OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Floodwater from the Missouri River has forced officials to close a portion of Interstate 29. The Iowa Transportation Department said Friday (Today) the 10-mile stretch extends north from the Crescent exit to the Missouri Valley area. A detour is in operation. Several I-29 interchange ramps are closed in southwest Iowa as well.

Flood waters from the Missouri River, left, swollen following heavy rainfall upstream, breach Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a levee meant to protect Honey Creek, Iowa, and Interstate 29 from flooding. The Iowa Department of Transportation warned drivers that if the river continues to rise there might have to close a portion of Interstate 29 north of Council Bluffs, Iowa. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The river continues to rise and flood mostly rural land in Nebraska and Iowa and is expected to crest Saturday near Omaha. Officials blame the flooding on recent heavy rains over eastern Nebraska and northwest Iowa and on exceptionally heavy rains last week in Montana, North and South Dakota and Nebraska.

Officials don’t expect the floodwaters to cause significant damage to communities. Floodwater broke through two levees Wednesday in a rural Iowa area northeast of Omaha.