Airport Road in Ralpho Township was reopened at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, the latest road in Northumberland County to be reopened following the Flood of 2011.
Three roads remain closed in Northumberland County: Reading Turnpike Road, from Route 61 in Shamokin Township to Airport Road; Snydertown Road, from Black Mill Road in Upper Augusta Township to Market Street in Snydertown, and Irish Valley Road in Shamokin Township, from Route 61 to Schoolhouse Road.
PennDOT Communication Relations Coordinator Rick Mason gave updates on the remaining closures, with some soon to be addressed but others expected to be closed for a few more weeks.
"On Snydertown Road, there were a couple of pipes washed out on it, so we are hoping that our departmental forces (workers) will address the problem later this week," Mason said. "On Reading Turnpike Road, there are three areas that need to be looked at after flood waters removed some of the rock or support materials for a bridge on the road, and some possible undermining. We hope to have that problem corrected sometime in the next two weeks."
Irish Valley Road is a different story, according to Mason.
"We have a large diameter drainage pipe that was washed away, along with some undermining of roads," Mason said. "That will be a long-term closure, but we are currently readying an emergency contract on the work and hope to put that out to bid very soon."
In the meantime, county PennDOT workers will be working later this week on part of the roads, specifically its connection to Route 61 and Badman's Road, to see if the closure route can be shortened.
It could also be another three to four weeks before Route 487 in Columbia County is fully open, as well.
"We have developed an emergency contract for repairs on the road and are working to put that out on bid Friday," the coordinator said. "We may award the bid early next week and let them get to work, but the job could take three to four weeks to complete."
Shamokin Area Community Hospital will be offering tetanus booster shots on Thursday, September 22nd from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Knoebels Amusement Resort's First Aid Station. Due to recovery flood efforts, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is recommending individuals exposed to contaminated dirt, soil, metals, sewer water and suffered minor cuts, abrasions, burns or puncture wounds are urged to get a tetnus booster if they have not had a shot in the preceding five years. Shots will be offered on a first come, first serve basis for individuals 18 years and older, and will be free of charge.