COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- It may be only one mile, but it's a mile with enough problems to close 27 miles of highway.
I-10 is still closed in Columbia and Baker County.
"Interstate 10 remains closed in both directions eastbound from I75 and westbound at US90," Lt. Kevin Blom of the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Traffic is being diverted to U.S. 90.
"U.S. 90 drained very well during the night. They're not having any issues over there. We still have at least about a mile of Interstate 10 that's underwater."
That mile stretches from mile marker 309 to 310.
FHP estimates it will take at least two days to complete, but once it does, there's still one more obstacle to overcome.
"Once the water drains off and the road seems to be passable, we'll have some crews out here to clean up the debris on the roadway. Once the debris is cleaned from the roadway and it's travelable, we'll open it up."
That could add another day onto the tally.
"Just don't have a time when that's going to be."
With I-10 being an evacuation route, Action News wanted to know, is this going to be an issue during hurricane season?
"I don't think we're going to have any issues with that. This dumped an exceptional amount of rain in this area; one we haven't seen in quite sometime. But we'll make some contingency plans should that become necessary."
Lt. Blom says it's Debby the Downer's slow progress that has caused all the problems.
