Flash Flood’s Impact On Roads, Infrastructure Being Evaluated

Municipal, Bucks County, and state crews were continuing on Monday to evaluate the impact of Saturday evening’s flash flood on local roads.

Crews were looking at roads and infrastructure, including Delaware Canal State Park, in New Hope Borough, Lower Makefield Township, Solebury Township, and Upper Makefield Township, according to officials.

According to PennDOT officials, River Road (Route 32) between Woodside Road to Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield and Lower Makefield townships, Washington Crossing Road (Route 532) between Dolington Road and Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield Township, and Taylorsville Road between Washington Crossing Road and Woodside Road in Upper Makefield and Lower Makefield townships all remained closed as of Monday morning.

Windy Bush Road between Aquetong Road and River Road was closed following the storm, but it reopened by Sunday evening, according to PennDOT.

Lower Makefield Township officials announced Monday morning that the River Road closure within its borders is expected to last for some time.

Several municipal roads within the affected areas were blocked or closed. Public works crews were spotted clearing debris from some roadways.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said the Delaware Canal State Park towpath was closed in Lower Makefield Township from Sommer’s Bridge to Lock 6 due to storm damage. The agency also noted that the towpath is closed in the New Hope area between Lock 9 and the Dark Hollow Overflow due to the storm.

The nonprofit The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor posted on social media that the canal and towpath between New Hope Borough and Yardley Borough is dangerous due to downed trees and debris along the towpath.

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield were working with local officials on the damage assessment.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. senators John Fetterman and Bob Casey, State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, State Rep. Perry Warren, Commissioner Chairperson Bob Harvie, Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, and township officials all met Sunday evening to discuss the recovery operations and damage.

Shapiro told reporters he was pledging the state’s support in the wake of the flash flooding that led to several deaths.