Residents of Mason Hall, Tobago, are thankful no one was hurt when tributaries from the Sandy River overflowed their banks yesterday.
At Estate Trace, Adelphi Road, the roadway over a bridge leading to five families flooded "suddenly" just after 11 am.
Just over two weeks ago the entire trace was paved by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for the first time since the trace was built to accommodate donkey carts over 40 years ago.
However, the asphalt on the bridge was removed by the force and height of water, resident Dave Ottley said.
Describing the flow of water as "a river come down," he said it was the first time since he began living in the area as a child that the river level had risen so quickly.
"I was on the hill looking at the river rising but all of a sudden the road was impassable. I mean it was totally covered.
"The asphalt covering the roadway was shaking and moving like someone was waving a black carpet."
Another resident, Olvin Henry, said the area also flooded badly in 2009 but the water did not rise quickly.
"The water rose to that level but the difference now is that it rose quickly."
He said since the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) built two dams higher up on the watercourse the water in the small river has been a mere trickle.
Henry said his father, Samuel Henry, who designed and constructed the bridge, would be glad it stood "the onslaught and sudden force of the water."
His father died in June.
Residents say they are glad the road was finally paved and are looking forward to the THA raising the bridge's level to accommodate an increased flow of water.