Nebraska DOT 'hoping' flooding will recede but is not sure when Highway 30 will reopen

COLUMBUS, Neb. (KLKN) – As floodwater continued to rise Friday, Highway 30 near Columbus was almost completely submerged.

It was the latest sign of overwhelmed rivers and streams in eastern Nebraska.

Authorities blocked off the roadway from Highway 39 in Silver Creek to Highway 81 south of Columbus.

State transportation workers put in long hours trying to keep people safe and off the road.

“The crew before us did a full 24-hour shift,” said Tegan McLean, a Nebraska Department of Transportation employee. “They were out here 7 a.m. yesterday morning, and we relieved them 7 a.m. this morning.”

SEE ALSO: Flooding closes highway in eastern Nebraska as rivers rise

The highway’s closure caused significant disruptions.

Neighbors said they’re seeing a lot more trucks on other roads due to the closure.

NDOT is still uncertain about how much melted snow and ice will contribute to rising waters.

“We’re planning and hoping that it would recede here shortly,” Mclean said.

But he said fellow NDOT employees talked about another ice jam.

“Hopefully both sides don’t start to jam up because we will have a bigger mess than we have now,” he

NDOT said it does not know when Highway 30 will be able to reopen.

Once it does, it’s expected to need shoulder repairs.

Neighbors are watching both the Platte and Loup rivers for ice jams that may lead to flooding.

If you plan travel in that area, you can check the latest closures on the state’s 511 map.