College Drive this morning. Photo by Chris Dawson.
A burst beaver dam is apparently the cause of a washout that has closed College Drive to traffic.
College Drive is closed between Gormanville Road and Cedar Heights Drive.
According to Director of Public Works Domenic Schiavone, access to the Nipissing University/Canadore College Campus will be via Cedar Heights Drive only.
Access to North Bay Regional Hospital will be by the alternate entrance off of Highway 17 only.
This road closure will be in effect until further notice and duration of closure is unknown at this time.
At approximately 4 a.m. North Bay Police responded to a call regarding dangerous road conditions on College Drive. The southbound lane of College Drive was completely washed out due to heavy rain.
Areas of the Thibeault Terrace neighbourhood of the city also experienced heavy flooding.
Public Works have set up barricades to close College Drive in both directions and paramedics have been informed.
Mayor Al McDonald, on his Facebook account said, "College Drive had been washed out with last night’s storm; a pond let go. Recent update is services seem to be intact; however hydro poles are being held by only guy wires and actual hydro lines. There are also some sink holes and water is still draining and ground remains unstable. Some wash outs on Cedar Heights which are being repaired ; access remains open. The priority will be to secure hydro and develop a work plan.
"Access to the Hospital is limited to Hwy 17. We are working with the Hospital to clear debris from their access road off College and will open when it is safe to do so. Securing the eroded Hydro poles will be the priority and North Bay Hydro is on site.
"Significant debris was washed down the hill and was deposited on a gas main; Union Gas is on site and will be addressing this issue.
"A culvert at the bottom of College is showing signs of failure and will need to be addressed once the water flow subsides.
At the top of the College, there are wash outs between the two entrances to the campus; city crews will be working on these; however access at the Governor House is open. Also washouts along Cedar Heights are being addressed immediately.
"At this time we are uncertain as to the duration of the road closure," added McDonald
Meanwhile, the college campus trails are closed to the public until further notice due to potential damage caused by the record waterfall.
The localized trails are being assessed and will reopen as soon as possible.
VIDEO OF DAMAGE ON COLLEGE DRIVE AND EAST ENTRANCE TO THE HOSPITAL:
