By Anita Baffoni, WPRO News
The intersection of Wilbur and Oaklawn Avenue in Cranston is infamous for flooding and Mayor Allan Fung hopes a new flood detection system will prevent drivers from getting stuck during severe rain storms.
“We have had numerous incidents of vehicles and drivers believing that they could get through, even drivers who live in the area and know better try to dive through and it becomes problematic because they become stuck then our police and fire rescue need to come and get them out,” Fung said.
The $29,000 system is solar powered and LED flashing lights go on once the water reaches a high level.
The drainage system on the road gets overwhelmed as the Meshanticut Brook fills with water and spills onto the road, sometimes causing up to a foot of water or more. Fung says the dip in the road under the railroad bridge can trick drivers into thinking the water’s depth is much lower, resulting in many cases of stranded drivers causing damage to their cars.
A permanent fix to raise the road is a multi-million dollar project and Fung says this flood detection system is a temporary solution as a warning sign to deter drivers from the area during floods.
This is the first system of its kind in the state, according to Fung.
“Hopefully, it’s a more cost effective way to improve the safety in that area and help ensure that people think twice before driving in the flood waters,” he said.
