End of Silver Street closed in Natchez ; Vidalia scales back flood fight
Published 12:50 am Saturday, January 9, 2016
Residents and tourists take a look at the flooding along Silver Street Friday afternoon as the waters slowly cover the end of the street where the Isle of Capri casino used to be. (Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat)
NATCHEZ — Even as city officials closed one of the streets into Natchez Under-the-Hill that was impacted by rising waters from the Mississippi River, the City of Vidalia announced it was scaling back some flood fight plans.
The river is expected to be at 53.2 feet this morning, and is expected to crest at 58 feet Jan. 17. Flood stage is 48 feet.
A couple from Baton Rouge looks up the Mississippi River from SIlver Street where the river has started to cover the end of the street. Water is forecasted to continue to rise until Jan. 17. (Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat)
Natchez Public Works closed D.A. Biglane Street from its eastern end near Rosalie to the former Isle of Capri boat ramp Friday, where the water had risen into the roadway to the point that city leaders considered the water a safety hazard.
Silver Street was re-routed to two-way traffic — with no parking on the sides of the street — with Magnolia Grill’s parking lot serving as the turn-around, and businesses Under-the-Hill remain open.
Public Works also closed Cooper Street because portions of the gravel road were underwater, but Leonard’s Mill Road remained open for the time being.
“We are going to continue to monitor the situation and address things as we need to,” Public Works Director Justin Dollar said.
Adams County Emergency Management Director Robert Bradford said his office continues to monitor the flooding, and city, county and emergency officials will have a roundtable meeting updating each other on the different flood fight efforts Tuesday.
In the Vidalia Riverfront District, operations to set up Hesco baskets to form a temporary ring levee around businesses and the convention center were halted after the prediction for the crest was lowered.
Barricades block traffic at the south end of Silver Street at Natchez Under-the-Hill. (Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat)
The Riverfront does not take on water until after the river passes the 58-foot mark, and while officials said they would continue work to secure the water wells, boat ramp and boardwalk locations — which are the lowest points on the Riverfront — they will continue to watch the river and take appropriate actions as needed.
Previous predictions for the crest said it would reach 59 and 60 feet.
The revised crest prediction, if correct, means the river will be at its third-highest recorded level in history.
The highest — 61.95 feet — was recorded in May 2011, while the second highest, 58.04 feet, happened in February 1937.
More News
-
Polls
Loading ...-
-