GREENVILLE — Ever since a torrential rain storm in March caused a landslide on an embankment leading into the Souhegan River on High Street, the road that many residents use to go to into New Ipswich has been closed.
According to Town Administrator Kelley Collins, there are no immediate plans for it to reopen.
“It continues to slough,” said Collins on Wednesday. “It’s going to be closed for a considerable amount of time.”
In an effort to repair the town-owned road, Collins said that the Select Board has applied for funding from three different sources, including FEMA, the Army Corp of Engineers and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“We have no funding yet,” said Collins, who is hopeful that FEMA will come through with all of the necessary cash to repair the road. “FEMA can’t give any guarantees, but they’ve already put through 75 percent of the funding. The town approved it last week,” she said.
Ever since the Select Board closed the road in March, Selectwoman Kelle O’Keefe said the town has been working vigilantly with state and federal agencies in an attempt to obtain expert guidance.
“Public safety is key, especially with the winter months to consider, school opening and bus routes, emergency vehicle access, as well as for the citizens residing on High Street” she wrote in an e-mail on Wednesday.
While only 100 feet of the riverbank along the edge of High Street was adversely affected, the entire road must remain closed, possibly through the winter. “It’s because of the water,” said Collins. “We have to do it according to DES and shoreline protection standards.”
Collins said the town is expecting a proposal from Headwaters Hydrology, LLC of Littleton in about 60 days that will detail what needs to be done to stabilize the landslide.
“The proposal cost $35,800,” she said.