Selectboard Chair Dorothy Heinrichs reports:
The culvert below the missing bridge on Cardigan Mountain Road at New Colony was plugged by debris; DOT workers will grapple it clear on Monday.
At 6:43 this morning, there were 15 DOT trucks lined up, engines running, ready to tackle the clean up and rebuild of the bridge on Cardigan Mountain Road at New Colony.
Thanks to the efforts of Scott Sanborn, road agent, and Brent Stevens, our emergency management coordinator, most roads in Orange are now passable.
Since the work of the NH DOT has opened up Cardigan Mountain Road past the Town House, the heavy equipment needed for repair and rebuilt of the bridge and Tug Mountain Road can begin.
New Colony should be open top to bottom by the time you read this. It will be one lane and rough, but people will be able to get to and from their homes. Tuttle Hill and Cross Roads are now passable.
That is not the case with Tug Mountain Road and Williams Road. Both were severely damaged and the assessment of what it will take to open them is still ongoing. When we know more, we’ll fill you in. If you need anything, particularly if you live on Tug Mountain, please email, text, or call me. There are people willing to get groceries or to take you to the store.
If your property suffered any major damage, please let Scott Sanborn or one of the Selectboard members know. Click here for the town directory.
The Canaan Transfer station was badly damaged and is closed. When we hear from Canaan about alternative plans for trash disposal, we’ll report it on this site.
The state DOT was able to get heavy equipment to the missing bridge on Cardigan Mountain Road, while Scott Sanborn and others began assessing the needs on Tug Mountain Road.
Households on the east side of the missing bridge will receive emergency services from Grafton until the bridge is reopened. Call 911 or Hanover Dispatch (643- 2222) and give your exact location.
If you have taken photos of damage to your personal property or Town roads, please save them. We may use some with our application for FEMA funding.
On Monday the State will bring in equipment to remove trees and debris caught in the old bridge. Those will be chipped onsite. Then the rebuild can begin in earnest. NHDOT estimates they may be able to open the bridge in as little two weeks.
Govenor Sununu arrived by helicopter to survey the damage. By late Friday afternoon we were able to submit a preliminary estimate of repair costs to the State so the governor can request FEMA disaster funds. Early estimates of total repairs of Town and State roads are in the neighborhood of $1million dollars.
Dorothy Heinrichs fills in Governor Sununu. Jennifer Harper, assistant director of the state Department of Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, listens.
Thanks to all who have helped and will help in the coming weeks. Sandi Pierson, Gary Hamel and Tam Fairbank kept the Town House open all day to answer questions. Aaron Allen, George Smith, Phil Salvail, and many others I didn’t see were out at first light on Friday morning to help Scott, Bobby Senter and Richard Remacle with the Town Roads. We’ll want to thank everyone, so let me know who should be added to the list.
The 6.83 inches of rain caused damage to Orange’s roads, but clearly not to our spirit.
Dorothy