The Stringtown Bridge in Myrtle Point has been closed for repairs since May. The work could take more than a year and, come winter, when the Coquille River begins to rise, area residents could become stranded.

Nearly every winter, the Coquille River's rising waters cause some roads in Myrtle Point, namely West Side Road - also known as Old Broadbent Road - and Catching Creek Road, to partially flood and remain that way for days.

The Stringtown Bridge, however, enables vehicles to bypass the submerged roads when traveling between Stringtown Road and West Side Road.

With the bridge closed for repairs, drivers are being directed to use a 1.7-mile-long detour through these potentially flooded roads, meaning the only route to certain parts of town could be in danger of being closed this winter.

“There's no question that, when the flooding starts, we simply won't be able to get out to certain areas because of the bridge closing,” said Dan Gardner, Myrtle Point fire chief. “That's hundreds of people we potentially can't reach. This wasn't a possibility before.”

Cheryl Houston, Myrtle Point ambulance director, said she had spoken with Coos County Roadmaster Larry VanElsberg about the possibility of modifying the “unnamed tie road” between Stringtown Road and West Side Road, which currently serves as part of the detour. This tie road, she said, also floods in the winter, but if it could be hiked a few feet higher it might allow traffic to continue flowing between these two sections of town.

“I've talked to (VanElsberg), and he said he'd look into it,” said Houston. “I don't know what his timeframe is.”

Gardner said he had also heard the plan to raise this tie road, but said, “the story I'm getting is that they may or may not raise it, depending on if we really get on them. They have the resources to do it, but I'm not sure they feel like spending them.”

According to VanElsberg, the raising of the tie road remains only a possibility, though he acknowledges that the situation “is something we need to get resolved by next fall.”

“When the river comes up, the road will have to be about 3 feet higher to stay open, or at least to be flooded for less time,” said VanElsberg.

“Accomplishing that may involve ripping up the existing pavement, maybe putting rock down and then putting asphalt over top. We're still looking into it. ... My main concern is that the hydraulics of the river might just wash it all out, so we need to look at that before doing anything,” Van Elsberg said.

According to Houston, the Baker's Adult Foster Home, a location she said “ambulances really need to be able to access,” will be among the places that could be cut off by the flooding. Glen Baker, the co-owner of the foster home, said the prospect didn't bother him too much.

“My son's got a Jeep, so if we really need to get some people to the hospital we can use that to get past the water,” said Baker.

“I mean, it's definitely a bit of a concern, the ambulances not being able to get out here, but I mean, what can we do about it?”

John Murray, president of J & L Sanitation, said when flooding occurs this winter, many garbage truck routes will have to be discontinued until the water subsides.

This might cut off about 50 or 60 customers, Murray said, but said “it won't be a big deal,” since all these customers are residential.

“Because all our customers that would be affected are houses, not businesses, we're not worried about garbage build-up,” said Murray.

Mary Knight, bus dispatcher for the Myrtle Point School District, said that incoming Superintendent Kent Klewitz, who starts his job July 1, will be surveying the detour road on Monday in order to see how this might affect bus service for some Myrtle Point students.

“He's new to the area, so he needs to be made aware of the problem, of what'll transpire when the water comes up,” said Knight.

“After he goes out there and checks it out, we'll make some decisions, get a hold of (VanElsberg) and see what he's going to do.”