A towboat hit St. Louis’ Eads Bridge on May 3, possibly because of increasing flood waters. According to USCG officials, the tugboat was damaged to its pilot house but there were no injuries. The bridge was not harmed neither.
After the accident, USCG closed a part of the Mississippi to all ship traffic from mile marker 179 to 184, because of high water levels and fast moving currents on May 3. These restrictions will be lifted when the conditions get better.
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What is more, Grafton, Alton and several other cities in Southern Illinois could experience floods, while a sudden increase on the Mississippi near State Street in Alton has closed several roads.
In fact, the weather service has predicted a crest of 35.5 feet by May 6 in Alton, the fifth-highest on record. Namely, around Illinois, the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for several river across Illinois, after several days of rain soaked the state.
Moreover, the Mississippi at Chester on May 3 was at almost 37 feet, with the weather service expecting it to crest at over 43 feet by May 6. Flood stage is 27 feet.
The Illinois Department of Transportation also announced that it will close US 67 at Illinois 100 near Alton.
Finally, the US National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for a large part of the Mississippi River, along with flash flood watches for parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas after recent rounds of heavy rain.
