CONWAY POLICE SAY ROUTE 16 IN CONWAY VILLAGE WAS CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS TUESDAY MORNING FROM ROUTE 112 – THE KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY – UP TO THE AREA OF KENNETT MIDDLE SCHOOL – BECAUSE OF WIRES DOWN IN THE ROAD.
THE POLICE LOG INDICATES CONWAY FIRE AND RESCUE RESPONDED ALONG WITH POLICE TO THE AREA NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS AROUND 4:30 A.M. AFTER A REPORT OF LOW LYING WIRES.
RESPONDERS FOUND ONE POLE BROKEN ON THE GROUND AND ONE PARTIALLY KNOCKED OVER. THE POLES REPORTEDLY BELONGED TO FAIRPOINT AND SUPPORTED FIBER OPTIC LINES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR FAIRPOINT SAYS TRAFFIC RUNNING OVER THE WIRES CRUSHED AND SEVERED THE FIBER AND HIS CREWS WERE WORKING ON THEM – AND HOPED TO HAVE SERVICE RESTORED BY 5 P.M. TUESDAY. IT’S NOT KNOWN HOW MANY CUSTOMERS WERE AFFECTED.
LT. CHRIS PERLEY SAYS HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT BROUGHT THE WIRES DOWN BUT IT WAS PROBABLY A DUMP TRUCK WITH A HIGH LOAD.
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE POLICE HELPED RE-ROUTE TRAFFIC TO WEST MAIN ST. WHILE THE SECTION OF ROUTE 16 WAS SHUT DOWN. IT WAS RE-OPENED TO TRAFFIC SHORTLY AFTER 9:30 A.M. TUESDAY.
IT’S NOT KNOWN IF THE DOWNED WIRES KNOCKED OUT PHONE SERVICE TO KENNETT HIGH SCHOOL FOR MOST OF THE SCHOOL DAY.
THE SCHOOL SENT A SPECIAL ALERT TO PARENTS TUESDAY MORNING NOTIFYING THEM PHONE SERVICE WAS DOWN.
