Flooding closes highways in Tupper Lake, Long Lake
April 29, 2011
By staff , Adirondack Daily Enterprise
TUPPER LAKE - The state is about to close a section of state Route 3/30 east of Tupper Lake where the rain-swollen Raquette River is spilling onto the highway, which would cut the community off to points east and block a major east-west highway across the North Country.
The state Department of Transportation has deemed the road unsafe due to flooding and plans to close it roughly half a mile south of the state's Crusher boat launch, according to an email sent at 10 a.m. by the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad. "Officials will monitor the road and reopen when it is safe for travel," the message said. The shortest detour between Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake is through Potsdam, which adds roughly two hours to what is normally about a half-hour drive. Meanwhile, Demars Boulevard remains closed in both directions between Santa Clara and Pleasant avenues after water overtook that portion of state Route 3 Thursday morning. Traffic is being detoured using Pleasant, McLaughlin and Santa Clara avenues. The road was initially closed in just one direction but now is closed in both. "The water is still continuing to rise in certain areas," village police Sgt. Sean Stradley said this morning. State police said they're monitoring Raquette River Drive, where they said water had reached the roadway but not in a way that would impede traffic yet. They said they planned to monitor it throughout the day today. Village officials have said they are thinking about declaring a state of emergency and opening up an emergency shelter, which would be needed if homes are evacuated on the flooded River Road. But Stradley said there had been no evacuations yet at as of this morning.
Meanwhile in Long Lake, state Route 30 was closed from the Adirondack Hotel to the bridge over the lake, after students from Long Lake's school were sent home. Tupper Lake-based state troopers said this morning there were about 18 inches of water on the road in front of the hotel. The towns of Long Lake, Indian Lake and Johnsburg have declared states of emergency. Both of the dams in Indian Lake are being monitored.
April 29, 2011
By staff , Adirondack Daily Enterprise
TUPPER LAKE - The state is about to close a section of state Route 3/30 east of Tupper Lake where the rain-swollen Raquette River is spilling onto the highway, which would cut the community off to points east and block a major east-west highway across the North Country.The state Department of Transportation has deemed the road unsafe due to flooding and plans to close it roughly half a mile south of the state's Crusher boat launch, according to an email sent at 10 a.m. by the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad. "Officials will monitor the road and reopen when it is safe for travel," the message said. The shortest detour between Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake is through Potsdam, which adds roughly two hours to what is normally about a half-hour drive. Meanwhile, Demars Boulevard remains closed in both directions between Santa Clara and Pleasant avenues after water overtook that portion of state Route 3 Thursday morning. Traffic is being detoured using Pleasant, McLaughlin and Santa Clara avenues. The road was initially closed in just one direction but now is closed in both. "The water is still continuing to rise in certain areas," village police Sgt. Sean Stradley said this morning. State police said they're monitoring Raquette River Drive, where they said water had reached the roadway but not in a way that would impede traffic yet. They said they planned to monitor it throughout the day today. Village officials have said they are thinking about declaring a state of emergency and opening up an emergency shelter, which would be needed if homes are evacuated on the flooded River Road. But Stradley said there had been no evacuations yet at as of this morning.
Meanwhile in Long Lake, state Route 30 was closed from the Adirondack Hotel to the bridge over the lake, after students from Long Lake's school were sent home. Tupper Lake-based state troopers said this morning there were about 18 inches of water on the road in front of the hotel. The towns of Long Lake, Indian Lake and Johnsburg have declared states of emergency. Both of the dams in Indian Lake are being monitored.
