TELE-TALK: Does raising a section of West Side Road to keep it open when the water is high make sense?

TELE-TALK: Does raising a section of West Side Road to keep it open when the water is high make sense?

Conway officials are considering a multimillion-dollar plan, 90 percent of it to be paid for by the federal government, to raise about one-third of a mile of West Side Road by as much as 11 feet to prevent flooding. The plan includes installing 15 6-foot diameter culverts to maintain water flow between the Swift and Saco rivers during major storms. Keeping the road open during high water would help first responders. Those questioning the project cite unintended consequences, including flooding in Conway Village, the Swift River Bridge and the railroad tracks.