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
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.