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Storm forces emergency road repairs on North Shore

E-mail|Link|Comments () March 31, 2010 04:20 PM

Bill Greene/Globe Staff

No go -- Fall River Police Officer Michael Pessoa this morning checked out a National Grid truck that fell into a sinkhole on Clark Street.

By Globe Staff

Motorists will have to contend with a number of road closures today, most of them concentrated in southeastern Massachusetts, where the rainstorm was heaviest, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said.

The department said this afternoon that the flooding around the North Shore city of Peabody would also impact drivers this evening and during tomorrow morning's commute, as well.

The state plans emergency road repairs on Route 128 southbound in Peabody before the Lowell Street exit starting at 7 p.m. Workers will still be on the highway during the morning rush hour, the state said in a statement.

"Drivers should expect delays because of lane closures that will last into the morning commute,'' the statement said. "Pavement conditions on that area of the roadway have deteriorated rapidly due to recent storm events and road resurfacing is necessary to ensure public safety. ''

Regardless of geography, officials warned today that the deluge will have reopened potholes in many locations.

Route 119 in Littleton will remain closed for at least two weeks as crews replace a collapsed culvert at Spectacle Pond, the officials said.

Highway updates are being posted on the MassDOT's twitter feed at twitter.com/massdot and MBTA updates are being posted at mbta.com.