City officials ask drivers to avoid flooded underpasses as more rain on the way
The City of Regina has a three-phase approach to address the flooding that occurs at the downtown underpasses during most heavy rainfalls, including Thursday night’s storm.
Water often pools underneath the overpasses at Albert Street and Saskatchewan Drive and Broad Street and Dewdney Avenue, making the roads impassable.
Several cars became submerged at the underpasses following Thursday’s storm. City crews cleared the Broad Street underpass early Friday, but had the Albert Street underpass closed until noon.
Kurtis Doney, acting executive director of citizen services for the City of Regina, encourages all drivers to avoid the underpasses during floods—that’s the first phase of the approach, education.
“Medium-term, we’re working with SGI to have a flood indicator on the Albert Street underpass so if it’s flooded it would take control of the lights and not allow people to go into the flooded underpass as the lights would stay red,” Doney said.
Long-term, city officials want to upgrade the draining infrastructure at major underpasses.
SGI shared Doney’s sentiment encouraging drivers to stay away from flooded roads.
“Don’t risk it. Find another way to get where you’re going,” Tyler McMurchy said. “A vehicle submerged in water is very quickly damaged beyond repair.”
As of Friday evening, SGI had received seven auto claims for submerged vehicles in Regina due to Thursday’s storm. Eight claims were submitted in Prince Albert.
“This is one of the perils that is covered by insurance. However, it’s really something we advise people to take steps to avoiding,” McMurchy said.
“I don’t think anyone wants to experience having to pay a deductible, write off their vehicle [and] arrange for alternative transportation.”
Meanwhile, flooding at Ross Avenue resulted in a chunk of Ring Road being closed and re-routed for much of Thursday.
“What we found last time and I expect this time is the storm drain actually becomes plugged, so it’s plugged with debris, garbage [and] dirt,” Doney said.
“So we go in there and clear that storm drain and then it drains properly.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.