After days of severe weather and heavy rain, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Indiana National Guard worked together Wednesday to clear a major log jam in the Eel River under State Road 59.
Flooding has impacted roads across the Wabash Valley, and debris in the river has prevented water from flowing naturally, increasing the risk of further flooding.
The unique joint effort was aimed at restoring normal water flow and protecting nearby farmland and residential areas.
“This isn’t something you see every day,” said Blake Dollier, INDOT spokesperson, in a statement to My Wabash Valley. “This is definitely a substantial storm so it’s important that we clean this up and take care of it as best as possible so there is minimal impact on the traveling public,”
Using dump trucks and a hydraulic excavator, the National Guard brought the heavy equipment needed to tackle the obstruction.
The collaboration also strengthened interagency partnerships and the output for the public, according to Dollier.
“The National Guard being able to help our citizens here, in a rural area of Clay County, is just a really big bonus…and these partnerships just make for better use of taxpayer dollars and better-taking care of the citizens of Indiana,” he said.
Officials urge drivers to heed high water signs and respect road closures, emphasizing safety as crews continue to address storm-related damage.
Source: Mywabashvalley.com, Dailyjournal.net
