U.S. 61 South at the Big Black River is expected to open to traffic by 10 a.m. Friday while another of Vicksburg’s five casinos reopened today after being closed for three months of renovation.

Water inside pavement in the northbound lane near the bridge over the Big Black River, the border between Warren and Claiborne counties, has prolonged detours to Port Gibson and points south during the Mississippi River flood of 2011 that became a reality in Vicksburg when flood stage of 43 feet was topped on May 1 and the crest didn’t come until May 19 — at 57.1 feet. The road closed May 13.

Recent inspections indicate the reopening time will hold, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s latest advisory. U.S. 61 North at Redwood was reopened Wednesday after MDOT inspectors deemed that foundation sufficient. Ten miles of Mississippi 465 between U.S. 61 North and Eagle Lake and 2 miles of Mississippi 16 at Mississippi 149 remain off limits to traffic, probably until the middle of the month, officials have said.

A “pretty extensive cleanup” of dead trees and other debris is certain to both areas, Central District Engineer Kevin Magee said.

“We might be able to see 465 by next Friday,” Magee said.

Grand Station Casino, formerly Horizon, opened today and has a three-day grand opening weekend of cash and prize giveaways lined up for June 10-12, a release said this morning. A reopening had been planned for mid-May.

About 350 employees will staff the Mulberry Street facility, which plans a fine dining venue and a sports bar. The casino had closed in March for renovations.

DiamondJacks Casino closed May 9 due to high water and hasn’t announced a reopening date. Rainbow Casino closed for nearly two weeks, then reopened Friday. Ameristar and Riverwalk built temporary floodwalls and have been open for business throughout the flood.

The Mississippi River was 51.68 feet at Vicksburg this morning, down six-tenths of a foot from Wednesday. Levels have fallen about half a foot a day for a week.

North of Vicksburg, the river has recorded slight rises, but the National Weather Service said Vicksburg and other points south are not expected to record rises before the river falls below flood stage.

In Memphis, where the year’s high crest on May 10 was 48 feet, 14 feet above flood stage, another crest is expected Tuesday. It is forecast for 31 feet, 3 feet below flood stage.

Downriver, including at Vicksburg, stages aren’t expected to drop below flood stage until mid-June.

“We’re not going to get a second crest around here,” said Marty Pope, senior service hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. “We’ll continue to see it falling out, with less flows coming in from the Upper Mississippi than thought.”

The river side of the Steele Bayou Control Structure was 100.5 feet this morning, down six-tenths of a foot. The land side was 89.94 feet, down one-hundredth of a foot.

Emergency declarations issued May 2 by Vicksburg and Warren County will continue. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen renewed one Wednesday and the Board of Supervisors will follow suit Monday.

During a state of emergency, local governments may be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for such disaster-related costs as debris cleanup and overtime pay. It also enables decisions without a formal public meeting.