TRURO - Provincials roadways and driveways are slowly being repaired in the aftermath of a major flood on Monday, which left large areas of Colchester County under water.
Paul MacDonald, operations supervisor out of the Truro office of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, said crews are busy working on provincial roads (washed-out shoulders, etc.) and making their way toward the final washout of a residential driveway.
"There were about 40 driveways with some sort of problems, and then 10 to 12 that were completely impassable," said MacDonald yesterday. "As of right now, I think there is only one driveway left of impassables, but the homeowner is parking on the other side and is able to get across himself."
MacDonald said the department will repair driveways from the shoulder of the road and in a little ways.
"The legal right of way is 33 feet in from the shoulder," he said, adding anything after that would be the homeowner's responsibility.
MacDonald said the final impassable driveway should be fixed before the beginning of next week.
When it comes to those driveways with small repairs needing to be done, MacDonald said it's work such as grating and handwork that needs to be done.
Of the many roads in the county initially closed due to the flooding only East Mountain Road, Kerrs Mill Road in Wallace and Malagash Road remained closed to the public by yesterday afternoon. One other, the Kemptown Road, was still flooded yet passable with caution.
Work is already being done on a culvert replacement on the Malagash Road so a detour has motorists traveling through Wallace Grant Malagash Station.
James Webster, area manager for Colchester through the transportation department, said the process on East Mountain Road and the Kerrs Mill Road has started.
"Those three washouts - East Mountain Road and two in Wallace - were the most significant," he said. "We're in the process of lining up gear, getting prices on repairs and the cost of the culverts. Right now, we don't have an estimate on how long before those roads are repaired."
Residents along those roads - East Mountain is closed from the end of the pavement to Valley Road, and Kerrs Mill is closed between routes 6 and 368 - do have alternate routes available to them.
rtetanish@trurodaily.com
