From the archive: Parts of Highway 63 destroyed in Turkey Creek area

This story originally aired in 1993.

What’s underneath the flood water in this opening shot of video? About two miles of Highway 63.

The highway department estimates that about three total miles of pavement are in need of repair, but there’s more than just pavement at stake.

Before the pavement can be repaired, the highway department has to go in and estimate how much of the fill has been washed away or eroded from underneath the pavement, because traffic can’t drive over the top until they fix what’s underneath.

Crews began dumping rocks to help fill in a washed out area at the northwest corner of the Turkey Creek bridge. Next, a finer mud-cement mixture will be added to support the pavement, but a main ingredient used to repair the road, sand, is in short supply.

The highway dept. tells Missouri 17 News that the sand plant has quite a bit of sand produced, but it’s surrounded by water.

Until waters recede or the current slows enough for the highway department to take a closer look at damage from underneath Highway 63, it’s hard to estimate how much work needs to be done, much less, when the highway will see traffic again.