“That was just rain,” said Ron Cavanaugh, chairman of Colchester County’s Flood Advisory Committee.
“It rained hard through the night,” he said, of the approximately 40-millimetres of water that cascaded down on the area.
“It had nothing to do with ice as far as I’m concerned.
That assessment was contradicted somewhat, however, by James Webster, area manager for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, while he was out monitoring the roads Thursday morning.
While he agreed the intensity of the rain was a major contribtor, his impression while out monitoring the roads was that ice blockage was also an issue.
“Probably the biggest factor was and is the ice in the waterways,” he said. “The ice isn’t allowing for drainage.”
The heavy rainfall overnight Wednesday forced some Colchester County motorists to take detours on their way to work Thursday morning.
Some of the flooding occurred in areas that didn’t flood last September but a Department of Transportation spokesman said that wasn’t result of berm work in North River and Bible Hill during the fall and more recently.
“It was probably the intensity of the rain and where those locations are,” said area manager James Webster, while out monitoring the roads. “Probably the biggest factor was and is the ice in the waterways – the ice isn’t allowing for drainage.
Some motorists attempted to drive through flooded areas along Main Street in Bible Hill, between Park Street and Marshall’s Corner, only to have to turn around to find an alternate route.
Park Street was once again closed off to motorists as flooding plagued the area and it remained shut down as of Thursday evening, with huge blocks of ice strewn over the road.
“Park Street is a little bit slower in clearing up because the water has to work its way around the berms to leave,” said Webster, adding that Park Street was already closed by the time he woke up Thursday morning.
The subway in Bible Hill was also closed to motorists and pedestrians, but was reopened in the afternoon.
In the Town of Truro, a portion at the top of Young Street was closed to motorists due to a road washout, as was a portion of East Queen Street where the shoulder the road had deteriorated.
“We’ve had some other rural roads washed out,” said Webster about county roads. “We’re advising local motorists, and anyone can go on our 511 site as we are updating those roads.”
Webster was hoping the rural road washouts would be fixed no later than Friday.
rtetanish@trurodaily.com
Twitter: @TDNRaissa
