Last night's heavy rainfall on already saturated ground has led to road and culvert washouts throughout the county. The northern third of the county appears to have sustained the most rain and resulting damage. Currently 43 county roads are closed, 32 of which are in the northern portion of St. Louis County.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Emergency Management Division is in communication with local jurisdictions to begin the process of gathering damage assessment estimates. It is anticipated the St. Louis County Board will approve a disaster declaration at its meeting next week, a necessary step the County to seek funding assistance from the state and FEMA on behalf of itself along with cities, townships, unorganized areas, and public utilities within the County.
St. Louis County Public Works crews are assessing infrastructure damage and have begun making repairs, with particular focus on re-opening roads that have left people without access to or from their homes. Most notable is Mud Creek Road northeast of Lake Vermilion, where water levels remain too high to attempt repairs. The Sheriff's Office has made contingency plans should anyone on this road need emergency assistance.
The following roads are currently closed due to unsafe conditions caused by high water.
District 4 (northern St. Louis County)
.Hwy 22 (State Hwy 53 – County Road 912 Ralph Rd)
- CR 652 Goodell Rd (State Hwy 53 – County State Aid Highway 82 Heino Rd)
- CR 467 Heino Rd (State Hwy 53 – CR 912 Ralph Rd)
- CR 912 Ralph Rd (CR 652 Goodell – CSAH 82 Heino Rd)
- CSAH 24 Crane Lk Rd (Unorganized Township Rd 8121 Kallio Rd – CSAH 23 Buyck)
- CSAH 24 Kallio Rd (UT 8121 South – UT 8121 North)
- CR 512 Sassass Rd (CSAH 87 Leander Rd – Terminus)
- CR 421 Sassass Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 87 Leander Rd)
- CR 912 Ralph Rd (CR 467 Heino Rd – CR 492 E Anton Rd)
- CR 492 E Anton Rd (CR 912 Ralph Rd – State Hwy 53)
- CR 467 Heino Rd (State Hwy 53 – CR 430 Burghardt Rd)
- CR 936 E Hannula Rd (State Hwy 53 – Terminus)
- CR 481 Carpenter Rd (CSAH 82 Heino Rd – CSAH 22)
- CR 923 Leander Rd (CR 912 Ralph Rd – Terminus)
- CSAH 22 (State Hwy 73 – CR 931 Murray Rd)
- CSAH 25 (CSAH 65 – CSAH 22)
- CSAH 107 Lind Rd (UT 8199 Range Line Rd – State Hwy 73)
- CR 931 Murray Rd (CSAH 22 – CR 491 Gustafson Rd at Bridge)
- CR 481 Carpenter Rd (UT 8163 Graham Rd – UT 8157 Goodell Rd)
- UT 8157 Goodell Rd (CR 491 Roini Rd – State Hwy 73)
- CR 492 Anton Rd (west of State Hwy 73 from Fire # 11244 – Terminus)
- UT 8134 West Reik Rd (Ut 8142 – CSAH 139)
- CSAH 114 West Olson Rd (CSAH 5 – State Hwy 73)
- CSAH 139 Range Line Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 114 West Olson Rd)
- CR 720 Lindsey Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 114 West Olson Rd)
- CSAH 116 Echo Trail (UT 8211 North Arm Rd – Moose River Landing)
- UT 8211 North Arm Rd (CSAH 116 Echo Trail – Terminus)
- CR 455 Sundling Rd (CR 676 Fectos Rd – Terminus)
- CR 674 Breezy Pt Rd (CSAH 77 – Terminus)
- CR 949 Bradley Rd (CR 929 Moccasin Pt Rd – Terminus)
- CR 408 Mud Creek Rd (State Hwy 1/169 – Terminus)
- CSAH 138 Giants Ridge Rd (CR 416 Tower/Biwabik Rd – Terminus)
District 5 (Duluth and surrounding townships)
- Fox Farm Rd under water at Sucker River Bridge between Two Harbors Rd and Hwy 44
- App Rd. at Captain Jacobs Creek between Two Harbors Rd and West Knife Rd
District 6 (Central St. Louis County including quad cities)
- Pettit Road closed west of Heritage Trail
- Hwy 44 closed between Brimson Toimi Road to Fairbanks Road
- Brimson Toimi Road between Hwy 16 and Little Creek Road
- South Loon Lake Road closed just south of Hwy 16
- Williams Rd closed west of Smith Road.
- Wilson Road closed at Highway 4
District 7 (Southwestern St. Louis County)
- CR 65 closed 1.35 miles west of Highway 73 due to washed out culvert
- CR 63 just west of Hibbing
- Shaw Road between Hayes and 92
- Green Rock Road by Belchner Road
Numerous other roads have signs posted warning of water covering part of the road. In these instances, roads may be down to one lane, but are still considered passable. Roads will be re-opened as they are determined safe.
Motorists are reminded to not drive around barricades or through standing water as it can be unclear how deep it is. Additionally, there could be hazards hidden beneath the surface. Anyone encountering unsafe road conditions should call 911 to report the location. People should stay vigilant and use caution near floodwaters, and keep children and pets away from fast moving water or any water that may be contaminated due to flooded sewer systems.
