Harris Road Between Beaver Dam and Babbit Closed Indefinitely

Harris Road travelers headed East beyond the prison will need to seek alternate routes for at least a week, possibly more, according to town officials.

The road was closed to traffic earlier this afternoon, and announced via email by 12:15 p.m.

"We found a sinkhole in the road, where it was depressed by about a foot," said Kevin Winn, public works commissioner. The sinkhole made impassable the portion of Harris Road that crosses the creek, near Beaver Dam Road.

Winn said the town brought in a consulting engineer who had experience in bridge work. The supporting wall to the bridge was found in a deteriorated condition, he said, and will need concrete repair. The work could take a week or two, given the need for concrete to cure before traffic can return to the road.

"We'rd doing what we can to repair it as quickly and safely as possible," said Winn.

The Bedford police department issued an alert to residents via the Nixle system around 3 p.m.

A detour is set up and officials are encouraging motorists to set aside extra time for traveling in the area.