Break in weather allows people impacted by flooding a chance to begin clean up
By Bruce Fuhr
Traffic is beginning to move, albeit, slowly north of Kaslo as crews clean up the damage created by recent rains that have swollen creeks and rivers in the area, causing mudslides and water to jump banks.
“The creeks and rivers have peaked are beginning to drop,” said Bill Macpherson, Public Information Officer for the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
“The focus now is how to clean up the mess in the Lardeau Valley and around Schroeder Creek,” adds Macpherson.
Macpherson said Highway 31 near Schroeder Creek is now open to alternating single-lane traffic after water and mudslides damaged the road near the Schroeder Creek Resort.
The slide south of Lardeau has also been cleared enough to allow alternating single-lane traffic on the highway.
The situation near Hamill Creek in the Lardeau Valley remains the same water caused structural damage to several homes in the area, including a doublewide trailer being swallowed up by the torrid creek.
As of Friday afternoon, the Lardeau Valley was without power and the phone system was also not working due to the slides.
Also Glacier Creek Park Regional Park on Duncan Lake is closed until further notice.
“The park cannot be accessed because of the effects that recent flooding have had on the road and Hamill Creek Bridge,” said Cary Gaynor, Parks Operations Supervisor for the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
The park could be closed for at least several weeks, or longer, said Gaynor.
Once staff have determined that the park can be safely accessed, the public will be notified.
Macpherson said damage is not reserved to the North Kootenay Lake district as a slide on Highway 3A near Sidar also slowed traffic flow.
The highway is now open to single lane, alternating traffic.
In the East Kootenay the situation is improving as the weather betters.
However, there are some road problems that exist.
Highway 93 is closed in both directions 12 km north of Junction of Highway 95A because of a washout at Springbrook Bridge in Skookumchuk.
Ministry of Transportation officials say crews and equipment are on site now for repair.
Highway 93 East of Radium to Castle Junction is closed in Kootenay National Park due to multiple washouts while Highway 3 remains open.
However, a washout six kilometres east of Sparwood has reduced the highway to single alternating traffic.
The news is not so good for motorists in Alberta.
There is major damage on the Alberta side and the Highway 1 closure will be in effect for several days.
Thursday, Parks Canada and Alberta Transportation BC to hold or turn around traffic at Golden and to divert traffic at Radium (Hwy 93) as highways in National Parks north and south of Lake Louise are not passable.
Closure at Golden provides travellers and truckers with amenities should they opt to wait.
Check Drive BC at http://www.drivebc.ca/ for updates.
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