NEW ALBANY — A group of residents approached the New Albany Board of Public Works and Safety on Tuesday about a drainage problem they said poses an imminent danger.

Twilla Beckham was one of the people who spoke to the board about the condition of Armstrong Bend. She said there are seven households that require motorists to drive over a deteriorated portion of Armstrong Bend for access, and that the road could “cave at any time.” The volume of water that runs over the road during a heavy rainfall is the likely reason for the damage, she said.

“It is time for this road to be fixed,” Beckham said, as she added school buses travel over the portion of Armstrong Bend regularly and that children could be at risk due to the faulty condition of the road.

Water flowing to Silver Creek runs underneath Armstrong Bend through a pipe that board of works member and former mayor Warren Nash said was installed almost 40 years ago.

After fielding calls from residents living off Armstrong Bend, New Albany Stormwater Coordinator Joseph Ham said he requested an estimate to improve drainage for the area in question. He received a quote of $17,700 to install a pipe and two head walls, which Ham said should help with stormwater flow.

“That doesn’t involve any widening of the road,” Ham said.

He added he would have to take the proposal before the New Albany Stormwater Board for approval. Suellen Wilkinson, president of the board of works, requested the residents come back next week for an update on the potential project.



Trolley hop approved

The board of works approved allowing a group of downtown merchants to offer a trolley service Dec. 21 as part of the “End of the World Zombie Walk” which is slated for 8 p.m. to midnight. The event plays off the theory that the world will come to an end on that day — a prediction made based on what has been found of an ancient Mayan calendar that ends Dec. 21 of this year.

Two trolleys will be rented from the city of Jeffersonville for the event, according to Matt McMahan, owner of  two of stops on the Zombie Walk — The Irish Exit and The Warehouse Hookah Bar.

McMahan said some restaurant and bar owners paid for a trolley Nov. 24 to coincide with downtown holiday festivities. He said the merchants were under the impression that Develop New Albany was partnering with them for that event, but that the organization backed out on the trolley. He said he would have approached the board of works for approval for the trolley last month but was under the belief Develop New Albany had already received permission.

The trolley service for Dec. 21 was approved unanimously by the board.



Old Vincennes Road to close

A portion of Old Vincennes Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, and Wednesday, Dec. 12, so that a water line can be installed for the Silvercrest development.

Traffic will be detoured via Wildwood Lane during the project. Once completed, Silvercrest will be a senior living community with a nursing home and assisted-living facility.