The Illinois Department of Transportation has informed WKRV-WPMB that U.S. Route 51, from Route 40 to Route 50, is now closed due to water on the roadway. I-DOT says they have alternate routes set up utilizing Illinois Route 185 and Interstate 57. The closure is from the 51/40 intersection in Vandalia, to the the 51/50 intersection at Sandoval—which is a 24.6 mile stretch. More rain is possible for tonight and the Kaskaskia River in Vandalia is expected to continue to rise and reach a crest of 10 feet above the river’s flood stage on Saturday afternoon.