There’s never really a good time for a culvert to collapse. But emergency responders in Washburn County are dealing with one in cold winter conditions.

The Washburn County Sheriff’s office posted that a culvert on Elver road has failed. The wash out is about 40 to 50 feet wide making the road not passable, so Elver road is closed.

This is about 20 miles south east of Spooner. The sheriff’s office also is warning snowmobilers, ice anglers and other outdoor winter recreationalists that ice on Long lake and Little Mud lake is not safe.

County emergency management personnel have been notified and were evaluating the damage Friday afternoon. They had hoped to have Elver road open again by Friday night or Saturday morning.