Park Avenue floods out again

Usual flooding on Park Avenue in Island Park this morning.

09dec03_ipnoreaster.jpg

More pix up on Flickr

Comments

I couldn't let this post go by without a comment about the Cove Bridge.

Today is a record setting 65 degrees. But, if this were an "average" December 3rd, according to data at the National Weather Service, today's temperatures would be down to 29 degrees.

That's cold enough for snow, sleet, freezing rain, ice. Imagine all the rain we had last night as freezing rain, and I think it doesn't take much of a "what if" to conclude that Park Avenue would be impassable. That leaves the Cove Bridge (hint: also called the "Escape Bridge") as the only way in or out of Island Park.

From the last HardDeadlines post on this, DOT director Lewis said the Cove Bridge repair project is expected to be, "advertised later this year [2009] and begin construction next year[2010]. It is expected that this project will take only one construction season to complete."

Has anyone heard any news on this? Was it advertised? If not, there isn't much left of this year for it to be advertised "later this year."

This project has to be completed ASAP. There's no guarantee that Mother Nature will be so kind to us in the future with warm December days.

Hi, Portsmouth Citizen...
Thanks for the reminder -- I've sent an e-mail to the public affairs officer, and will post any response.

Best,
-j