Ice Jam On Delaware River Prompts Flood Warning For Bucks And Mercer Counties
By Robin Culverwell
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- An ice jam on the Delaware River just south of the Trenton Morrisville Bridge has prompted officials to issue a flood warning for Bucks and Mercer Counties.
The flood warning is in effect until about 10pm Thursday because water levels have risen about seven feet since Tuesday night.
There are one to two-foot chunks of ice jammed up not far south of the Trenton Morrisville Bridge. On the Bucks County side, officials in waterfront communities are keeping a close eye on water levels and hoping the blockage will clear itself out.
"The blockage likely will eventually clear itself with the rising temperatures, but given the contour of the Delaware River there's nothing to say that it couldn't become jammed up again closer to Philadelphia," says Bucks County Communications Director Chris Edwards.
"It's classified as a 'serious restriction' by the National Weather Service. Clearly all of our local emergency management professionals are monitoring the situation, particularly the municipalities in Bucks that are along the river," he said.
Edwards says they don't do anything to move the ice downstream, but the Coast Guard says, if need be, it can send tugs to break up the ice and keep water moving south.
In addition, flooding concerns have prompted officials to close Route 32 (River Road) between Black Rock Road and Trenton Avenue in Lower Makefield Township.
In Mercer County, New Jersey, flooding has been reported at Route 29 and Market Street and in the lower State House parking.
At about 7:45 p.m., Route 29 southbound was shut down between Market and Calhoun Streets due to flooding.
