By Chris Frost
Eagle Times News Editor
NEWPORT N.H. — Federal funds could pay to repair roads damaged during the July storms. And, the Newport Board of Selectmen learned during their Aug. 28 meeting that damages were more extensive than previously thought.
Interim City Manager Paul Brown told the board that Blueberry Ridge Road was an unknown issue and now has a hole that has narrowed traffic to one lane.
“There was nothing under 4 to 5 inches of pavement,” he said noting that the repairs should be covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Bids to install culverts and stone ditches on Fletcher Road and restore washed-out slope, pipe and headwall construction projects on Camel Hump Road were due Friday.
Selectman Jeffrey Kessler noted that Gov. Chris Sununu still needed to request a declaration before the town receives any FEMA money. Sununu made the request two days later, on Aug. 30.
“We continue to work with our partners at FEMA and we’re giving them the preliminary information we have,” Brown said. “They’ll continue to tally the cost. They have recommended, I understand, and the staff has recommended, a disaster declaration.”
Brown said the town’s estimated cost is between $125,000 and $150,000 on the six big projects.
Brown said the town will also get FEMA reimbursement for ditches washed away. “They’re documenting that,” he said.
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