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Flood Cleanup Begins Along Schuylkill River

By Jim Melwert

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Now that the Schuylkill River flood waters have receded, the cleanup begins.

Along Main Street in Manayunk, roads are opened but near the merge with Ridge, the sidewalks were so covered with mud people were walking in the streets.

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Philadelphia Streets Department trucks wash mud off Kelly Drive. credit cbs

Along Kelly Drive, a section of the bike path just east of Ferry Road looks like it was picked up and thrown down, big rocks from the stone wall that line the river are in the path. Matt Charles commutes to work using the, and says after all the water and flooding here and in the area by Midvale Avenue, he's just happy to be back on the trail.

"Well, at least it's ride able, you know," Charles says. "I thought there would be a lot more dirt and debris. Yeah, I was surprised to see this, though. I'm surprised to see the concrete lifted off the ground."

On Friday, city officials announced Black Road from MLK Drive to Lansdowne Avenue would be closed indefinitely for cleanup. No detour will be posted.

Kevin McCormack lives in East Falls says while he's impressed by the damage, he's kind of surprised it's not worse.

"I was over here yesterday and this whole area was (covered in water) about chest high."

City officials are inspecting roads and bridges. They're asking anyone who sees a problem from the rain and flooding to call 311.

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