YAZOO COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The Mississippi Department of Transportation continues to monitor surface conditions on roads closed due to flooding.
All roads that were shut down due to flooding still remain closed, even some where the water has receded.
District 3 Engineer Kevin McGee says there are no major problems with the roads.
Crews continue to survey them, removing debris, looking for problems, and making repairs.
"We need to make sure the roads are in safe driving condition before we open them. We would like the water off the shoulder," McGee said.
Right now, soft dirt on the shoulder and standing water next to the road poses a danger for motorists who may leave the roadway.
"The water has saturated the road bed and the pavement, and they weaken it, so just because the pavement is dry it does not mean the road is ready to be opened," McGee said.
McGee says the water is receding slower in the Delta backwater areas, than it is closer to the Mississippi River.
On Highway 61 near the Big Black River, the roadway has started to bubble in places.
The closed roads have created a great inconvenience for farmers in the Delta, residents and other businesses who have drive out of their way to reach their destinations.
Everyone is asked to use patience while MDOT inspects the roads.
No specific dates for re-opening the roads have been announced, but could be later this week.
Stay tuned to WLBT for road opening announcements.
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