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Rains Leave Mark on Aberdeen, S.D.-Area Roads, Bridges

Posted on: Friday, 1 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

Jul. 1--More than 30 roads were washed out and 15 bridges needed repairs in Day County after Wednesday's heavy rain.

County officials, like their counterparts throughout the Aberdeen area, are still tending to the damage and have yet to add up the costs in dollars. But the price is expected to be steep.

Up to six inches of rain fell on the region Wednesday, washing out a large number of local roads and bridges. One accident, in Marshall County, was caused by road flooding.

But it appears Day County was hit hardest.

County Highway Superintendent Chuck Fromelt said two bridges west of Pierpont were washed out and the road had to be replaced. Numerous other bridges had minor damage and should reopen early next week.

Fromelt added that state Highway 39 had a number of washout spots including some major gravel loss. Those roads would be repaired and should be reopened early next week.

State Highway 33, or the Bristol Road, had five or six spots of washout.

Brown County: In Brown County, Highway Superintendent Dirk Rogers said County Roads 13 and 20 near the Day County line.

Rogers added that County Road 14 one mile north of Highway 10 had water running over it, but was still safe to pass through.

Rogers also said road County16B over the James River was washed out.

Marshall County: As of Wednesday, a number of roads had been reported washed out in Marshall County.

Water over the road in Marshall County caused an accident Thursday when Alecia Reimer, 20, of Hecla, attempted to cross water on County Road 4, six miles north and eight miles west of Britton, around 5:45 a.m. Her car was swept off the road into the neigboring ditch.

The car flipped over and the roof was submerged in water. Reimer climbed out of her car and was picked up by a passerby and taken to the Marshall County Hospital in Britton for treatment of minor injuries. She was treated and released. South Dakota Highway Patrol Capt. Ken Olerud responded to the scene.

Spink County: Spink County Highway Superintendent Tom Leinen said there were no roads washed out, but they were anticipating trouble as the extra water in Marshall, Day and Brown counties flows down the James River.

"We might have a little trouble near the county line in a few days when all the water to the north catches up," Leinen said.

Other counties: In Walworth and Roberts counties officials reported minimal damage to roads, but nothing major.

Officials in Dickey, Edmunds, Faulk, McPherson, Potter and Campbell counties reported no water on roads.

The U.S. Search and Rescue Task Force advises to never attempt to drive through water on a road. Water can be deeper than it appears and levels can rise quickly.

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Copyright (c) 2005, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

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Source: American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)

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