The “Road Closed” sign at the entrance to Crawford Avenue, with Little Round Top in the background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
Torrential rains over the weekend in Gettysburg have closed Crawford and Warren Avenue on the south end of the battlefield. We’ll take a look at the flooding and some of the damage caused to the road.
Here is some of the evidence of rain that remained by the bridge over Plum Rum on Crawford Avenue. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
Special thanks to Gettysburg Daily readers Bruce Brandon and Pete Reiter for these photos of the weekend flooding used in today’s post.
The ground is still waterlogged. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
Farther down Crawford Avenue, visitors will find the entrance to Warren Avenue closed as well. This view was facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
Another view from Pete Reiter and Bruce Brandon showing the water at the base of Devil’s Den.
The reason for closing Warren Avenue should start to become apparent from this photo — water coming down off of Little Round Top began to wash the road embankment away (where the orange cones have been placed).
The National Park Service has filled in the side of the roadway with dirt, gravel, and rocks. In the background there are plenty of visitors on Little Round Top, many who were parking in Devil’s Den and making the walk up Warren Avenue. This view was facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
With the side of the road washed away, vehicles could crack the roadway. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
In the worst spots, rocks have been used. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
The 20th Maine monument and parking area is behind us in this view. It is unknown how quickly these roads will reopen for vehicular traffic. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, April 18, 2011.
Our thanks again to Gettysburg Daily readers Bruce Brandon and Pete Reiter (pictured here on North Hancock Avenue near the Bryan House) for braving this weekend’s weather and providing us with timely photographs of the flooding.