Even state highways succumb to the Mighty Mississippi River during the flood of 2011. When the water first goes over the road, markers show the water's depth and allow drivers to travel over the low spots. Eventually, the water is too deep to be traversed and the road is barricaded as the markers disappear into the flood. Highway 177, known as Big Bend Road in town, is now closed at the north edge of Cape Girardeau city limits.
Fighting the river, one homeowner at the edge of the flood water has a raised driveway that allows access to the house on a hill to the right of the photo. As the water level rises, more dirt and gravel are added to keep the ever-changing drive above the water's reach.
Normally snaking between a golf course and the river, County Road 657 leads to a riverside park and a scenic overlook. It is now marked by the utility poles that line it. The Cape Rock Overlook remains accessible from the other end of County Road 657, though Twin Trees Park is inundated.
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