Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Hurricane Sally dumped more water on Pike County on September 16, than most roadways could handle and several bridges could tolerate. Eighty-two roads were closed in the aftermath of a day of continuous rain due to washouts and the erosion of roadways, damage to bridges and blockage caused by felled trees and debris.

Pike County Engineer Russell Oliver said there were major erosions and washouts on about 20 percent of the roadways. Pike County has 300 miles of unpaved roads and all dirt roads received minor damage.

Oliver had high praise for the quick and steady response by the Pike County Road Department employees.

“The days since Hurricane Sally have been mighty long,” Oliver said. “The only day off was Sunday. But everyone has done a good job and we’re moving along with getting roads open again. Right now, five county roads remain closed.”

The closed roads are, CR 5509 between CR 5508 and Grace Road; CR 7708, north of CR 7711; CR 5520 at Beaver Pond Branch just west of Mt. Carmel Church; CR 6638 between CR 6639 and CR 6641 and CR 6621 at Buckhorn Creek.

County roads that were closed but are now open are: CR 7745, CR 4420, CR 6650, CR 1124, CR 7703, CR 7712, CR 7718, CR 4427 N, CR 3340, CR 3338, CR 4407, CR 6638 and CR 2281.

Oliver said there were several other roads that were blocked temporarily by trees but were opened to traffic during or immediately after the storm.

“During the required post storm inspections, we discovered excessive streambed scour at four Pike County bridges,” Oliver said. “Excessive streambed scour is caused by abnormally high water velocity. This excessive amount of scour can cause the foundation of a bridge to become unstable.”

As a result of the excessive streambed scour, Oliver said four bridges have been posted for a gross weight limit of three tons until further notice.

The posted bridges are CR 1128 over Beeman Creek, CR 2253 over Warrick Creek, Cr 3316 over Whitewater Creek and CR 3339 over Whitewater Creek.

Oliver said any attempts to cross these bridges by vehicles over the weight of three tons could result in a dangerous situation.

“We strong advise drivers of vehicles over the weight limit against attempting to cross any one of these bridges until they have been deemed safe,” Oliver said.