Dent County Route TT’s low water crossing near Sligo has experienced multiple closures due to flood damages and heavy rainfall within the past several months, causing frustrations for surrounding residents, with a delay in opening announced once again due to approximately eight inches of rainfall received over the June 28 weekend.
Initially closed on April 22, 2025, after consecutive flooding events in the spring made the low water crossing unsafe, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) reopened the crossing on May 13 following initial repairs. However, because only critical repairs were completed due to a material shortage, including pipes and concrete, additional closures were planned for the future.
The route closed again on June 16 to complete the remaining work, which was initially expected to finish by June 27. That closure was then extended to July 3, as stated by a MoDOT press release.
The repairs and work were actually on track for reopening earlier than expected on Tuesday, July 1—until the county received heavy amounts of rainfall over the weekend.
“We were actually on track to have [the crossing] reopened Tuesday, but unfortunately they got eight and a half inches of rain there this weekend, which is the heaviest flood event that I’m aware of in recent history,” shared Preston Kramer, MoDOT’s Central District Area Engineer.
“The eight and a half inches that came down from Crooked Creek washed out our repairs and completely took out the crossing. So, we have to start back from zero on that.”
Kramer further shared that crew members are working to get the crossing reopened as quickly as possible, stating that the best case scenario for a reopening would be within the week of July 7. Crew members were on sight at the area to begin repairs on July 1, reported Kramer.
During the flood event, crew members at the crossing lost two pieces of heavy equipment, including a bobcat and excavator.
MoDOT, along with the county and the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), has identified the crossing as a high-priority need, with long-term improvements under consideration but currently unfunded. MoDOT is currently pursuing two different grants for funding, shared Kramer.
“We are actively looking at longer term solutions,” explained Kramer. “Whether that's a bridge or raising the roadway, a combination of both, but we are actively looking at longer term solutions. We don't have an answer for what that is, how much it will cost or timeline for that yet, so the short term solution is to get the roadway reopened as quickly as possible.”
As a result of the continued issues of closing, reopening, and closing the crossing by MoDOT, residents express frustrations and encourage the prioritization of the project by MoDOT.
One such resident who lives on a county road nearby, David Thompson, discussed with The Salem News the ongoing maintenance issues. The three weeks in April and May that the crossing was closed, shared Thompson, meant an extra 12-mile trek in order to reach essentials for him and his family, which meant extra mileage and gas for vehicles. He expressed frustration at the lack of directions given for alternate routes—and that the alternate routes included driving over county roads through Crawford and Dent County, which are also facing washouts from the recent heavy rains, leaving the roads in poor condition.
“We know it floods at times, but we’ve had excessive problems in the last three months,” shared Thompson. “They need to put in advance when they’re going to close the road and how to go around.”
Meanwhile, another resident named Linz Pike recorded and posted a video to Facebook detailing the situation and how the crossing has been affecting residents. During the times in which the crossing is closed, residents do not receive trash pickup services, mail, or other package carrier services, shared Pike and Thompson, unless they go into town.
More information on the residents’ experience can be seen in the video shared by Thompson, on Facebook.
