HARDWICK — Daylight, Thursday morning, July 11 revealed flooding and road closures in the area. Today’s forecast for scattered showers suggests caution if one must travel,
Hardwick’s Thursday, July 11 morning update at 4:50 a.m. reports, “The Lamoille River near Cooper Brook has risen beyond its banks. The low lying areas of Wolcott Street and the adjacent side streets have all experienced flooding; along with VT Route 15W and VT Route 14S. We are working on getting the Emergency Shelter open and taking inventory of damaged roads, bridges, and washed out culverts. Local Officials are monitoring river levels and expect the river to crest and start to recede by mid-morning. We will keep you informed as information becomes available regarding available resources for those affected.”
The Lamoille River in Hardwick fills up the river channel, almost to the driveway behind the Hardwick Inn in this photo taken from Brush Street on Thursday morning, July 11
At 7:45 a.m. Thursday, Walden Town Clerk, Debbie Messier reports, the “Town of Walden has closed Cobb Road and Orton Road.” The bridge at the bottom of Orton Rd. and Stannard Mountain Road is in the river
The State 511 website shows “VT-16 in East Hardwick just north of D&L Beverage at Belfry Road is CLOSED due to high water on the roadway,” last updated at 10:03 p.m. Wednesday, July 10.
A 2:02 a.m. update shows, “VT-15 is CLOSED from Morrisville through Wolcott to Hardwick due to multiple washouts.”
A 4:52 a.m. update this morning, July 11 shows “VT-14 and VT-15 in Hardwick is CLOSED northwest of town by Lamoille Valley Ford due to water over the bridge deck.”
South of Hardwick, “VT-14 in Hardwick is CLOSED from Marshall Street to the Marshfield town line due to high water at Carey Road,” according to a 9:54 p.m. update on Wednesday, July 10. Social media reports suggest the reference to Marshfield should be Woodbury.
The Lamoille River at the site of the recently removed Inn by the River east of Hardwick, showing further erosion and suggesting Tuesday’s removal benefitted those downstream by eliminating another source of contamination.
A 6:46 a.m. report Thursday indicates, “VT-14 in Woodbury is CLOSED just south of the Woodbury/Hardwick town line (house #6673) due to trees down involving wires. Seek alternate route.”
VT-14 in Woodbury is CLOSED just south of the Woodbury/Hardwick town line (house #6673) due to trees down involving wires. Seek alternate route.
Social media reports of flooding and road closures elsewhere, including significant damage in Plainfield village, with the water system shut down and road closures or washouts in Craftsbury, on Gebbie Road near Atherton Road in Greensboro and flooding at Woodbury’s Fire Station.
Greenbsoro West Lakeshore Road at 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 is washed out in the west side.
The Craftsbury update about 6:00 a.m., Thursday, July 11 indicates, “Please use caution, especially on dirt roads. . . North Craftsbury Road is back open. Mountain Hill Road use caution.”
Thursday morning, VT Route 2 shows several closures from East Montpelier to South Cabot.
Multiple road closures in Waterbury and Barre will make travel in and around central Vermont difficult this morning.
Shortly after 7 a.m., Ricky Albores reported, “Significant washout on the west edge of Lakeshore Rd. At Blockhouse Hill Rd. Stay to the left when heading south.”
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
