10,000 without power, several roads closed in Danville; river crested at 30.01 feet

DANVILLE, Va. (WSET) -- The City of Danville said the local state of emergency will remain in place.

There are about 10,000 customers without power and service has been restored to the Piney Forest Road, Westover and U.S. 58 East/Kentuck Road areas.

Crews are working in the Brosville, south Danville and Kentuck areas and power is expected to be restored later Friday evening.

The Mount Hermon, Whitmell and Tunstall communities likely will be restored later Friday night or into Saturday.

Danville said crews will be working 16-hour shifts until all the damage is repaired.

The city is being assisted by crews from three cities as part of a mutual aid agreement as well as two contract crews assisting.

At the height of the storm, they said 20,000 customers were without power.

Craghead Street has been reopened to through traffic.

Major street closures include:

• River Street from Main Street to Old Halifax Road is closed and will remain closed until floodwater recedes.
  
• Memorial Drive from Bishop Avenue to West Main Street is closed due to tree damage and will remain closed through the night.
• Goodyear Boulevard is closed at Jenny Lane and will remain closed until floodwater recedes.
• West Main Street northbound lanes remain closed at Edgewood Drive. Traffic is being rerouted onto Edgewood Drive.
• Third Avenue West is closed. The roadway is washed out. Public Works has worked today and will continue working this evening to reopen the street.
• Audubon Drive is closed at Apollo Avenue and will remain closed through the weekend.

This is a list of streets that are blocked by trees that have fallen over power lines. These streets cannot be reopened until utilities crews have addressed the issue with power lines:

• Dudley Street
• Luna Lake Road
• 300 block of Wilson Street
• Intersection of Virginia Avenue and Avondale
• Girard Street
• Glendale Avenue
• Candlewood Road

Public Works crews will continue working Friday evening and on Saturday to clear roadways of trees.

Police Chief Scott Booth urges residents and visitors to use caution when traveling on city streets.

"Conditions have improved [Friday], but sections of streets throughout the city remain fully blocked or partially blocked. Travel can be hazardous, especially after sunset. Travel only if you must, and if you do, slow down and be patient. Do not cross or move barricades." Booth said.

Ttraffic also could impede efforts to clean up streets and restore power service.

The Dan River is projected to fall below major flood stage overnight Friday into Saturday.

Major flood stage is 25.5 feet. The river level on Friday was 27.3 feet.

The river crested Thursday night in Danville at 30.01 feet, which is more than a foot above the river crest of 28.65 feet during Hurricane Fran in 1996.

Parks and Recreation has closed the Riverwalk Trail, Ballou Park and the Ballou Park Recreation Center, and Anglers Park. Ballou Park and the recreation center are closed due to extensive tree damage.