Newark neighborhood residents blocked in after bridge damaged from flooding
Tuesday’s storms and torrential rain took out some of the supports for a temporary bridge over the Rocky Fork Stream in Newark. A temporary bridge over the Rocky Fork Stream in Newark, Ohio, has been damaged by flooding, leaving residents unable to leave by car due to the damage caused by severe weather. The bridge, located on Wolford Road, crosses over the stream and supports for the temporary bridge used for repairs on the original bridge. The residents of the Newark neighborhood are now limited to leaving by walking across the bridge until it is repaired. The Licking County engineer’s office stated that repairs cannot be made to the bridge before the stream levels subsides. Jeff Riedel, who moved to the neighborhood six months ago, expressed hope that this incident could be used as an example to make some changes to prevent future flooding.
Opublikowany : 4 tygodnie temu za pomocą Author: Carly D'Eon w
Tuesday’s storms and torrential rain took out some of the supports for a temporary bridge over the Rocky Fork Stream in Newark.
NEWARK, Ohio — Fourty-eight hours after severe weather made its way through most of Ohio, many parts of Licking County are still dealing with the aftermath of flooding. That includes one neighborhood in Newark, where a damaged bridge is now blocking residents in from leaving by car.
The bridge, located on Wolford Road, crosses over the Rocky Fork Stream. The stream overflowed on Tuesday, taking out the supports for the temporary bridge that was in use as repairs continued on the original bridge.
"Even though the bridge was old, it was still better than this temporary one, still held up last time it flooded,” Van Guelpen said.
Everyone who lives in this neighborhood uses the bridge to get in and out. Now, their only option is to walk across to the other side until it's repaired.
"This is it, it's a dead end down there, unless you hike through the woods and come out in the subdivision down there behind the school,” Van Guelpen said.
Van Guelpen and his family weren’t home at the time of the storm, and in a way lucked out. Because of that, they have access to both of their cars on either side of the bridge. But for many others, that isn’t the case.
"A lot of them can't go to work or nothing. The guy that lives next to me, he can't get even get anywhere, he doesn’t have a car over here,” Van Guelpen said.
The Licking County engineer’s office said there is access to the neighborhood through private roads to allow the fire department access if necessary in an emergency. They added repairs cannot be made to the bridge until the stream levels subsides a bit more.
"What can you think you know, you're just like alright, you know, what now?" said Jeff Riedel, who moved to the neighborhood six months ago.
Those who live in the neighborhood feel more could have been done to prevent this from happening.
"People were just kinda thinking that because the bridge was built so low, it kinda dammed up the water,” Riedel said.
Now, Riedel said he’s hopeful this incident can be used as an example to make some changes.
"Kinda hoping that maybe after this, that they'll maybe do something about the bridge and make it a little bit higher,” Riedel said.
"We're being patient we're just trying to help out any neighbors if they need help and you know just be supportive like people should be,” Riedel said.