Repairs to shoulders and gravel roads are almost complete, County Engineer Ben Duncan said. Destroyed drainage systems on Lawrence 328, 326 and 429 will take some work.
“As long as everything runs smoothly, I would hope to be done within two months. That’s being optimistic,” Duncan said. “We’re still repairing things. We’ve still got a long ways to go.”
Duncan said officials discussed the reimbursement process for road repairs during last week’s meeting with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA declared 38 counties, including Lawrence, disaster areas after the Dec. 23-31 storms, making them eligible for federal funding.
Duncan calculated an estimated $900,000 in damages after flooding collapsed roads and washed away shoulders. Lawrence 328 remains closed because it was cut in half.
The pipes on Lawrence 328 weren’t large enough to handle the surge of water, Duncan said. To avoid this happening again, the county would increase the size of the culverts.
“If the 48-inch-diameter culvert in the road was severely damaged, they’ll allow a 60-inch-diameter culvert in its place,” Duncan said. “If you’re able to improve the infrastructure, then you can improve travel and the safety of the traveling public.”
Duncan said FEMA will cover 75 percent of the cost of the projects. The state will take care of half of the county’s 25 percent match. The remaining 12.5 percent will come from the county’s gasoline-tax fund. FEMA covers debris removal, and the repair, replacement or restoration of publicly owned facilities.
But FEMA can’t help with the estimated $40,000 worth of damage on Lawrence 217, which is maintained by Hillsboro. Mayor Charles Owens said flooding not only caused the metal pipe to cave in, but it also caused standing water issues for homes because debris dammed the outlet. Town officials closed one lane of the road to clear the wreckage after Christmas, Owens said.
Duncan said the county’s road department opened both lanes by clearing debris and will continue to help the town seek reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Fund. He said Hillsboro will be responsible for the 20 percent match.
A combination of the town’s flat farmland and small drainage pipes have created recurring issues on Lawrence 217 and beyond, Owens said. He wants to replace the roadway’s two 48-inch-diameter pipes with four 54- or 60-inch pipes.
“We’re in the flood zone,” Owens said. “If we get 4 to 5 inches of rain consistently, we become flooded.”
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