UPDATE: On TUESDAY MORNING, municipal official opened up Nashim Drive to ONE LANE in both directions to allow for local traffic — removing the need for the 40 minute detour.
Most of the Lac La Biche County residents evacuated from their homes on Sunday night due to flooding fears were back home Monday, as the municipal evacuation was partially lifted on Monday night.
The evacuation order was issued due to fears that railway tracks holding back large fields of standing water could be compromised by steady rains and saturated ground. About 60 homes and some rural businesses that were though to be in the path of a potential wave of flood water were evacuated on Sunday. Officials feared the wave of water rushing towards the properties could be up to four feet high as it flowed towards the lowland shores of Lac La Biche lake.
In the hours after the evacuation order was issued, however, the near constant rainfall that has caused flood warnings, road closures and water restrictions in the municipality, eased up. Skies on Monday cleared and some sunshine replaced rain showers that have blanketed the region with approximately nine inches of precipitation since the last week of May.
Provincial and municipal crews working to fortify the culverts in the railway infrastructure and at areas near the hamlet of Lac la Biche that experienced overland flooding made headway on Monday.
All areas of the evacuation area from Sunday, except properties near the wastewater treatment plant on the west side of the truck route, just south of the Highway 55 intersection/
"Residents of all other areas in the evacuated zone are allowed to return to their homes. Evacuees are being contacted directly," said a municipal update issued Monday night.
Big detour for some
While the evacuation order has been eased, there are still highway travel restrictions in place. That means some evacuated residents who can return home, are going to need more time to get there.
A damaged bridge on Nashim Road over the flood-bloated Red Little Red Deer Brook and Highway 55 travel restrictions means the commute to downtown Lac La Biche for residents living west of the bridge towards the Lac La Biche airport will go from about two minutes to 40.
"Residents of areas west of the bridge will need to detour down Highway 36, Christy Creek Road (Township Road 653/Range Road 150) and Highway 663, as detailed in the attached map," notes the updated notice from municipal officials. "Keep in mind that this is approximately a 40-minute detour. Highway 55 immediately west of the hamlet of Lac La Biche is closed to the public and cannot be used."
Although the majority of the evacuation order has been lifted, residents who aren't comfortable heading home right away will be given time, say county representatives.
"Evacuees are not obligated to return to their homes if they do not wish to travel right away. If you arrive at your property and find it is not habitable for any reason, call 780-623-6396 to reach our Emergency Social Services staff and receive assistance," says the notice.
As of Monday night, Lac La Biche County and Alberta Transportation staff were saying portions of Highway 36 are open for travel, but most highways are only open for "essential traffic."
"Highway 36 is now closed between Highway 55 East (the turnoff to Cold Lake) and Highway 28, due to flooding," notes Monday night's highway update. "Highway 36 is open from the hamlet of Lac La Biche to the intersection with Highway 55 East. This means residents can use Christy Creek Road (Township Road 653/Range Road 150) to move between Highways 36 and 663."
It is not known at this time when the continuing highway travel restriction in Lac La Biche County will be removed.
