ACADIA, Maine — Thousands of visitors enjoy Acadia National Park's carriage roads each summer, but last week’s severe rainstorm caused extensive damage to the historic roads.
Park officials said 10 miles of the 45-mile carriage road system in the park are now closed from the damage.
"We recognize the importance of opening them as soon as possible," said park superintendent Kevin Schneider. “We will seek emergency funds and use emergency contracting procedures to repair the damage within the next few months.”
The rainstorm in the early hours of Wednesday, June 9 was so intense that the volume of water overwhelmed portions of the roads, making them unsafe for visitor use.
"This really intense rainstorm which was just an intensive amount of rain and the volume of the water that was roaring through," said park ranger Jay Elhard. "The carriage road system basically is designed for heavy storms and such but it was literally overwhelmed by the amount of intensity and the water that was flowing through. There was just an amazing number of washouts along the whole system there."
Acadia's carriage roads were built between 1913 to 1940. The intensity of the rainstorm makes it one of the most exceptional weather events in the park’s history.
Park officials said in addition to the 10 miles of carriage roads closed due to the storm damage, 6.3 miles of carriage roads remain closed for the planned reconstruction of the loop around Eagle Lake.
Click here for specific information on the carriage road closures and updates on current conditions.