ASHBURN, MO -- We've gotten calls from viewers in the Ashburn area who are concerned that a trouble area of road on Highway 79 may be collapsing again.

We went straight to the source to ask *your* questions for this KHQA FactFinder report.

You'll recall last year's small earthquake disrupted the cliff...then heavy rains accelerated the road's slide down the bluff.

The highway was closed for some time between Louisiana and Hannibal as Missouri Department of Transportation crews repaired that crack.

Now residents says a new crack is starting to form.

Assistant District Maintenance and Traffic Engineer Jason Shaffer says heavy rains again this year are contributing to the road beginning to erode off the hillside.

It's just a couple of feet from where the road began to collapse last year. He says MODOT is aware of the problem...and have installed instruments in place to monitor movement of the road on the bluff.

Are people safe on Highway 79?

Shaffer said, "People are safe on Highway 79. We are monitoring this area constantly. Yes there is a little movement. We have equipment on site to measure how much the hillside is moving. We've got out here and geologists keeping an eye on everything."

Shafer says the road will remain open for the time being...until it's found to be unsafe for travelers.  In the meantime if you have concerns...he encourages you to contact MODOT at 1-888-ASK-MODOT.