PAYETTE COUNTY — Payette County authorities estimate that floodwaters have so far caused some $30,000 damage to roads and highways in the area.
Heavy snowpack and recent rains have caused rivers to swell, creating flooding conditions in a number of Idaho counties, including Blaine, Adams, Payette, and Washington counties.
In Payette County, Highway 95 is still closed from milepost 69 to milepost 82, Blacks Bridge Road is closed from Highway 52 to NW 1st Avenue, Freemont Road is closed from Dallas to Thorndike Roads, and Highway 52 has water up to the shoulders of the road, according to Payette County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Andy Creech.
“We are seeing flooding near homes along Freemont Road, along Dutch lane, on Highway 52 between the Payette River Bridge and Blacks Bridge, and on Killebrew Road near Highway 95,” he said.
Road and Bridge Department officials estimate about $30,000 damage has been caused to roads and highways so far as a result of the level of flooding that had occurred.
About 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Payette County Swift rescue crews rescued two people from a home in the 5100 blocks of Highway 52. “there was no water in the residence at the time. There was approximately two feet of freeboard left before we entered the residence,” Creech said.
There have been no reports of power outages.
Flooding along the Payette River has mostly impacted agricultural fields and pastures.
Deputies and County road crews are keeping an eye on the river banks, especially around Killebrew Road.
Sand piles are available to residents (they have to bring their own sand bags) at Blacks Bridge, at Highway 52 and Big Willow Road; at the County Weed and Gopher Office at 640 South Main Street in Payette; and at the Payette County Fairgrounds on
East Blvd. and Idaho Street in New Plymouth.
(photo courtesy: Idaho Transportation Dept.)
