Storms down trees, roads closed

Published 9:16 pm Monday, July 13, 2009

The severe thunderstorm that hit Suffolk Sunday afternoon closed down Route 460 for more than six hours as well as caused damage to about 20 houses and brought down several trees along the road.

City spokesperson Debbie George said officers were able to get to Route 460 right after the storm ended at approximately 5 p.m., but several live wires prevented them from being able to clear the road.

“If there is any opportunity to open it, officers will try to do that,” George said. “The issue that they ran into is not only do you have debris in the roadway, but you had electrical lines and utility lines that were mixed in with that debris. They could not remove any debris until after Dominion Power officials came out.”

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George said it took officers more than an hour to get alternating lanes of traffic moving, and by 11 p.m. traffic was still stuck in alternating lanes.

Monday morning, city crews were still tackling the task of clearing debris from the road. For residents that have cleared debris from their affected properties, the city’s Department of Public Works has set up three containers for disposal of any non-hazardous storm debris. The containers will be located on Keaton Way, Foxworth Circle and at the intersection of Kings Fork Road and Robbs Drive.

Additionally, storm debris can be placed in their regular trashcans, or residents can deliver their debris to the regional landfill where Suffolk residents can dispose debris free of charge up to 12 times per vehicle per year.

If residents want their debris picked up from their residence, they can call the Department of Public Works at 514-7630. The pick up fees range from $20 (for piles up to eight cubic yards) to $50 (up to 16 cubic yards).