Highways shut down in Lac La Biche County due to flooding

Rob McKinley Jun 8, 2020 8:15 AM
Fears that water pushing through railway infrastructure could cause severe flooding has closed roads and forced evacuations in Lac La Biche County. Here, Monday morning's low storm clouds hang over the flooded potion of Highway 55 alongside the railway tracks. Image: Rob McKinley ▲
With the evacuation notice given late Sunday night, residents made their way to the registration center at the Bold Center's Devon Room. Image: Rob McKinley▲
The parking lot of the Lac La Biche Ramada Hotel was filled early Monday morning as flood evacuees from the community were given rooms. Image: Rob McKinley▲
Signs of the times. Image: Rob McKinley▲
Workers man the registration tables on Sunday night at the Bold Center's Devon Room after a large area of the community was evacuated due to fears of excessive flooding if railway infrastructure gave way. Image: Rob McKinley▲
Drivers in the hamlet of Plamondon are dealing with water issues as well. Localized flooding has also taken place in Plamondon. Image: Rob McKinley▲
Rain pours early Monday morning on two of many semitrucks parked overnight at the Lac La Biche UFA as highway officials closed area highways to non-essential traffic. Image: Rob McKinley▲
Highway 55 into the hamlet of Lac La Biche has been troubled with overland flooding for the last month. On Monday morning, however, authorities closed all highways in Lac La Biche County as a flood precaution Image: Rob McKinley▲
Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi watches overland flood water gush into the southern intake of Lac La Biche lake through a flood-swelled Little Red Deer Brook on Saturday. Image: Rob McKinley▲
Making a splash. As overland flood water flowed across Highway 55 on Friday, officials sensed traffic safety would become a concern. Image: Rob McKinley▲
On Sunday morning, the overflow was spreading wider. Image: Rob McKinley▲
Plamondon's St. Isiodore Church on Saturday afternoon, reflected in a growing field of water that is part of the overflowing Plamondon Creek. Image: Rob McKinley ▲

Provincial authorities have closed  all highway access and exit to Lac La Biche County due to flood waters and the risk to motorists.

Early Monday morning, Lac La Biche County and Alberta Transportation officials announced that all provincial highways in Lac La Biche County are closed to non-essential traffic due to overland flooding and the potential for water levels to keep rising.

The closure affects travel on Highway 36, 55 east and west, 663, 855, 858, 866, 867 and 881.

"There is already water flowing on highway surfaces in places, and conditions may worsen," says County spokesperson Jihad Moghrabi in a municipal advisory.

An earlier version of a potential road closure plan was still allowing travel on Highways 36 and 881, but the latest restriction includes all highways.

"We regret the inconvenience this will cause to many residents. This decision has been made to protect residents' safety, as highway driveability cannot be guaranteed at this time," said Moghrabi.

Evacuations over fears from wave of water

The highway closures follow the declaration of a State of Local Emergency in Lac La Biche County issues late Sunday night as constant rain and saturated grounds have jeopardized the operations of municipal waste water utilities and municipal infrastructure. At the time of the declaration, municipal officials also ordered an evacuation order to hundreds of residents living in an area believed to be in potential threat of severe flooding if portions of a railway track should give way and release a large amount of water.

Evacuated residents have been housed temporarily in area hotels, where they are expected to remain for at least two days. The south side of the railway track, which runs through the middle of the Lac La Biche hamlet, was holding large fields of water in several low lying areas. Municipal officials said on Sunday night that if the railway infrastructure was compromised, it could send a wave four feet high through the low lying areas north of the tracks towards the Lac La Biche lake's shores.

The hamlet of Lac La Biche isn't' the only place in the region affected by consistent rainfall over the last two weeks. Residents in the Plamondon area reported to the POST on Sunday night that there was localized flooding in their community, including the newly constructed Plamdonon recreation grounds which are completely submerged.

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