Road Reports

Dryden drivers are advised that Ross Street will be closed today and tonight.

The City of Dryden says Ross Street from McMillan Avenue to Van Horne Avenue will be closed to traffic today until 8 p.m. as crews work to complete repairs to the water distribution system.

Anyone with any questions or concerns is asked to contact Public Works at 807-223-2367. Residents are reminded to slow down and move over when near working crews.

Starting on Monday (August 8) at 9 A.M., the Southbound outside single lane on the QEII will be closed till 3 P.M. The intermittent lane closure (9 A.M. - 3 P.M.) will continue until Thursday, August 11.

This week's lane closures will accommodate barrier delivery and installation in the work zone.

Cochrane RCMP advise Highway 22 at Highway 567 is now passable in both directions after an earlier collision in Rocky View County. 

A 22-year-old female was transported by STARS to an area hospital in critical condition.  A second adult passenger was transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.  The five other involved parties were treated by EMS on scene and released.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Flooding hasn’t been the only concern for Kenora’s roads crews this year.

At a Committee of the Whole meeting on August 2 at City Hall, Kenora’s Acting Director of Operations and Infrastructure, Marco Vogrig, explained that with the region’s severe flooding this spring and summer, Kenora’s potholes were ‘overwhelming’ for city crews this year.

“The number and size of potholes were overwhelming this year. So, Fleet, Roads, Engineering and HR were throwing different ideas on how to overcome them,” says Vogrig’s report.

A tornado watch has been issued for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls, Morson, and the surrounding communities.

Environment Canada says conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms which may produce tornadoes. Wind gusts of 90 to 110 km/h, nickel to ping-pong ball size hail and heavy rain.

Thunderstorms developing over Manitoba will track through the area this evening. Strong wind gusts and large hail are possible within these thunderstorms. There is also the potential for tornadoes to develop.

Lake of the Woods continues to decline after reaching a near historic level earlier this summer.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB) says the average level of Lake of the Woods declined by 6 cm (2 in) over the past week to 324.0 m (1063.0 ft), which is over the 95th percentile level for this time of year.

Upstream, the damns at Rainy Lake will once again be reactivated - meaning less water will flow into Lake of the Woods - and with the damns in Kenora remaining fully open the level of Lake of the Woods will see an increase in its rate of decline. 

According to witness reports, shortly before 3 P.M. traffic began to back up heading eastbound on Yankee Valley Boulevard underneath the QEII bridge. 

A witness told Discover Airdrie that it appeared a vehicle collision had occurred. A grey car that was in the right lane had its airbags deployed. Fire crews along with police were on the scene.

There is no word on injuries or if another vehicle was involved.

An update will be provided when and if it is made available. 

Starting on 9 A.M. on Monday, July 25, the Southbound median lane will be closed on the QEII highway. The lane closure will last until 3 P.M. 

According to the city of Airdrie, the lane closures will occur from Monday through till Wednesday, July 27, in order to accommodate the loading and unloading of material at the median in the work zone. 

The Tuesday and Wednesday lane closure is also expected to start at 9 A.M. till 3 P.M. 

Crews with the City of Kenora are working to repair a number of roadways in the area after this week’s two torrential downpours.

A section of Gould Road is now closed between addresses #293 and #326, as well as Transmitter Road between #488 and #515. The area has three large culverts and fast-moving water is now over the roadway.

Washouts and floods continue to plague drivers in the region.

The Ministry of Transportation is now reporting that Highway 601 is closed in both directions at McGogy Road North near Dryden.

Traffic control is in place and drivers are asked to use caution in the area.

The City of Dryden says the closure, from Scott Street to Theil Road, is to complete emergency repairs to the Swanson Creek Bridge.