Recent rains take toll on Greene roads

Crews worked to inspect, repair, reopen roads after wet month.

Record recent rainfall caused some damage to roadways in Greene County.

During a 24-hour period from Saturday to Sunday, rainfall totals ranged from 1.64 inches in Beavercreek to 2.35 inches in Fairborn, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. The rainfall brought the monthly total to 5.4 inches, making it the fourth wettest February in history for the Miami Valley.

Several Greene County roads were flooded and closed for days, including Hilltop Road between Trebein and Fairground roads; Stewart Road between Mead and Washington Mill roads; and Lower Bellbrook Road between Ohio 725 and the Little Miami River.

Road crews worked this week to inspect and repair berms on roadways that were under water and closed from the deluge, according to Greene County Engineer Bob Geyer.

Geyer said while there are some small potholes that are popping up, most are occurring on roadways that are scheduled to be

repaved this year.

“The worst areas ... (were) Washington Mill Road, Stewart, and Lower Bellbrook due to the Little Miami River (flooding),” Geyer said.

Geyer said repairs were made soon after the waters receded. In some cases “crop stubble” blocked culverts and drainage points, forcing water to flow over roadways or between the asphalt and the gravel berm.

“Once water recedes we have to check for undermining and then fix berms,” Geyer said. “Berms are important to the stability of the road. They keep the edges from breaking down. (It’s) also a hazard if you leave the roadway (and) can cause a serious accident.”

Little Sugarcreek Road was closed temporarily this week just north of Ohio 725, where a portion of the road has sunken in.

Construction traffic at a nearby development is being rerouted around the problem spot, according to City Manager Mark Schlagheck.

“After the significant rain that we had on Friday and Saturday, there’s a portion of the road that has dropped off. It’s actually dropped off probably about 12 inches just on the edge of the road,” Schlagheck said.

The closure is necessary as Bellbrook road crews work to “stabilize the road in the short-term,” until a longterm solution is determined, Schlagheck said.

“A longer term repair will be implemented in the coming months,” he said.

TY GREENLEES / STAFF The Little Miami River spilled its banks and covered Stewart Road and Washington Mill Road in Sugarcreek Twp.

CONTRIBUTED The area’s significant rainfall from last weekend is believed to have led to part of Little Sugarcreek Road, just north of Ohio 725 in Bellbrook, falling away.