Souhegan River Flood Control Site 19

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SITE 19 Height: 35.5 feet Length: 1,200 feet Maximum Storage: 2,378 acre-feet Hazard Classification: High hazard Areas Susceptible to Breach Flooding: Ashby Road, Waterloom Falls, N.H. Route 124 (at High Bridge), the Mill Pond at Otis Falls, Main Street, Mill Street, Old Wilton Road and perhaps N.H. Route 31. Any development along the Souhegan River between these road crossings/structures may also be susceptible to flooding.

There are 4 earthen flood control dams in New Ipswich, site 19 has the greatest holding capacity.

The GPS Coordinates for the center of the dam are

42°43’25.1″N 71°51’00.7″W

There is no public access to this site. The gate is locked. The largest body of water of all the Flood Control dams in New Ipswich, 2378 acre feet maximum storage. View from top of dam Unknown monitoring device, does anyone know what this might be? Unlike the other three dams, site 19 has a concrete spillway. It also has no access or trails along the water. All the dams have a similar structure for outflow. I believe the bars will keep debris from clogging the drain pipe. There are no trails and I was walking through high grass to take this shot. I imagine this is tick heaven. This would be an impressive place to be during a flood. One last view

HIghbridge Repair Update: Guard Rails

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I took the opportunity to take a stroll along the newly constructed sidewalk across the span of the Highbridge bridge which is approaching completion. This is the first time since I’ve lived here to see the Souhegan River from this vantage point. It was impossible before without risking being struck by a car or truck.

New Sidewalk and attractive guard rails

Looking upstream at the Souhegan from the bridge

Souhegan forty feet below

Bridge is coated with some type of protective membrane. It is much wider than before.

Old bridge is still intact but is not part of the supporting structure.

Highbridge Repair Update – September 11, 2015

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A full day of work at Highbridge in New Ipswich.

Cement being pumped onto bridge decking and rebar. The pumper could only reach half way and needed to be moved to the other side to finish the work.

Workers cover the cement with wet burlap till it cures.

A motor driven roller smooth the cement . It travels back and forth along rails (See Video).

They used all the cement before they finished this patch. One worker joked that it was a speed bump. Another call for a cement truck.

The workers got some down time until the last load of cement arrived.

The bridge is completely suspended over the span and has no physical contact with the original stone bridge. It offers an ideal habitat for a troll.

Bridge Repair Update – Spanning the Souhegan River

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This was an eventful week for the ongoing Highbridge bridge repair.Large steel beams arrived, including 4 that measured 125 feet in length. They fastened in place and now we have an idea how the bridge will look when it is completed.

Two cranes, one for the “short” beams and one for the 125 footers

The first beam is moved into place

Next in line

I wonder where I left my sunglasses?

Beams in place. The new bridge is a lot wider and it will be possible to get a great view of the Souhegan 42 foot below.

Taylor Road Closure

There is a lot to be said for dead end roads, almost no traffic, a playground for the kids, location for a block party etc.Taylor Road in Smithville is now a dead end road.

The large metal culvert on Taylor Road has deteriorated to the point to pose a danger to traffic. Jersey barriers are in place until an engineering solution can be found.

Taylor Road

Saw these guys over near the closed bridge

Less traffic is a good thing