Residents amazed by height of Root River in Franklin/Oak Creek

FRANKLIN/OAK CREEK (WITI) -- A few inches of standing water didn't stop drivers on South 27th Street in Franklin on Thursday, April 18th.

The usually tame Root River has risen over its banks and spilled into the roads, slowing traffic -- but not stopping it.

"It's been busy, going about looking at water on the roads," a Franklin Highway Department official said.

The Franklin Highway Department spent much of the day Thursday closing roads and watching water levels. Along 60th Street, the river looks more like a lake. Nearby fields are completely underwater -- and experts say even though it has been a mostly dry day, the river may not have crested yet.

Downstream in Oak Creek, roads were closed for much of the day near Nicholson and County Line, making driving near the Root River a headache. However, most of the major routes nearby remained open.

The sound of the raging river amazes neighbors walking along its banks. Patti Pehringer says she's never seen a view like this in Franklin.