Water Washed Under Train Tracks on Hamburg Tpke., Chief Says

Hamburg Turnpike was shut down for more than three hours near Monday as contractors worked to repair a washout that brought three feet of water through the train tracks, according to Butler Fire Chief Jim Neill.

Neill said the responded around 5:08 p.m. to close the road to traffic while the railroad contractors worked to repair gravel under the tracks that had been washed out. The railroad tracks from water during the tropical storm that followed Hurricane Irene, although Neill said the water that came around the tracks last year was "much deeper."

According to Neill, the water came down a hill from the Terrace Lake spillway behind the Cambridge Heights condominium complex.

"It was coming across the road probably about 3 feet deep out of that stream," Neill said.

No injuries were reported, but Neill said there may have been exterior damage to Butler Printing, as water that was more than 2 feet high backed up against the business' building. Cars that were in the parking lot of the business had water up to the windows, Neill said.

A call to Butler Printing was not answered Tuesday.

Traffic backed up on Route 23 and throughout the borough until Hamburg Turnpike was reopened at about 8:15 p.m. Monday.

"The whole center of became solid traffic," Neill said.

Patch will have updates on this story.