Caution urged as warmer temperatures lead to localized flooding

Apr 23, 2018 | 4:30 PM

Localized flooding has led to some road closures and washouts around the region, and drivers are advised to be cautious.

Graders, trucks and barricades are out as communities grapple with flooded roadways due to the spring melt. With warmer temperatures finally upon us, drivers are advised to be cautious and watch for signs when travelling.

Ryan Scragg, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Garden River, said the spring melt is higher than average this year. The RM closed parts of the Garden River Road for about 12 hours Sunday evening, starting at 8 p.m. The culverts are now able to keep up and the road has since been re-opened, he added.

The RM shared a video on their Facebook page showing the extent of the flooding along the Garden River Road. 

“It’s turned into a very fast runoff,” Scragg said. “Yesterday morning I would say it was almost nothing for runoff, and then by 5 o’clock yesterday evening it was full on … this is more than normal.”

 

In the Rural Municipality of Torch River near Nipawin, Superintendent Murray Black estimates 20 to 30 grid roads and farm access points are washed out across the RM. The road between Garrick and White Fox has been closed, he said.

“We’ve got washouts and water running over roads … we’re getting to them as quickly as we can,” Black added.

“We had all the equipment prepared and guys ready and they all come in. We only have three or four pickups so, we were running around putting signs up last night and closing roads.”

Around Melfort, drivers are being advised to slow down and watch for flags and signs. Rob Miller, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Star City, says flooding in the area is worse than last spring.

“It all went pretty fast this year … there’s lots of problems,” Miller said.

 

Around Cut Knife and the Battlefords, flooding has eroded the approaches to a bridge south of Cut Knife and a number of roads are covered in water. They are still passable, and Don McCallum, Administrator for the Rural Municipality of Cut Knife, says the water is expected to subside as the week goes on.

“It’s way worse than last year,” McCallum said. “It would have been comparable to 2013 probably … there’s some damage here for sure.”

Dan Bartko, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of North Battleford, said a few roads are partially washed out in the area, but the damage isn’t serious. Bartko said the damaged roads will be repaired quickly and are marked with signage.

The Saskatchewan Highways Hotline says a detour was removed Monday morning on Highway 2 just North of Wakaw, although there was still water on the road. The hotline reported that crews were on site and traffic was proceeding. The province’s Highway’s Hotline is urging drivers to check road conditions before heading out.

 

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt