FARMINGTON — The Sandy River was still rising Tuesday afternoon, according to Tim Hardy, Franklin County Emergency Management Agency director.

Heavy rains have recently soaked several areas of Franklin County.

At 2 p.m. Tuesday, the river at Mercer was 7.62 feet, Hardy said. This is above normal for this time of year, but minor flooding usually occurs at 12 feet, he added.

Hardy and Farmington Public Works Director Denis Castonguay were both keeping a close eye on the Whittier Road. 

“We’re monitoring it, but the water is high enough so we can’t see the base,” Hardy said.

As the town draws closer to finding a solution for the erosion issue started by Tropical Storm Irene, the banking could still pose a challenge as the water drops, perhaps taking more banking with it.

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“The Whittier Road is holding,” Castonguay said late Tuesday afternoon of the section of road just a mere 30 feet from the eroding bank.

There’s been no other major issues, Castonguay added. A few roads, such as Clover Mill Road, were closed for an hour or two Tuesday when water went over the road. There’s only been some minor washouts on gravel roads, but no culverts needed to be replaced, he said.

Hardy agreed that nothing significant has happened, although towns along the river’s upcountry are also reporting that everything is full.

Two culverts washed out on Federal Road in Industry on the end near Route 148, which also had a washout Sunday, Joe Paradis, Industry’s road commissioner said Monday. These were fixed Monday morning, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com


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