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Town Was Hit Twice

When is it time to speak up and notice? During the last week of September, the town of Clinton suffered the damaging effects of a flash flood. Many roads, homes, and infrastructure were badly damaged.

The power and quickness of this event will leave long lasting impressions, one hopes.

Of note to me was the total failure of a bridge, built only three years ago. The replacement costs are estimated at $500,000. Is it me or should someone be saying “What?”

The bridge was built with taxpayer money, in an known flood zone area, on a river that overflowed its bank about 30 years ago and destroyed parts of Route 81. The bridge is posted “...subject to flooding...no access allowed during flooding events.” That’s a big known for any contractor or engineer. It is one of the access points to four practice sports fields behind the new high school.

Guess who pays for the next bridge? It is always other people’s money. So the town was hit twice with the same flood—on the roads and in the pockets.

Ona Nejdl

Clinton