PERU — Residents on the far end of Dickvale Road may be stranded for sometime due to damage from Tropical Storm Irene.
Road Commissioner Joe Roach has strived to keep up with the damage.
Dickvale Road had a large washout about a quarter of a mile past Dow Brook Road, causing a road closure Sunday night. Crews worked Monday morning to add fill to a large gap in pavement and by afternoon the road was passable on one side.
However, further out near Cummings Brook Bridge another washout was causing problems. Roach and road crew members attempted to use gravel to fill in the hole and cover up the existing culvert.
“During that process the culvert collapsed. The road is now closed until further notice,” Roach said.
He said the culvert was about 14 to 15 feet wide and 6 to 7 feet high.
“Its something that will take time and a large amount of money to replace” he said.
One to two Peru residents and a handful of Woodstock residents are now left without direct access to their homes.
“Their only way in would be from South Paris and Milton Township,” Roach said.
Roach was attempting to locate applications for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance Monday night.
Valley Road residents were also without power Monday evening due to a downed power line. A large rock maple tree took out a utility pole between the Roy and MacFawn residences on the Valley Road. Central Maine Power Co. had cleared the debris but had yet to replace the utility pole and lines.
Thurstons Family Farm LLC on Mineral Springs Road took a loss to their Community Supported Agricultural garden. Wayne Thurston said he believed the farm lost about one third of their crop.
“Most of the pumpkins were washed away with the stream” he said.
Mexico, Dixfield and Canton had no major damage to their roads. Dixfield Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said the town experienced downed power lines and tree limbs.
Mexico fire Chief Gary Wentzell said the town had some flooding on Carlton Avenue which borders Swift River. As of Monday evening, the waters had not receded.
Wentzell is also concerned for local snowmobile and ATV trails in the area.
“I’m sure the snowmobile clubs will be looking for damaged bridges and culverts around flooded brooks,” he said.
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- Spear Stream in Peru surged over its banks Sunday night during Tropical Storm Irene causing flooding along Dickvale Road. Waters quickly receded overnight and most areas were dry by Monday morning.
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- Dickvale Road in Peru had two major washouts near culverts due to flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. The washout pictured was filled in with gravel by Monday morning. Peru road crews attempted to fill another washout a half mile up the road near Cummings Brook Bridge, but the culvert collapsed under the weight of the gravel. The road is closed until further notice.
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- A picture of Thurstons Family Farms LLC field in 2009. It was completely submerged in flood water on Sunday during Tropical Storm Irene. The family said they lost approximately a third of their crop due to the storm, including pumpkins which floated away with the stream.
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- The Thurstons Family Farm LLC land on Mineral Springs Road in Peru was flooded by Tropical Storm Irene. The property is bordered by Spear Stream and Dicks Stream. Wayne Thurston believes they lost about one third of their garden, which is a Community Supported Agriculture garden, where members can purchase a share and in return receive a weekly basket of produce.
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