Maintenance crews from Mankato/District 7 were nearly finished clearing an
11-mile section of Hwy 169 between Mankato and St. Peter today that was closed
due to mudslides triggered by heavy rains in the region.
The highway was closed about 3 a.m. today; traffic is being detoured on Hwy
22 which parallels the route of Hwy 169.
Nearly a foot of mud, sand, trees and other debris were washed onto the roadway
by water coursing down the bluffs on the west side of the highway. Water also
covered the highway in many places. The area received about nine inches of rain
overnight. The rain, heavy at times, continued to fall during the remainder
of the day.
 |
Tony DeSantiago, a
maintenance supervisor at Mankato, surveys the mudslide area north of
Mankato on Hwy 169.
Photo by Steve Korteu
|
The force of the water broke tree trunks and gouged out large quantities of
soil but no major damage to houses or other structures in the bluff area was
reported.
The slide covered a two-mile section of the highway in the northern part of
Mankato.
The northbound lanes of the highway were re-opened earlier today; however,
the southbound lanes will remain closed until Thursday morning.
Rebecca Arndt, public affairs coordinator, said the southbound lanes will not
open until mid-morning on Thursday at the earliest if district officials determine
it’s safe to do so.
“The river bluffs are saturated and we have concerns about additional
slides,” said Gordon Regenscheid, district operations engineer. “Keeping
the southbound lanes closed throughout the night is the safest precaution for
travelers on Hwy 169,” he said.
Arndt said crews from throughout the district are using an armada of loaders,
graders and heavy trucks to collect the mud and other debris and haul it to
a pit on state-owned land along Hwy 22.
The mudslide, Arndt said, is similar to the event that occurred in 1997 that
also followed heavy rain.
No injuries were reported to travelers or crews responding to the slide, Arndt
said.
Maintenance crews continue to monitor the area affected by the slides which
she described as “very soft” and highly saturated.
 |
A maintenance crewmember uses a
backhoe to open a channel to drain water from a flooded area along Hwy
169.
Photo by Steve Korteum
|
Arndt said there are no means to prevent additional mudslides. “That
will take new plantings and vegetation,” she said.
Other areas of the state also received heavy rains Tuesday and today. Flood
watches are in effect for Fillmore, Houston and Mower counties in southeastern
Minnesota.
In the Rochester area, District 6 officials are discouraging motorists from
using Hwy 52 in the city due to standing water, muddy areas and because two
exits are closed due to flooding. Message signs will warn motorists of additional
travel restrictions if conditions worsen, said Charleen Zimmer, public affairs
coordinator for the ROC 52 construction project.
By Craig Wilkins
|
