More than a dozen roads closed in Cole County due to flooding

Heavy rains and rising river levels put more than a dozen roads under water Wednesday across Cole County.

MoDOT crews shut down Route W just south of Wardsville. The road is near the Osage River which was at major flood stage Wednesday night.

Cole County Public Works has also shut down many roads across the county.

Those include:

The 7600 block of Campbell Road The 8700 block of Payne Road The 11100 block of North Branch Road The 1400 block of Waterford Road The 1300 block of Murphy Ford Road The 2800 block of Meadows Ford Road The 7900 block of East Lohman Road The 14100 block of Rockhouse Spur The 9500 block of Engineers Road The 9200 block of Railroad Street The 2100 block of Osage Water Street The 7400 block of Vaughn Ford Road The 7000 block of New Hope Road

The Blair Oaks School District has had to change two bus routes due to high waters, according to Superintendent Jim Jones.

The first was at Route W, which the district has issues with each time the Bagnell Dam releases water and causes the Osage River to rise, according to Jones.

The second was at Tanner Bridge Road near the Moreau River. The road has since reopened, but Jones said it may impact morning bus routes again Thursday with the overnight rain. As of Wednesday night, the Moreau River was at minor flood stage. It is expected to rise and reach major flood stage by Thursday night.

Flooding is not expected to be an issue for Jefferson City Public Schools. The district has not had to change any of its bus routes with the recent flooding and does not expect any issues Thursday morning, according to JCPS Safety and Security Coordinator Kurt Mueller.