Stranded no more: Volunteers rebuild bridge washed out by heavy rain

A washed-out Lincoln County road is on a path to a permanent fix after heavy rain has left dozens of people stranded three different times.

Amity Lane in Iron Station is the only way in and out of the neighborhood. This week, neighbors have welcomed the sounds of construction crews with a sigh of relief.

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• ‘Can’t get out’: Dozens stranded after road washes out in Lincoln County

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“It’s like somebody gave me a million dollars,” said Dale Drake.

Heavy rain washed out the dead-end road back in 2013, stranding 29 people stuck on the other side. It happened again this past January, stunning people with no way to get to work.

“I missed about three or four days,” resident Samantha Mitchem said.

Amity Lane is a private road, so the Department of Transportation won’t fix it. Neighbors had to raise money to rebuild it. Then last month, a temporary bridge they built to drive across the area completely washed out.

“It took the pipes and everything when it took the road,” Drake said.

But instead of replacing the old road with rocks and dirt over a culvert, a bridge will be built over the creek anchored by concrete on either side. The Lutheran Disaster Relief fund donated $75,000 to help cover the $80,000 it cost to hire the Mennonite Disaster Service to do the work.

“There won’t be any obstruction to anything coming down through here,” said Phillip Troyer with the Mennonite Disaster Service.

The bridge will be strong enough to hold 50 tons, so fire trucks will get across easily. It will also be sturdy enough to ease neighbors’ fears.

“Not being afraid of rainstorms coming in and washing out our road again,” Mitchem said.

The crew of volunteers still has several more days of work before they secure the permanent crossing.

(WATCH BELOW: ‘Can’t get out’: Dozens stranded after road washes out in Lincoln County)