Hwy 63 expected to be reopened by noon today

Hwy 63 between Hwy 533 and Temiskaming, Que. will likely be reopened by noon today.

The highway has been closed due to a number of washouts along the route caused by heavy rain in the area over a 48-hour period; one part of the roadway had been covered by a half-metre of water, said Transportation Ministry spokesman Bob van Veen.

“Water just spilled out over their catchment basins because there was just too much for the size of the pipes to handle,” van Veen said.

MTO crews have completed backfilling the worst washout section, located about eight kilometres north of Hwy 533. Limited traffic was allowed as repairs were being completed, but it was limited to people who had been trapped when the highway was closed late Wednesday night.

Tembec,in Temiskaming, had to shut down operations for the day because of flooding in some parts of its mills, and damage to the on-site roads.

As well Hwy 101, which goes from Temiskaming to to Ville Marie was also closed down temporarily, and Tembec was unable to receive delivery of wood chips as a result.

Homes in the Quebec town were also flooded.