County Roads Passable After Flooding, But Repairs Continue

All Crawford County roads damaged by recent flooding were passable as of July 18, but county officials said extensive repairs will continue for some time, particularly in the Davisville area.

District 1 Commissioner Mark Pfeiffer told the Crawford County Commission July 14 that five bridges were lost and residents were still having difficulty navigating some areas.

“It’s just going to be a very slow process,” Pfeiffer said, noting that large amounts of material would be needed to rebuild washed-out roads.

Pfeiffer said county road crews were working continuously and asked residents to remain patient. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office also cautioned that emergency response times could be slower in heavily damaged areas because of road conditions.

By July 18, Pfeiffer reported that every affected road had at least one passable route in and out. However, he said the roads remained far from their normal condition.

County trucks and contract drivers worked for six days to reopen the roads. In some locations, floodwaters left holes requiring dozens of loads of rock to fill. Several roads had multiple washed-out sections, and round trips from the quarry could take trucks more than an hour.

Some roads remained covered with rocks measuring 5 inches or larger. County officials recommended higher-clearance vehicles on portions of Adams, Crabtree and Big Shoal roads.

Pfeiffer said road crews worked from the time the storm ended through the afternoon of July 18 to restore access.

During the July 14 meeting, Pfeiffer also credited residents and volunteers who called to offer help or assisted with cleanup.

Participants in the Ozark Road Rally were among those who helped. The racing event was canceled Saturday because of the flooding, but Pfeiffer said several competitors remained in the area and assisted with cleanup efforts.

District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast said most of the county’s damage was concentrated south of the Meramec River. Roads in District 2 generally fared better, he said.

The flooding is also forcing the county to find a new polling location in Davisville. County Clerk Kim Gibbs told commissioners that the previous location would no longer be available.

Although access has been restored, county officials said work will continue to rebuild road surfaces, replace damaged structures and return roads to their previous condition.