Flooding Conditions persist, shutting off access to Route 13 in Salisbury
DELMARVA – Flooding conditions in Salisbury saw Route 13 closed due to flooding and multiple streets due to storm-related damage. The Route 13 corridor in Salisbury, in the area of the Priscilla Street and Northwood Drive intersections, continues to remain flooded and impassable according to City of Salisbury Spokesman Shawn Yonker.
The City of Salisbury is monitoring the situation. However, the flooding is expected to continue over the next few days. The road will remain closed until the area is safe, according to Yonker.
Tuesday night, the City of Salisbury issued an advisory, telling drivers to avoid the Route 13 corridor, head detours, and use Route 50 when possible to avoid the area.
Wicomico County Roads division telling 47 ABC WMDT that storm damage also closed Polar Neck Road in Willards, and Stokley Road due to scouring and burst pipes.
Salisbury Police say they have responded to several calls since Sunday of a driver stranded in the water, and are warning drivers to head all detours.
“We’ve responded to cars that are stranded in standing water, so if you see a barricade up, you see that the roadway is closed, turn around so you don’t drown,” said Salisbury Police Captain Ryan Koerner.
Further South in Crisfield, the waters largely retreating. This, after several streets saw over a foot of water cutting out access, and damaging properties.
Crisfield Grant Writer Jen Merritt says this storm saw a combination of rain and tidal flooding, overwhelming the town’s aging infrastructure, most of which was built in the 1930s.
“We have 19 tide gates, many of which have failed, ” Merritt said. She added that the flooding conditions demonstrate the need for the promised federal funds, which would raise town highways, construct a sea wall, and repair failing tide gates in the town.
“A tide gate is a one-way valve that only allows water to move out into the bay. So when they fail, they allow water to come in through the ditches,” Merritt said.
