Craig County Flooding Closes U.S. Highway

NewsOn6.com

VINITA, Oklahoma -- High water is flooding farmland across central Craig County in northeastern Oklahoma.

Flooding from recent rains has also closed U.S. Highway 60 east of Vinita as it crosses over Little Cabin Creek.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is building a new bridge over the creek.

The new bridge is almost complete and is suppose to be opened to traffic by the holiday weekend.

Craig County resident Robert Mason stands down the road after flood waters got into his home.   He talked about the flooding with News On 6.

Some residents are saying the county has gotten between 12 to 15 inches of rain since the weekend.

The new highway bridge was built to a height of 16-inches over the area's historic flood level. Looking at the pictures, it appears flooding is near that level now.

ODOT officials say the creek above the bridge drains from 125 square miles of land.

Road closings:

Cherokee County 

SH-80 from Hulbert to Wildwood campgrounds.

Craig County

US-60 at Little Cabin Creek near Vinita

Ottawa County

SH-125 south of Miami (near the fairgrounds)

US-69A (Mushroom Road) between I-44 and US-69, east of Miami

Keep checking here for new developments in this story, and News On 6 viewers can watch reporter Emory Bryan's report on News On 6 at 6 p.m.