WHICH WILL HELP MOVE THE ENTIRE STATE FORWARD IN OUR RECOVERY PROCESS. LIVE IN PLAINFIELD, AMR, NBC5 NEWS. FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE ACROSS VERMONT, AND SOME MAJOR ROADS ARE STILL CLOSED, LIKE ROUTE 100 IN DUXBURY. FOR MANY COMMUNITIES LIKE THE MAD RIVER VALLEY, THESE CLOSURES ARE HITTING DURING the busy summer season. as NBC5'S SID BEWLAY reports - businesses there want people to know they're ástill open. <NAT - WE WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS> ACROSS VERMONT, BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE OPEN ....AND NEED YOUR SUPPORT DESPITE MESSY ROADWORK. <ERIC FRIEDMAN, MRV CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; "WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PLEASED HOW, EFFECTIVE OUR LOCAL TOWN ROAD CREWS AND V-TRANS HAS BEEN IN GETTING THINGS BACK UP AND RUNNING."> AT THE HEIGHT OF FLOOD DAMAGE THIS MONTH, THREE OUT OF FOUR MAJOR ROADS INTO THE MAD RIVER VALLEY WERE WASHED OUT. <ERIC FRIEDMAN, MRV CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; "THIS IS A BREAD AND BUTTER SEASON FOR US, SO WHEN THE TRAFFIC SLOWS DOWN IN JULY, IT'S IMPACTFUL."> <PIC OF SIGNAGE - CREDIT MRG> FOR ABOUT A WEEK -- ROUTE 17 WAS ONLY OPEN TO LOCAL TRAFFIC, WITH WHAT SOME ARE CALLING "AGGRESSIVE" SIGNAGE. <PHONER> <RY YOUNG, MAD RIVER GLEN; "WHEN YOU DRIVE UP TO THESE THINGS AND, AND SEE, YOU KNOW, ROAD CLOSED AND A BARRICADE, WITH LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY, YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON, IT CAN BE A LITTLE, IT CAN BE A DETERRENT."> AT MAD RIVER GLEN, STARK'S PUB IS HOW THE MOUNTAIN MAKES MOST OF ITS MONEY IN THE OFF SEASON. <KITCHEN NAT> MEANTIME, THEY TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO REMIND PATRONS THAT THEY WERE OPEN. <PHONER> <RY YOUNG, MAD RIVER GLEN; WE HAD ANOTHER BUSY WEEKEND THIS WEEKEND SO IT LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE RESILIENT AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE AROUND ALL OF THIS CRAZY WEATHER."> NOW -- ROUTE 17 IS BACK OPEN, BUT REPAIRS -- ARE EASY TO SPOT. LIKE CULVERTS THAT AREN'T COMPLETELY FIXED YET. <COVER W B ROLL OF CURRENT DAMAGE> <ERIC FRIEDMAN, MRV CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; "OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS STILL WITH 100, NORTH HEADING UP TOWARDS WATERBURY IN SOUTH DUXBURY, WE'RE CUT OFF THERE."> <YOUR GPS IS WRONG SIGN> AND TO GET ANYWHERE IN THE STATE AFTER MASS ROAD- CLOSURES, GOING OLD- SCHOOL CAN BE THE BEST BET. <ERIC FRIEDMAN, MRV CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; "LISTEN TO WHAT THE LOCALS ARE TELLING YOU, THERE'S THESE THINGS, THEY'RE CALLED M-A-PS AND THAT THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY GOOD. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DOWNLOAD THEM OR ANYTHIN
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Flood-related road closures impact businesses in the Mad River Valley
"When the traffic slows down in July, it's impactful," Mad River Valley feels the effects of road flood-related road closures during peak summer season.
Reporter
Flood recovery efforts are continuing across Vermont and some main roads are still closed, like Route 100 in Duxbury.For many communities like the Mad River Valley, these closures are hitting during the busy summer season."We want people to realize that we're open for business," Eric Friedman, executive director of the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce said.The chamber represents all seven towns in the Mad River Valley; Duxbury, Fayston, Granville, Middlesex, Moretown, Waitsfield, and Warren.July's flood caused major damages in some of those towns, causing washouts and road closures."We're really, really pleased how effective our local town road crews and VTrans has been in getting things back up and running," Friedman said.At the height of the damage repairs, three of the four major roads leading into the community were washed out."This is a bread and butter season for us, so when the traffic slows down in July, it's impactful," Friedman said.For about a week, Route 17 was only open to local traffic as repairs were underway."When you drive up to these things and see 'road closed' and a barricade, with local traffic only — for people who don't know exactly what's going on... it can be a deterrent," Ry Young, Mad River Glen's marketing and events manager said.At Mad River Glen, Stark's Pub is how the mountain makes most of its money when it's not in ski season.In the meantime, they took to posting on social media to encourage patrons to stop by and that they counted as local traffic.Since Route 17 fully reopened last weekend, business has returned to normal."We had another busy weekend this weekend, so it looks like people are resilient and figuring out how to navigate around all of this crazy weather," Young said.However, repairs on the road and nearby German Flats Road were very apparent."Our challenge right now is still with 100, north heading up towards Waterbury in South Duxbury. We're cut off there," Friedman said.However, to get anywhere in the state after disaster-related road closures, Freidman said going "old school" can be the best option."Listen to what the locals are telling you, there's these things, they're called M-A-Ps and that they're really, really good," Friedman said with a laugh. "You don't have to download them or anything. So, going old school is definitely helpful."
WAITSFIELD, Vt. —
Flood recovery efforts are continuing across Vermont and some main roads are still closed, like Route 100 in Duxbury.
For many communities like the Mad River Valley, these closures are hitting during the busy summer season.
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"We want people to realize that we're open for business," Eric Friedman, executive director of the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce said.
The chamber represents all seven towns in the Mad River Valley; Duxbury, Fayston, Granville, Middlesex, Moretown, Waitsfield, and Warren.
July's flood caused major damages in some of those towns, causing washouts and road closures.
"We're really, really pleased how effective our local town road crews and VTrans has been in getting things back up and running," Friedman said.
At the height of the damage repairs, three of the four major roads leading into the community were washed out.
"This is a bread and butter season for us, so when the traffic slows down in July, it's impactful," Friedman said.
For about a week, Route 17 was only open to local traffic as repairs were underway.
"When you drive up to these things and see 'road closed' and a barricade, with local traffic only — for people who don't know exactly what's going on... it can be a deterrent," Ry Young, Mad River Glen's marketing and events manager said.
At Mad River Glen, Stark's Pub is how the mountain makes most of its money when it's not in ski season.
In the meantime, they took to posting on social media to encourage patrons to stop by and that they counted as local traffic.
Since Route 17 fully reopened last weekend, business has returned to normal.
"We had another busy weekend this weekend, so it looks like people are resilient and figuring out how to navigate around all of this crazy weather," Young said.
However, repairs on the road and nearby German Flats Road were very apparent.
"Our challenge right now is still with 100, north heading up towards Waterbury in South Duxbury. We're cut off there," Friedman said.
Mad River Valley sees 'catastrophic' damages after July '24 flood
However, to get anywhere in the state after disaster-related road closures, Freidman said going "old school" can be the best option.
"Listen to what the locals are telling you, there's these things, they're called M-A-Ps and that they're really, really good," Friedman said with a laugh. "You don't have to download them or anything. So, going old school is definitely helpful."
