Storm-ravaged Leominster, Massachusetts, is trying to get at least a little bit back to normal as schools reopened for students Thursday amid a major recovery effort from this week's severe weather.
Schools in the city opened with a two-hour delay to give the 22 buses in the district a chance to navigate detours that circumvent the community's damaged roads. The process went smoothly, Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella said on Thursday.
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He also noted that many of the city's businesses were open again and ready for people in the area to come visit over the weekend.
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"People are sort of avoiding the city and there may be some detours but we've worked real hard" to get it ready, Mazzarella said at a news conference.
State and local agencies were working on the city's roads and bridges, some of which washed away and turned into dead ends. Temporary repairs were being done to dams to prepare for possible storms in the near future, as longer term solutions were worked out.
One temporary solution the city settled on is installing a temporary road through the high school to get to several homes on Exchange Street that were inaccessible after the bridge to them was completely washed out. Engineers discussed the possibility of installing a temporary bridge but it was impossible, Mazzarella said.
"There's nothing structurally to hold it," he said, adding, that the temporary access road could be in use through winter.
Mazzarella gave a rough estimate Thursday about $25 to $35 million worth of infrastructure damage in Leominster.
The city's superintendent noted that Northwest Elementary and Leominster High School took in quite a bit of water and mud, prompting a flex schedule plan where students will take classes in other areas like cafeterias and gymnasiums.
"I’ve asked the mayor to have as many people out on traffic duty as possible to reroute," Superintendent Paula Deacon said. "This is going to be a test, slow and steady, wins the race and we will stay in constant communication. If there’s a bus stop, that may not be there right now or be accessible. We will work with those families.”
Even with the delay, city officials had said that buses may still be a bit late picking up students.
