Washed-out land beneath Harrison Avenue is seen Tuesday above Cobbosseecontee Stream in Gardiner. Heavy rainfall last week eroded the banking, destabilizing the road. Officials have closed off the road to all but local traffic until it can be repaired. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

GARDINER — Harrison Avenue has been closed to all but local traffic after heavy rainfall during the May 1 storm caused the banking underneath it to give way.

Andrew Carlton, Gardiner city manager, said even as the city is contracting with an engineering firm to fix the road, it is also looking for a way to pay for the repairs.

The Harrison Avenue embankment is the worst damage wrought by the storm in the city, Carlton said. Several driveway culverts washed out, as did a section of Capon Road. The Kennebec River and Cobbosseecontee Stream also covered the city’s Waterfront Park and Arcade parking lot with mud during the flooding.

Carlton said Harrison Avenue is expected to be closed to traffic for the foreseeable future, although emergency vehicles will be able to get through.

“The more the bank washes away, (the more) it’s washing out underneath the road. That embankment is part of what holds up that side of the road. The more that comes out from underneath, the more it undermines the integrity of the road.”

Harrison Avenue, which is west of the city’s downtown neighborhood, connects Highland Avenue at its north end with Cobbossee Avenue on its south end. It provides convenient access to Interstates 95 and 295 and is used by people traveling to and from the Kennebec Valley Boys & Girls Clubs.

Gardiner police Chief Todd Pilsbury said traffic from the north is being diverted from Harrison Avenue onto Ash Street. From there, drivers can turn south on Andrews Street or on West Hill Road to connect with Cobbossee Avenue.

Washed-out land beneath Harrison Avenue is seen Tuesday above Cobbosseecontee Stream in Gardiner. Heavy rainfall last week eroded the banking, destabilizing the road. Officials have closed off the road to all but local traffic until it can be repaired. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

While Wednesday marks the deadline to report storm damage to the Maine Emergency Management Association to support a disaster declaration, Carlton said he is not sure the damage to the embankment will qualify, and it may not be possible to complete a damage estimate by then.

Carlton said about 12 years ago, a section of the banking was shored up as part of a water and sewer infrastructure project. S.W. Cole, which had done the original engineering, has been engaged for this project.

“I don’t even want to guess at the cost,” he said. “We’re on it, but it’s not going to be a quick fix.”

City officials are researching other sources of funds to pay for repairs, including federal block grant funding, hazard mitigation grants or other grants. They may also consider issuing bonds to pay for it.

“I hope people are patient with us as we do it,” Carlton said, “but I just want to make sure it’s safe.”