Multiple area roads feeling the effects of heavy rain

Central Mississippi roads are feeling the effects of the recent heavy rainfalls as water undercuts roadways and patches while fallen trees and mudslides make them impassable.

In Vicksburg this morning, a patch on the Interstate 20 East entrance ramp from U.S. Highway 61 South has crumbled, leaving a big hole that can seriously damage vehicles if hit at any speed. One of the two lanes on the ramp is blocked. The Mississippi Department of Transportation is sending a crew to make repairs.

Early this morning, the eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 were blocked when a tree fell into the roadway in Warren County.

Around 1:30 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol was called when a passenger car was struck by the tree. In short order, a minivan and seven 18-wheelers had collided with the tree.

The minivan driver was transported to Merit Health River Region. None of the truck drivers were injured. The conditions of the minivan driver and the driver of the passenger car are not known.

That section of roadway has reopened.

A section of Oak Street from Speed Street to Fairground Street has been closed due maintenance work.

Also, a section of Old Highway 27 from Blossom to South Frontage Road is closed, a reader reports.

Last night, county crews shut down Old Jackson Road due to mudslides. A mudslide earlier in the day was cleared, but two additional slides around 8 p.m. made the road impassible. The road has been shut down from east of the Vicksburg National Military Park at Culkin Road to west of the park where it intersects with Martin Luther King Drive. No word, yet, on when the road may reopen.

Two roads have been shut down in the northern section of the Military Park, as well.

A section of U.S. Highway 80 will be shut down for foreseeable future as a section of the roadway collapsed Tuesday due to the heavy rain.

Slide at Waterview Casino Wednesday night (photos by David Day)

Finally, if you have plans to try your luck at Waterview Casino today, note that the section of the road from the parking lot up to Washington Street has been closed due to a massive mud slide just below it. Last night, a portion of the embankment bordering the parking lot gave way, dumping tons of earth and mud into the lot.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, and no vehicles were seriously damaged.

Slide at Waterview Casino

Stay alert for the unexpected as you drive today.

More rain and flooding is expected to hit Central Mississippi this weekend and into next week.