Flooding Update: Rt. 131 Open, Water Street Closed, Further Assessment Underway
By Julie Perine on August 28, 2013 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Last night's heavy rains left their mark on the city.
"Just after 5 a.m., we shut down Rt. 131 from Rt. 50 to 279 because of high water in a couple places and a lot of debris on the road," said Bridgeport Fire Chief John Walker. "State Road came pretty quick and got it cleaned up. The water started to recede and we reopened the road in about an hour."
At present, the only road closure is Water Street at both the Virginia Ave. and Faris Ave. intersections.
Rt. 50 near Ace Hardware is clear.
"It's been flooding there for years and this is one of the biggest rains we've had and there's nothing," Walker said.
Several residential streets, including Willis Ave. near Main Street (pictured), is still water covered. Motorists should use an alternate route. Several parking lots, including those at Bridgeport City Park and Bridgeport High School remain under water. Much of City Park is flooded.
The parking lot of Bridgeport Burger King has received extensive damage, Walker said.
"The culvert has washed away under the parking lot, taking away dirt and the parking lot is caving in," he said.
VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) member Laura Pysz said there has also been damage to the trailer park on Main Street.
Minor garage and structural flooding was reported in that area and others, including Philadelphia Ave. and Lawman Ave.
VIPS units are out assessing high waters.
"They drive around to areas that people have seen high water and called into 911," said Sgt. Robert Goodrich, Bridgeport Police Department. "They have the capability to take pictures with iPads purchased through the city. They email the pictures back to Shaunda Rauch (emergency services coordinator)."
Rauch takes proper action, sometimes contacting the city's public works department or the West Virginia Department of Highways - depending upon who ows the roadway.
"Then they put up high water/caution signs or close the road," Goodrich said.
If police units/VIPS are out and see dangerously high water, they block the road with their cruisers, he said.
Director of Public Works Tom Brown said the city has received numerous calls for residential and commercial flooding.
"We're getting them and responding to them the best we can," he said. "We received 2.37 inches of rain in less than three hours and that's the most we've experienced in such a short period of time in 16 years or more."
Flooding is reported in various Ann's Run and Simpson Creek locations. Simpson Creek has not crested yet, Brown said.
"We got too much rain too soon and we're supposed to get more so it's probably not going to get better anytime soon with everything being so saturated," Brown said. "We'll have to clean it up, coming together as a community and dealing with it the best we can."
Photo by Michelle Duez. Many more photos can be seen HERE. Please send your photos for inclusion to info@connect-bridgeport.com.
