Falling Springs Road to be closed in Decatur for repair

— Falling Springs Road will be closed one day next week for repairs, contractor Bobby Hubbard and street department manager Mike Barnett told the city council on Monday night.

Hubbard will be replacing a culvert under Falling Springs Road, just east of Lester Street, that was damaged during last April’s floods. It is one of three storm-damage repairs in Decatur that will be partially paid for by Federal Emergency Management Agency and state money.

Hubbard told the councilthat the culverts will be delivered on March 19. He said he plans to get all the materials on site before starting work so the project can be completed as quickly as possible.

Barnett said he expects the street to be closed midweek. Hubbard said it is his goal to replace the culvert in one day. In the worst case scenario, the repair could last all day and all night, he said, explaining that the water line follows the street in that area and, if the water line is broken, additional time will be needed to repair it. After the initial repair, Hubbard said he will come back and replace the overlay, but thestreet will not need to be shut down for that work.

Water department manager Rocky Mills said that materials to repair the water line were already on hand if they are needed.

Barnett said that city employees will be helping with traffic control. He recommended that those who live down Falling Springs Road take Lester Street to Second Street and then follow Second Street into town.

FEMA is paying for 75 percent and the state will pay for 12.5 percent of the cost of repairing damages from last April’s flooding to the Third Street bridge, Spavinaw Street and Falling Springs Road.

News, Pages 8 on 03/14/2012