Three trails in eastern Nebraska have closed to bike traffic because of cracking caused by the drought.

The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District ordered the trails closed, effective immediately.

The trails include the MoPac East Trail, which stars in east Lincoln, as well as the Oak Creek Trail near Valparaiso and part of the Homestead Trail near Cortland.

The closures add up to about 50 miles of trails. District officials say they cracked due to the extreme drought, creating a hazard for bicyclists. Workers have tried to repair them for the past two weeks, but cracks that are filled keep reopening. Manager Glenn Johnson says some are wider than a regular bicycle tire.