Some new technology compared to a set of Lego blocks is being used to keep flood water from closing a highway in southern Carroll County. The department is using Big Bags on almost two miles of Highway 65 between Waverly and Carrollton. Department spokesman Rick Bennett says they’re big bags attached to wooden frames that are screwed together in 15-foot segments.
About nine-thousand feet of that wall has been built. It’s helping to keep one lane of the highway open. We have a video link showing the big bags in operaiton with this story at Missourinet.com.
Bennett says the department used a few of the Big Bags in southeast Missouri in April and May. But he says the Carroll County wall is the largest deployment of them.
The department started the day with more than fifty roads closed because of river flooding. Bennett hopes the weather moderates enough to keep the list from growing. He says river productions are stable statewide and the deparatment doesn’t expect major issues unles sthere is substantial rain or more levee failures.
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Here’s a link to the MODOT video showing the Big Bags in operation on Highway 65.
http://www.youtube.com/modotvideo#p/u/2/gHjlKEqJQ8M