High Waters Keep I-45 & Side Streets In Corsicana Closed
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CORSICANA (CBS11) — Navarro County remains one of the hardest hit areas by flooding. After briefly reopening I-45, emergency management had to shut it down again when flood waters covered the freeway.
That's on top of many smaller roads closed by high waters, making it difficult for drivers to find alternate routes.
Heavy machinery staged next to I-45 as workers prepared for a massive cleanup effort to remove a derailed freight train. The cranes and other equipment would have to move closer to the tracks where a Union Pacific locomotive and several rail cars crashed after flood waters washed out tracks.
A couple of miles south in Corsicana, Carl Thayer had to keep looking for ways around flooded side streets. Emergency workers diverted traffic from I-45, sending drivers in search of alternate routes, but that wasn't always easy.
Emergency managers tell CBS11 flooded roads were the biggest problems of the day.
"Especially when you're not from the area and don't know the local roads, you just got to keep searching on your phone and whatnot to find the way around," Thayer said.
Homeowners evacuated as a precaution Friday night were allowed to return home.
But for many, like Charles Lumley, just going home from work was a challenge. The Corsicana local managed to find his way using back roads, but he urged all drivers to use caution in these conditions.
"Drive with common sense, and be careful, and look ahead as far as you can see," Lumley said. "It's either that or not get home."
Saturday night County Judge HM Davenport said I-45 remained covered with water a foot deep or deeper near Richland Creek, and there is no timetable to reopen the freeway.
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