P-J photo by Eric Zavinski

SOUTH VALLEY — A portion of a road and culvert in Cattaraugus County were washed away in flooding that also blocked passage of traffic throughout the Southern Tier.

Heather Lamberson, South Valley town supervisor, confirmed that Burch Drive will remain closed to traffic following heavy rains Thursday.

Warren Thomas, South Valley town highway superintendent, added that a temporary bridge will be installed through shared services between the town and county.

Volunteer firefighters from Frewsburg were summoned to Burch Drive, near Sawmill Run Road, after Cattaraugus County dispatchers received word shortly before 10 a.m. that a portion of the road and culvert had washed away due to raging waters from a nearby creek.

Lamberson said Burch is a town-maintained road and noted that crews remained on scene through the afternoon assessing the damage.

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office said most damage due to Thursday flooding was in the South Valley area.

In Lakewood, crews closed a portion of West Fairmount Avenue under the train viaduct due to flooding. Roads were also covered in water on Route 60 near the New York State Police barracks.

See Friday’s edition of The Post-Journal for more.