Seminara tours flood-damaged Norfolk roads and bridges

WATER LEAVES MESS IN ITS WAKE

Weeks or months to fix Norfolk’s roads and bridges, officials say

BY KATHRYN BOUGHTON
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

NORFOLK — Public Works Superintendent Troy LeMere and Emergency Management Deputy Director Jonathan Barbagallo toured stricken areas in the south part of town Tuesday afternoon with state Sen. Lisa Seminara, R-Avon, looking at the destruction of bridges and roads wrought by Sunday’s flash flood.

Significant portions of the infrastructure were damaged in the flooding, which occurred after a swift-moving storm dumped 7 inches of rain on the area, causing a beaver dam to let go.

Barbagallo posted Monday on the emergency management website that no one had been injured, killed or displaced in the flooding,
though some properties sustained water damage.

Water levels have been receding, but Barbagallo predicted it will take weeks or months for the damage to roads and bridges to be repaired. Independent contractors were on the scene Tuesday to start the cleanup.

Route 272 south officially is closed from the Village Green to Route 263 in Goshen, but local residents and emergency personnel can use it to access Esty Road. Those trying to reach Route 272 in the region of Goshen East Street and Parker Hill Road to the Goshen line will find access only through Winchester Center and along Route 263.

Barbagallo said there are numerous road closure signs in both directions, but locals can pass by using extreme caution.
Smith and Old Goshen roads are closed at Route 272 due to road collapse and culvert failure.

Esty and Meekertown roads have had their roadbeds washed out in various locations, and Parker Hill Road will need extensive repair at the lower end near Route 272.

Barbagallo said numerous state and local officials have been on-site all day and some repairs already have begun.