The slow but steady migration of the Lowe River toward a portion of the Richardson Highway has required Department of Transportation work for about the past six years. But only until recently has the department began taking sustainable measures toward ensuring the river's flow doesn't destroy what's left of mile 6.5 portion of the highway.
"We haven't closed the road yet, and we try really hard not to close the road," wrote DOT spokeswoman Meadow Bailey in an emailed response. "We do post warning signs and message boards near the area."
As rain began swelling the river, water crept up the shore line, finally depositing itself on mile 6.5 of the highway once again. Sand bagging portions of the road helped mitigate flooding and ensured cars could continue to travel on it, but it was never a long-term solution, Bailey said. Beyond those messages, signs and sandbags, however, Bailey explained there have been few long-term solutions to the issue. Until recently.
Bailey explained it was about a year ago when DOT officials began exploring long-term solutions, such as shoring up portions of the Lowe in the hopes of diverting its natural course change.
However, changing the course of a river already moving on its own may be easier said than done, said DOT's acting Northern Region Maintenance Engineer, Jason Sakalaskas.
Sakalaskas called the course change "taming the river," and described it as a very difficult thing to do.
"There are a lot of unknowns that happen on the upstream that can influence the downstream portion of the river," he said.
The department posted a photo of the flooding on its Facebook page, which quickly attracted commenters.
"This is why you don't try and reroute a river," said one user.
DOT officials recently began gathering hydrological data and will continue to collect that type of information through the winter. The hope, Bailey said, is to better understand the river's behavior; if DOT officials can anticipate what course the river will take, they can take more informed action.
Outside of rerouting the river, officials will consider rerouting the road, potentially elevating the grade beyond the river's ability to further damage it. Sakalaskas noted the road would need to be elevated at least two to four feet and would require erosion protection, including basically stacking rocks along the side of the road for about a mile in either direction.
That type of project could last as long as two months, Sakalaskas said, but wouldn't hinder traffic along that portion of the road any more than other Richardson Highway projects.
Any kind of long-term solution to the flooding won't be expected to come till at least summer 2014, Bailey said.
For now, DOT officials will continue to explore options and likely invest in more sandbags.