Oxford marks flood recovery progress with reopening of damaged road
Nearly two years after a devastating flood tore through Connecticut, the town of Oxford is continuing recovery efforts with the reopening of Loughlin Road and additional federal funding for infrastructure repairs.
Oxford First Selectman George Temple said the road suffered major damage during the 2024 flooding, making repairs especially challenging.
“It really took out half of the mountain so that had to be replaced,” Temple said.
Temple said the condition of the roadway after the flood damage was immense.
“There was nothing underneath me except the road. Everything else had been basically torn away,” Temple said.
Loughlin Road reopened last week after extensive repairs. Temple said the town engineer carefully designed a new embankment aimed at making the roadway more resilient in future storms.
“That’s basically what my goal was, that we make repairs and that they’re permanent,” Temple said.
Oxford also received assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, which approved more than $273,000 for guardrail and embankment repairs similar to the work completed on Loughlin Road.
Temple said the funding and recent reopening reflect the community’s determination to rebuild.
“This town has a big heart too and they’re not afraid to roll up their sleeves. I can’t tell you how many people were involved in putting this back together again,” Temple said.
As recovery efforts continue, Temple also acknowledged the two people who died in the flooding, Ethelyn Joiner and Audrey Rostkowski.
“We grieve over that. We have a memorial for them and I know I’ll never forget them,” Temple said.
Temple said Oxford has received about $3 million in federal recovery funding so far.
From breaking news and local politics to art exhibitions, live music, high school sports, small businesses, and cultural events, we celebrate the people and places that make Connecticut unique.