(Radio Iowa) – Emergency repairs are underway to stabilize a flood-damaged pedestrian trail in the Sioux City metro area. Jessica Felix, an engineer with the Iowa Department of Transportation, says the agency plans to spend about eight-million dollars to make repairs to the trail along the Big Sioux River and Interstate 29.

She estimates flooding caused 22-million dollars damage to the primary roadway system in northwest Iowa, which doesn’t include county or city costs. Felix says the rugged terrain makes work on this project very challenging.

The emergency repairs are expected to be finished this fall, and Felix says part of the trail could reopen for pedestrians next year. With flooding throughout northwest Iowa, she says people need to stay out of construction zones and not go around barricades. Violators could face a $10,000 fine and jail time.