Cabot Roads Status

Status of Cabot Roads and Current Damage Assessment

Karen Larsen • South Walden Rd, Cabot

Announcementfrom Front Porch Forum, 7/13/2023

Good evening everyone - On behalf of the Cabot Select Board, and with huge gratitude to Sid, Aldo, and the incredible Team of people working to repair and reopen our roads, here are notes and updates on the current status of Cabot roads and ongoing damage assessment as of 7/13/2023, 7:00 p.m : 

· There is significant erosion damage and debris on roads in the Village and other highly traveled roads. · Main Roads: Undermining of roads by Lower Cabot Store; across from Demo Site FD; Main Street; bridge going out of town. Signs and cones out warning drivers and residents.
· 215N - High water by bridge by Lower Cabot Store has compromised some of the road.
· Bridge by Recreation Field is compromised by flood; trees all over. Trees in a pile so H20 can get at wastewater pipes. One-lane traffic.
· Danville Hill -worked on yesterday. OK, Passable
· Village Damage: Restaurant, Den, Village Store. All being worked on. -- Significant damage.
· Willey Building Parking Lot, Town Clerks Office: Mud cleared from parking lot and drying out             Clerk’s Office: Water damage, Clerk moved offices to Select Board meeting room--In Process.
· Glinka Road: Gravel downhill into Willey Building Parking Lot--Passable.
· Coits Pond Rd. by Mike Cookson and beyond: CLOSED -- Starting work 7/14
· Jug Brook Road: Gone. Needs Serious Work. CLOSED -- Working on it.

· Blodgett Road:  Gone. Needs Serious Work. CLOSED -- Working on it.

· Bothfeld Hill: Washouts -- As time permits.
· Thistle Hill Rd: Washed out 

  -Lovely Rd:  OPEN, Passable; · Lovely Road- culvert:-- OK
· Bricketts Crossing: Working on today -- OPEN
· Waldbridge Road:  OPEN
· Mack Mtn Road:  OPEN.
· Last Road: Needs Evaluation (4th class road) -- Open in sections
· McQueeny Road:  DONE
· Menard Road: Needs lots of work – CLOSED

 · Whittier Hill: Working on it; Calkins finishing tomorrow.
· Sawmill Road Bridge: Large washout fixed Tuesday afternoon! DONE
· Houston Hill:- In Process Part Way --  CLOSED

· Cabot Plains: Being worked on
· Dubray Rd:  CLOSED

 
Please call the Cabot Town Clerk's office if you have questions. 802-563-2279.

In Community, -Mike, Fred, Skip, RD, Karen

 *****************************

West Shore Road and a few others were not mentioned, probably because there was not significant damage to cause one-way traffic or to close entirely. I have looked at the photos of the flood damage in Cabot Village that Neil Bainton posted on Front Porch Forum, and it's a miracle that the stores there are still standing. It is really bad down there. And as you can see by reading through Karen's report above, some roads are completely gone. This sort of damage takes weeks or months to repair.

We were fortunate that we didn't get another significant amount of rainfall last night. The storms seemed to be dancing all around us here at Joe's Pond, but I measured only .56 in. of rainfall this morning - which is more than we needed on top of all we've had in the past few days, but far less than the 2 inches we were warned we might get. The sky right now looks as if we should perhaps brace ourselves for more rain, though.

The rail trail is officially closed - completely, end to end. There should not be any traffic on it until the state has had a chance to evaluate damage, record washouts, downed trees, or whatever there is in order to report to FEMA and hopefully get federal funds to help with repairs. This is important, so don't go out an begin cleaning or clearing the trail. That would hinder the process rather than help and there will be plenty of opportunity to volunteer later after the officials have taken photos and made their reports.

Here at my house, I had a very pleasant visit yesterday from Cousin Ora and her friend, Kate. The weather cooperated and we were able to sit on the porch - in fact, we ate our lunch out there. It was very nice, with a pleasant breeze, birds chirping, and plenty of lively conversation. Jamie and Marie stopped in later in the afternoon and when Jamie mentioned the next onslaught of rain and wind was in the Burlington area and heading in this direction, the ladies skidaddled to make it back to Newark Pond before the storm hit. I'm sure they made it in plenty of time, but after watching the storm north of here, it seemed to be heading directly for their area and mostly avoiding us. I hope it wasn't too severe there.

I learned yesterday that the safety line that was installed from shore to shore above the West Danville dam to prevent boats from being swept over the falls has been damaged and is no longer effective. It may be that happened when one of those large boats went over the falls Monday night. So now there is nothing at all to keep a swimmer or a boat from going over the dam and it's imperative that you stay away from that area. The current will remain swift for some time, and that security line may not be replaced right away, so please be very careful and very aware of the changes. Be safe.