The nearly steady, often heavy rains the past few days have produced a familiar but yet unwanted side effect: out-of-bank creeks and road closures.

Mike Willis, timekeeper for the Ohio Department of Transportation Lawrence County Garage, said at 7:45 this morning State Route 217 is closed at the Gallia County line, State Route 650 is closed at the 7 and 9 mile markers and State Route 217 is closed at Linnville near the junction of State Route 378.

Willis said water is over half the road on State Route 243 at the 13-mile marker, State Route 378 between the 1 and 2 mile markers and State Route 775 at the 7-mile marker. He said traffic is down to one lane in three locations between Wilgus and Arabia and State Route 141 is closed at the 17-mile marker.

“The water is still rising, so we’ll probably have more (flooded areas) before the day is out,” Willis said.

Ironton Floodwall Superintendent Mike Pemberton said the city is putting two pump stations in operation, the one at Vesuvius Street and the one at Second and Sycamore streets.

“The only time we do this is when the river is coming up and it is coming up, and according to the forecast it is coming up,” Pemberton said.

He said the National Weather Service is predicting the Ohio River will crest Friday morning at 43 feet. Flood stage in Ironton is 50 feet.

Because of this, the city is putting into operation pump stations 4 and 5, which serve the Vesuvius Street area and West Ironton. These stations will pump water over the levy from city drains. He said the sluice gate at Etna Street will be closed.

The sluice gate is an oversized valve that keeps water from the river from flowing backward in the city system.