Rain came down hard and fast this week – and “it’s not over anytime soon,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald. Sunshine Coast roads have been drowning because of it.
Several roads on the lower Coast have been damaged by flooding and broken water mains or culverts linked to the higher-than-normal rainfall.
Russell Road in Elphinstone was worst hit, according to Tyler Lambert of Capilano Highways, with a washout between Henry and Burton Road digging “a big 10-foot chasm” into the road.
The road is no longer a through route, but is accessible from either end, Lambert said Friday. Since residents still have access, crews will plan an upgrade in addition to a complete culvert replacement.
A similar washout occurred in 2014. “The old culvert just isn’t sufficient to handle the volumes that are coming down that creek now.”
“Significant damage” occurred at the on and off ramp at the Port Mellon Highway near the Langdale ferry terminal, including a toppled lamp standard and “pretty significant” flooding, said Lambert.
Crews have been at the site since the morning of Dec. 14 and have contained the water and kept the roadway open. An electrical contractor was also brought on scene and the lamp standard is expected to be re-installed next week during a break in the weather.
Damage also came to Reed Road, when a water main broke on Thursday, causing a partial road closure.
Lambert suspects the culvert was overwhelmed by the rain, which caused the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) water main to break. That also caused “significant damage to the road.” The SCRD has since repaired the water main and the road is open.
Portions of roads in the Gibsons, Elphinstone and lower Roberts Creek area remain flooded, with major flooding on Lower Road at Camp Byng. “We don’t know what the fix is there yet,” said Lambert, who is still assessing the situation.
The trend of more washouts in the lower Coast is tied to rain patterns affecting the area. Gibsons received 96 millimetres from Sunday to Friday, or more than half the monthly average in just five days. The Mount Elphinstone station, which is at a higher elevation, saw 167 millimetres. The rain accumulation was less intense higher up the Coast, with Sechelt getting 58 millimetres and similar amounts in Pender Harbour.
That rain caused the B.C. River Forecast Centre to announce a high stream flow advisory this week, which was renewed on Friday, Dec. 14, the same day Environment Canada issued a wind warning for Upper and Lower Sunshine Coast. Southeast winds of 50 to 80 kilometres per hour were expected over “exposed coastal sections,” as a low-pressure system moves through the area.
MacDonald said Coasters should brace for more of the same into next week, with a short break on Saturday. “We have a Sunday storm and probably one on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,” he said, adding that despite November through January being a typically stormy period, “it has been particularly quiet up until this week.” Temperatures are expected to stay above freezing.
As far as road repairs and cleanup go, Lambert said “crews are maxed out” and that it will take approximately a week to repair damage. Crews are working with the Town of Gibsons and the SCRD. “We’ll be out actively repairing the damage when the weather conditions allow and we’ll immediately switch into safety patrols and emergency clearing of trees and or culverts as the weather ramps back up and down as the storms hit us,” he said.
A series of power outages have also hit the Coast, with outages in pockets of Sechelt still being repaired on Friday.
The cost of the road damage has yet to be estimated.
Lambert encourages people to use shovels to keep the culverts on their property flowing as a preventive measure. People can call Capilano Highways at 1-800-665-3135 to report washouts, floods or emergencies.
