Ice Jam on Housatonic River Worse Than Expected

Is that a boat dock in the middle of the Housatonic River?! Yes, it is a boat dock in the photo above taken about a half-a-mile from Lovers Leap in New Milford.

The ice jam on the Housatonic has brought Kent CT to its knees.The ice dam that formed in the Housatonic over the weekend continued to grow on Monday. As reported yesterday, by KICKS 105.5, the ice jam had grown to over a mile long and 12 feet deep.

Water crept up over the river's banks in Kent flooding some of Kent School's buildings sending the 500 students home for the rest of the week. Four miles of Rt.7 remained closed and according to State Rep. Brian Ohler told the NewsTimes it will remain closed for the rest of the week. Ohler also said:

The town has seen ice clots before but nothing like this current ice barge! You have two states worth of ice winding its way through western Connecticut.

Officials are asking drivers to stay away from Rt.7 and Schaghticoke Road. A detour has been set up in both directions via South Kent Road. What can be done is the question being asked around town. Kent's First Selectman, Bruce Adams told the NewsTimes that only warmer weather can help thaw this ice jam so the whole town is in "wait-and-see" mode.

Housatonic River Ice Jam from the Lover's Leap Bridge - Ethan Photo