I-95 Begins to Reopen in Flooded R.I.

Some lanes of the main interstate highway linking major East Coast cities have reopened after flooding shut a stretch down in Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said Thursday that southbound Interstate 95 has reopened in Warwick. The agency says the northbound lanes should reopen later in the day.

I-95 is the main route from New York to Boston.

Worst Floods in 100 Years Swamp Northeast

The floodwaters are receding across New England -- and while the situation remains dangerous, there is some good news for one part of Rhode Island.

Officials say the threat of a bridge collapse above the Pawtuxet river in Coventry has lessened considerably. The fear was that a collapse would damage several dams downstream and lead to more flooding.

Travel after Rhode Island's worst flooding in 200 years remains treacherous because of washed-out roads, though officials are hoping to reopen a stretch of Interstate 95 later today. Amtrak is again suspending some service in the region. And residents are figuring out how to deal with the damage left from several feet of water in their homes.

The economic impact may be even worse. Business districts were among the hardest-hit areas, and Rhode Island was already seeing double-digit unemployment even before the floods devastated some small businesses.

The flooding in New England has overwhelmed businesses and knocked hundreds of people from their homes, but it also has also sent millions of gallons of sewage-laced water streaming into waterways.

Overwhelmed sewage treatment plants prompted officials to ask residents to stop flushing toilets, CBS News correspondent Whit Johnson reports.

The sudden infusion raises health concerns, since people can become ill by swallowing wastewater.

Also, Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay is bracing for a swell of sediment, garbage and oil.

Officials insist the impact will be only short-term. They have warned people exposed to wastewater to wear gloves and protective gear. Some communities also have been told to limit toilet flushes and avoid washing clothes.

Sewage treatment plants in Warwick and West Warwick were shut down by flooding. A sewer pump station in nearby Cranston also gave out.