TransAmerica Sec. 10 & Great Rivers Sec. 2 - Cave in Rock Ferry

[JHamelman]

We heard from one of our ambassador members in Southern Illinois that due to high waters, the Cave in Rock Ferry will be closed for approximately the next week. This affects the TransAmerica Route on map 118 and the Great Rivers Route on map 18. He has posted detour routing on this crazyguyonabike discussion:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/board/message/?o=RrzKj&thread_id=211739&v=B&page=1&nested=0

You can also check with the Kentucky Transportation District 1 on their Facebook page for updates:

http://www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict1
(You don't need a Facebook account to read their page.)

.Jennifer.

[jamawani]

Isn't using the Shawneetown Bridge more direct and less dangerous?  Granted that it is relatively narrow and traffic is higher than ideal, but the Brookport Bridge near Paducah is a nightmare and the Paducah detour is way out of the way.  Plus the Paducah detour means you have to get across the Tennessee River and the Cumberland River on narrow bridges, as well.

If you take the Shawneetown Bridge it is on Illinois Highway 13 / Kentucky Highway 56 - but you should stay off these roads, using back roads, until just before the bridge.

From Dixon, KY, possibly -
KY 132 to Springer Curry Rd to KY 270 to KY 130 to KY 109 to KY 56.
From Old Shawneetown, IL, possibly -
IL 13 ** to IL 1 to Cave in Rock. 
(Hwy 13 has a small shoulder but moderate+ traffic)

**There are backroad options from Shawneetown to Hwy 1 but with some gravel.

http://www.planning.kytc.ky.gov/maps/count_maps/count_maps.asp

http://wrc.dot.il.gov/bikemaps/vwmap.aspx?region=9&ExtentLeft=2436896.1106024073%20&ExtentRight=2914799.5574933696%20&ExtentBottom=112027.38818140308%20&ExtentTop=565909.791142891
(ILL DOT's interactive mapping tool leaves much to be desired.)

[oliver69]

From Old Shawneetown, IL, possibly -
IL 13 ** to IL 1 to Cave in Rock. 
(Hwy 13 has a small shoulder but moderate+ traffic)

Unfortunately, IL 1 to Cave in Rock is also closed due to flooding (from IL 13 to Saline Landing).

Any locals out there who could map a route from Shawneetown to Cave In Rock or Elizabethtown
that is not flooded?

I had my share of detours today, on TransAm Sec. 10, Map 123, the road between Sonara
and White Mills is partially flooded (though not closed yet); any help to avoid another detour
would be highly appreciated.

best regards,
oliver

[Sholto]

I took KY56 from Sebree and crossed at Shawnee Bridge, having been turned back on KY127 to Marion about 5km from Sebree and not knowing the condition of any smaller roads. A little busy but acceptable. I then stayed on IL13 which has good to excellent shoulders (and is mercifully flat) through to Harrisburg, then Carbondale. IL13 is much busier between Marion and Carbondale, and often lacking shoulders within these towns. I then took IL13 and Murphysboro Rd to rejoin the route at IL127, but the bridge at Muddy Brown Creek was closed (Saturday 7 May) so short detiour to IL3.

In Murphysboro police advised me to take IL149 (Walnut St) and IL3 to Chester. IL3 was re-opened Friday afternoon apparently, I could see where water had ben over the road between where the levee crosses and Chester. Expect to continue on route into Missouri Monday 9 May. 

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=8050&v=85

[oliver69]

Rode from Sebree to Harrisburg today (May 8th), mostly on roads suggested by jamawani.
Two sections of KY 270 were closed due to flooding but could be circumvented by short detours.
However, given the low amount of traffic on KY 56, I would consider using that road from
Sebree to Shawneetown.

Many areas south of IL 13 to Harrisburg are flooded, IL 1 is definitely closed, and I doubt that
any open road to Shawnee National Forest exist for people that use the Shawneetown bridge.
IL 13 is certainly not a scenic road, but at least it is flat so you can go fast  .   

Oliver

[Carl McDonald]

Re. The ferry to Cave in Rock:
The ferry is running.  It opened yesterday and we crossed today (5/20/2011).  Flooding was significant on the URRR to the intersection of the Trans-Am, but all roads are open for that section (URRR, Section 2, through panel 25).