UPDATE: Hwy 7 has reopened. Motorists are advised to drive carefully and expect delays. Watch for crews working.
Flooding closed Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge between 105th Avenue and 263rd Street for 4.8 km. in both directions early Sunday morning.
Drive BC said an assessment of the highway through Albion was in progress. Drivers were advised to watch for crews.
In the meantime, city crews closed 224th Street from 132nd Avenue north to 144th Avenue, as well as 132nd Avenue from Park Lane east to 232nd Street, due to water accumulations on the road surface. Flaggers were on location to divert traffic.
Sand and sandbags are available at the 232nd Street parking lot at Maple Ridge Park, adjacent to the South Alouette bridge. Sand and sandbags have also been deployed to the parking lot at the Hammond outdoor pool at 20601 Westfield Ave.
The Emergency Operation Centre can be reached at 604-463-9581 to report any problems.
Citizens are encouraged to sign up for notifications through the city’s alert centre at mapleridge.ca/list.aspx.
Residents may subscribe to emergency alerts or any other notification they choose, with the option to receive email or text notifications.
READ ALSO: Evacuation ordered in Abbotsford area, flood watches issued as rain pummels southern B.C.
The second in a series of atmospheric rivers moved in Saturday bringing steady rainfall that Environment Canada doesn’t expect to let up until Sunday afternoon. However, a third atmospheric river, possibly one of even greater intensity, is forecast to arrive on Tuesday.
An evacuation order has been issued for the Huntingdon Village area of Abbotsford.
Residents have been told they must leave the area immediately as emergency crews work to support the evacuation effort.
READ ALSO: More rain would have brought disaster to Maple Ridge, warns ARMS president
Have a story tip? Email: editor@mapleridgenews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.