Heavy Rainfall Washes out Highway 17 at Jones Landing

 

Environment Canada was warning of heavy rainfall this morning from Lake Superior Park all the way to St. Joseph Island. They were right! It isn’t known at this time just how much rain fell, but there was a lot. There was water across the highway streaming down from the rock cuts at the Agawa Hill, and from there south – water could be seen everywhere.

 

 

There was so much rain that there are many spots that guardposts are weakened, and shoulders cracked with some as deep as a foot. At Whiskey Bay Road, the water accumulated and was running over the highway. The flow of water washed away the highway, closing it for several hours. Pioneer Construction, MTO and Broadspectrum worked to open the highway quickly. Wawa-news was advised that compounding the problem there was a beaver dam that broke. An employee explained,  “It shoved chunks of wood under our new asphalt.”

 

 

At Downey Creek (photo at right), residents could be seen watching the creek overflowing its banks, and possibly creating damage to the properties beside it.

 

 

Wawa-news went down to the Voyageur Restaurant, and bicycled nearly 18 kilometres to the washout, before being picked up for the last two kilometres. It was incredible to hear the rushing water in the bush, and then pouring out of the culverts. If you looked at Lake Superior you could see where there was water entering – it was laden with sediment and a deep brown. Chippewa Falls was roaring – but the water stinks from all the mud it is carrying.

 

It will certainly take time to repair all the damage that has been done. If you are travelling, watch for the cones marking washed out spots. If you must pull over, be sure that you are safe to do so.