A community in Letcher County has once again found itself cut off following a bridge washout.
The residents of Perkins Branch in the Jeremiah community are stranded for the second time in three weeks after a temporary low-water crossing constructed across Rockhouse Creek washed out Saturday evening. The temporary crossing was constructed after the only bridge into, and out of Perkins Branch collapsed in the early morning hours of March 7. Letcher County Judge-Executive Jim Ward said the bridge had been damaged by floodwaters in February.
The temporary crossing and a temporary gravel road was constructed over the course of the next three days to allow Perkins Branch residents to leave the community of about 25 homes.
Perkins Branch-resident Missy Eldridge told EKB News that debris had built up against the temporary crossing and eventually compromised the rock-and-gravel passage, resulting in its failure Saturday evening.
“It was okay when we came home, but some trees washed up against it and made it all wash out,” Eldridge said. “When we came back to the house, five of the seven culverts had washed down the river.”
Eldridge said Letcher County Magistrate Keith Adams responded and blocked off access from Ky. Highway 7 to the temporary crossing.
The Perkins Branch bridge damaged by February’s floodwaters had been reported to state officials by Ward’s office. Following the initial collapse, Ward told EKB News he hoped the incident would help to expedite the process of getting the bridge permanently replaced.
Attempts to reach Ward by phone and text late Saturday night were not successful.
