Hours, if not minutes or while last night’s Bristol Borough Council meeting was taking place where some discussion focused on water pooling and flooding at the Green Lane overpass, the Bristol Borough Fire Association (BBFA) were dispatched to the well-traveled location for a water rescue during Monday night’s downpour.
During last night’s storms BBFA was alerted that two vehicles were stuck in floodwater underneath the Green Lane Railroad Bridge. Water rescue assets responded quickly, however, the drivers self-extricated prior to their arrival, fire officials said.
Flooding trapped a couple in their vehicle at the same location that led to firefighters from American Hose Hook and Ladder #2 and Bristol Consolidated Fire Station # 50 to rescue them in standing water last August, fire officials said.
Two firefighters entered the water and assisted one occupant out. Since the second occupant had an ambulatory challenge, a third first responder entered the water to assist, Bristol Consolidated Fire Company Chief Steve Reeves said at the time.
Credit: Bristol Borough Fire Police
The borough has been in discussion with officials about the state-owned road in attempts to rectify the public safety hazard when heavy rains flood the road, with an assist from Bristol Township, officials said.
More to the point, east ward councilman Gregg Pezza mentioned an ongoing flood study of Green Lane Borough spearheaded by Gilmore and Associates engineers.
It’s an area that does concern me in light of the flooding issues, he said, noting the many times that main arterial has to be closed down for safety reasons and wanting to know where the process is considering the recent recommendations by Gilmore Engineer Amanda Fuller that a major overhaul of pipe replacement is the solution to ease flooding with a new drainage system.
Credit: Bristol Consolidated Fire Company 50
The flooding at that particular location is well known to motorists frequenting the roadway, but as Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III pointed out last year, flooding at the Green Lane underpass, is most likely not well known by visitors who are coming to the borough to dine, or see a play at the Bristol Riverside Theater, which he is really concerned about.
Bristol Borough engineer Amanda Fuller of Gilmore and Associates said last summer there is plenty of red tape and actual work to be done before a significant change could be seen by residents on Green Lane. The engineering firm with the help of state lawmakers received a grant to perform a study on Green Lane recently. Fuller, in a synopsis of the report, said storm water lines on both sides of the street are severely deteriorated and the pipe that is supposed to carry stormwater to the Delaware River is obstructed by tree roots and other debris.
I think it’s absurd PennDOT can take the position the borough should be responsible for $3.5 million worth of pipe that was installed in 1930,” Borough Manager Jim Dillon said last year.
The Mayor suggested a temporary fix, by placing electronic arms to stop traffic flow in and out of Bristol when it rains. Locals know about flooding on Green Lane. Many of our visitors don’t, he said.
Borough officials agreed to seek out pricing for the traffic arms and guidance from PennDOT on what would be required to install a traffic mechanism on both sides of the underpass to at least stop traffic flow when it rains as a temporary panacea.
That plan has yet to come to fruition due in part to bureaucratic red tape, officials said.
The borough is looking for and seeking grant/funding opportunities to begin the much-needed work on Green Lane, while other options are sought.
Meanwhile the BBFA issued a message for motorists driving on one of the entrances into Bristol Borough to consider when rainfall occurs.
“We would like to take this time to remind everyone not to drive through flooded roadways. Turn around, don’t drown!”