Hillsborough County may close Morris Bridge Road as river continues rising

Hillsborough County officials are closely monitoring the water level on the Hillsborough River for a possible closure of the Morris Bridge Road.

If necessary, the road will close between High Meadow Avenue and Corey Lakes Boulevard until the water recedes, county leaders said in a news release. Drivers who regularly use the roadway should plan alternate routes.

Officials said detours around the Morris Bridge Road have been posted and message boards are urging drivers to remain careful when water is in the roadway.

As of this writing, the water level on the Hillsborough River at the Morris Bridge is 31.78 feet — just below minor flood stage at 32 feet, according to the National Weather Service. The river is forecast to rise to about 32.2 feet early Friday morning.

At 32 feet, the Weather Service says that flooding begins at a trailer park downstream from Morris Bridge and just upstream from the northern end of the Tampa Bypass canal.