HAMILTON, ON – July 27, 2005 – Yesterday’s heavy rainfall and thunderstorms kept several City crews busy overnight, but Hamilton’s Public Works Department reports most weather related issues have been resolved. The exceptions are the closure of all outdoor sports fields for tonight and a broken storm sewer main on the James Mountain Road which will close the West 5th Access temporarily.
“We had crews out throughout the night dealing with flooding, traffic signal problems and replacing manhole covers that had been pushed off storm sewer mains by the intense rain,” says Acting General Manager of Public Works, Bryan Shynal.
In the wake of the severe weather, Forestry staff responded to more than 40 calls for broken tree limbs. Roads maintenance staff responded to several calls late yesterday afternoon related to roadway flooding including flooded underpasses on Kenilworth Avenue, Birch Avenue and Hwy 20. Traffic Operations staff responded to 97 traffic signal malfunctions – a record number in one storm event breaking the old record set a few weeks ago. City Water and Wastewater crews responded to flooding on the West Mountain caused by blocked storm sewer grates.
Crews continue to work on a broken storm sewer main on the James Mountain Road/West 5th Mountain Access. Repair work is estimated to close down the West 5th Access for approximately two weeks. Downbound traffic is being rerouted at Fennell Avenue to Upper James. Upbound traffic is being rerouted at St. Joseph’s Drive to the Jolley Cut. Motorists are reminded that the Sherman Access remains closed to traffic.
Hamilton Emergency Services reports 40 storm related calls including medical calls, flooding and alarm system alerts.
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Media Contact:
Bryan Shynal
Acting General Manager
Public Works Department
City of Hamilton
T: 905 546-2424, ext. 4622