closely.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
10:30 pm Sunday: Cottonwood River removed from flood warning at Emporia
It appears that close to a week’s worth of flooding for Lyon and surrounding counties is almost done.
After floodwaters went down off Kansas Highway 99 south of Emporia on Saturday, the Cottonwood River at Emporia went below flood stage late Sunday afternoon and the related flood warning was canceled. The river had been in flood since Wednesday after anywhere from 3-7 inches of rain Tuesday.
The only flood warning still in effect involves the Neosho at Neosho Rapids, which is receding gradually at 24.3 feet — still above flood stage of 22. It should go below flood stage Monday night. The current warning is set to expire early Tuesday afternoon.
K-99 may have reopened, but there are still a lot of flood-damaged roads still barricaded.
Lyon County road closures:
*Road 50 from Highway 99 to Road R
*Road 130 between Road H and Road F
*Road 140 between Road J and Kansas Highway 99
*Road 145 from Road V-6 to the Neosho River bridge outside Neosho Rapids
*Road 150 between Roads D and F; between Road K and Kansas Highway 99; between Roads M and N; between Roads W and X
*Road 160 from Road N to Road R
*Road 170 from Road M7 to Road R1; from Road Y to Road Z
*Road 165 from Road M to Road N
*Road 190 from Burlingame Road to Road L5
*Road 200 from Road R to Road S
*Road 225 from Road F to Road F5
*Road 240 from C to the Americus City Limits
*Road 250 from Road D to Road E; from Road H-5 to Road J-7
*Road 260 from Road D to Road E; from Road G to Road H-5
*Road 270 from Road D to Road F
*Road A from Highway 50 to Road 180
*Road B-2 from US Highway 50 to Road 175
*Road C from US Highway 50 to Road 175
*Road D from Road 260 to 270
*Road E from 260 to 270
*Road F from 225 to 235
*Road J between Roads 140 and 160; between Roads 240 and 250
*Road K between Roads 130 and 150
*Road M from Road 190 to Road 197
*Road N from Road 160 to Road 170
*Road P from Road 40 to Road 60; from Road 150 to Road 170
*Road R from Road 150 to Road 170
Lyon County road opening:
*Road 135 from Kansas Highway 99 to Road M
*Road 140 from Road N-5 to Road P
*Road B-5 from US Highway 50 to Road 175
*Road M from Road 130 to Road 140
Chase County road closures:
*Lake Rd between Cottonwood Falls and Elmdale
*Road B in Cedar Point north and south of Hwy 50
*N Rd south of Lake Rd
*170th and B Rd north of Hwy 50 in Cedar Point
*88th Rd in Cedar Point
*G Rd south of Hwy 50 in Clements
*PR Rd Cottonwood Falls
*YY Rd north and south of Hwy 50
*XX Rd north and south of Hwy 50
*Norton Creek Rd Bazaar
*Sharps Creed Rd Bazaar
*U Rd and Old Hwy 50, Strong City
*LP Rd
*Middle Creek Rd
*Diamond Creek Rd
*South Cottonwood St in Strong City
Click here for KVOE News’ prior coverage.
7:45 am Sunday: Cottonwood, Neosho receding — but lots of road closures remain in Lyon and Chase counties
With area highway access restored, flooding is easing somewhat across central Lyon County.
The Cottonwood River at Emporia and Neosho River at Neosho Rapids remain in flood warnings until Monday. Click here for details.
Kansas Highway 99 reopened Saturday as Cottonwood River floodwaters receded, but there is still a long list of Lyon County road closures and a notable list of Chase County closures that are still in effect:
Lyon County road closures:
*Road 50 from Highway 99 to Road R
*Road 130 between Road H and Road F
*Road 140 between Road J and Kansas Highway 99
*Road 150 between Roads D and F; between Road K and Kansas Highway 99; between Roads M and N; between Roads W and X
*Road 160 from Road N to Road R
*Road 170 from Road M7 to Road R1; from Road Y to Road Z
*Road 165 from Road M to Road N
*Road 190 from Burlingame Road to Road L5
*Road 200 from Road R to Road S
*Road 225 from Road F to Road F5
*Road 240 from C to the Americus City Limits
*Road 250 from Road D to Road E; from Road H-5 to Road J-7
*Road 260 from Road D to Road E; from Road G to Road H-5
*Road 270 from Road D to Road F
*Road A from Highway 50 to Road 180
*Road B-2 from US Highway 50 to Road 175
*Road B-5 from US Highway 50 to Road 175
*Road C from US Highway 50 to Road 175
*Road D from Road 260 to 270
*Road E from 260 to 270
*Road F from 225 to 235
*Road J between Roads 140 and 160; between Roads 240 and 250
*Road K between Roads 130 and 150
*Road M from Road 190 to Road 197
*Road N from Road 160 to Road 170
*Road P from Road 40 to Road 60; from Road 150 to Road 170
*Road R from Road 150 to Road 170
Chase County road closures:
*Lake Rd between Cottonwood Falls and Elmdale
*Road B in Cedar Point north and south of Hwy 50
*N Rd south of Lake Rd
*170th and B Rd north of Hwy 50 in Cedar Point
*88th Rd in Cedar Point
*G Rd south of Hwy 50 in Clements
*PR Rd Cottonwood Falls
*YY Rd north and south of Hwy 50
*XX Rd north and south of Hwy 50
*Norton Creek Rd Bazaar
*Sharps Creed Rd Bazaar
*U Rd and Old Hwy 50, Strong City
*LP Rd
*Middle Creek Rd
*Diamond Creek Rd
*South Cottonwood St in Strong City
Excess water has been noted in Evergreen Cemetery along the east side of Kansas Highway 99 between Roads 135-140, specifically in Section 2, but Sexton Ed Rathke says that is due to drainage and not actual flooding. He says drainage issues in a nearby ditch cause the appearance of flooding. He also says there are planned drainage within different sections to direct water away from plots.
Showers and storms are unlikely but possible Sunday afternoon, including a marginal to slight risk of hail and wind. Currently, the National Weather Service does not indicate any storm activity will aggravate ongoing flooding.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
