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Drivers heading south on I-29 warned to fill up on gas

Posted at 10:06 PM, May 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-25 23:11:11-04

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (KMTV) — Deputies in Fremont County are warning drivers traveling on Interstate 29 to fuel up before they find themselves in trouble on the road.

There are plenty of gas stations at the edge of Council Bluffs, many of them busy Saturday during the holiday weekend. Some drivers who travel south have come to learn this is their last stop before hitting the Interstate.

"I have to plan everything," Carl Jones from Johnson, Nebraska said. "I can't just stop and get gas at my convenience, I have to plan ahead."

Planning ahead is the message Fremont County Deputies are trying to get across to drivers heading south from Council Bluffs because they can't get gas for nearly 70 miles in that stretch. Various off and on-ramps are closed. Exits by Nebraska City are the latest to shut down. Drivers will have to wait until reaching Rock Port, Missouri to fuel up.

Broken levees let recent rain water to flood the roads. Law enforcement has noticed a rise in water level in the past 24 hours.

"I drove past this exit Friday night and there was only a little bit of water coming over the road," Deputy Jordan Elonich said. "You could still get through. but it's several feet deep now."

Deputies are reminding drivers to obey road closed signs. Deputy Elonich says too many drivers are ignoring the signs and barricades.

"Drivers end up getting stuck in the water and that's not safe for anybody," she said.

Nearby, Highway 2 west toward Nebraska City is also closed. It's frustrating drivers like Frank Adkins who works at Sapp Brothers and now has to use a detour.

"It typically takes me 10 minutes to get to my driveway from Sapp Brothers," he said. "Now it takes me an hour and 10 minutes to get home."

Frustrations from the flood are still lingering.

Sheriff's Deputies say they don't know when those ramps by Nebraska City will reopen. IDOT could not be reached for comment.