Heavy rain floods Yellowhead Trail near CN Rail Bridge
A section of westbound Yellowhead closed Tuesday afternoon as crews worked to clear water that accumulated under the rail bridge.
Heavy rainfall flooded a section of Yellowhead Trail on Tuesday, forcing the closure of westbound traffic and prompting the city to advise drivers to find alternate routes.
After 2 p.m., westbound Yellowhead from 97 Street to 124 Street was closed to through traffic. Traffic exiting at 121 Street was directed southbound. A single westbound lane reopened later as crews worked to bail out water pooled under the CN Rail Bridge.
Mayor Andrew Knack said the city's stormwater system held up well during the deluge. He noted the city approved a $1.6 billion flood mitigation program in 2019 to prepare for severe weather events that are occurring more frequently than historical patterns suggest.
"I think this is part of the ongoing work of Epcor to make sure our systems in place are resilient across the entire city," Knack said, adding that the city has been continuously building flood-mitigation infrastructure.
Significant delays were expected during the afternoon commute. The city advised drivers to allow extra travel time and use alternate routes.