Road closures expected as rain continues to fall

Henry County residents may need to find alternative routes this week if rain forces some temporary road closures throughout the county.

Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss said that he is watching the weather, and expects more issues throughout the week as the forecast continues to promise more rain on already saturated ground.

'Right now, the river is going back up,” Hotchkiss said during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, May 28. 'We always ask people to be cautious.”

Oakland Mills Road was closed over the weekend and a barricade was put up near Butch's River Rock Cafe, Hotchkiss said.

210th Street was closed from New London Road to Marsh Avenue because of an active slide that started on Wednesday, May 22, Hotchkiss said. Hotchkiss said that a slide in that area caused problems several years ago before he joined the department.

'We're investigating. We can't really do anything out there with this weather,” Hotchkiss said. 'It will require some work with property owners to repair it. It will be closed for some time.”

In other news, several bridges will be closed for construction starting next week.

W55 Franklin Avenue Bridge will be closed the week of June 3, dependent on weather and the BNSF railway. The J20 bridge by Lowell also will be closed June 3.

Last week, the Roads Department hauled spot rock, worked on signs, continued mowing shoulders, and worked on cold patching pavements.

They placed riprap at culverts on Henry-Louisa County Line and placed crossroad pipe on 260th Street and 200th Street.

The department also spent some time removing downed trees, which continues to be a problem with wet weather.

'It seems like trees are falling down on us with wet weather,” Hotchkiss said.