While the NYS DOT has responded to the pleas of Town of Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle to caution motorists by marking hazardous road conditions along sections of Route 28 from Old Forge to Eagle Bay—much of which can be attributed to consistently cold temperatures—Riehle said that TOW Public Works personnel have been dealing with their own set of problems with underground water systems due to the sub-zero weather.
Riehle said there have been an unusual number of random occurrences of frozen water lines in Thendara, the Old Forge village, as well as along the South Shore Road this season.
“There were also problems with frozen septic systems on North Street where a contractor was called in to assist,” Riehle said.
And most notably, the new Eagle Bay Visitor Center on Route 28 had to be permanently shut down for the season on Saturday, March 1 due to a frozen water source.
“The water line to the facility is an existing water source that has run through that property for a number of years. To my knowledge this is the first time this has occurred,” Riehle said.