Crews dig 30 feet under road to make repairs after flooding
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REXBURG — The Madison County Road Department is repairing a culvert after digging out a 30-feet deep portion of a county road.
Repairs on Rocky Hollow (East 2000 South) road will cost $75,000 to $100,000, Madison Fire Chief Corey Child said.
“It’s quite extensive,” Child told EastIdahoNews.com.
The damage to the culvert and the road above occurred because of major flooding in the county caused by snowmelt and rainfall more than a week ago. Flood water collapsed the existing culvert. A culvert is an open drain under the road, which allows water to flow through.
“It just made the road soft. There was a big soft spot in the road and we had to dig it out and take out the old culvert,” said Reo Jensen, a supervisor with the Road and Bridge Department.
Crews have been working for two days to make repairs to the culvert. Jensen said it could take about two weeks before the road is driveable.
Crews are making repairs to other roads in rural Madison County as well. Child said the road department along with county commissioners are working to get 200 miles of road fully repaired.
County officials declared a state of emergency as damage to county roads increased last week. The county requested $175,000 from the state to help offset the cost of repairs. The county is now requesting an additional $300,000. Jensen said the total cost of all road projects throughout the county are still being calculated.
“This far exceeds what the county has ever experienced,” Child told us last weekend referring to damage caused by sheet flooding and spring runoff. .
Child says he appreciates people’s patience as crews continue to work on county roads.
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