NOTE: THIS ARTICLE IS FROM 2009, AND NOT ABOUT THE 2014 FLOODS (ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION IS VERY SIMILAR).
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE CURRENT 2014 FLOODING SITUATION, SEE THE CITY OF COURTENAY FOR UPDATES
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If you are thinking about crossing either the 5th street or 17th street bridge today, think again. Flooding has forced the closure of both bridges. Many other bridges such as the condensory are also shut down.
Massive flooding has forced emergency officials to close the bridges and several streets as flood waters rise. BC Hydro is also expected to be forced to release large amounts of water from the dam which will not help the situation.
As of 9:30 this morning the Dyke Road (into Comox) was still open, but it is expected that it will not remain so for much longer.
Word is schools are also closing early, so it is advised to just stay home and avoid the heavy congestion as people try to figure out how to cross the river!
So today here in Courtenay, the rivers are at record heights and basically the whole city of Courtenay is flooded closest to the River leaving via the Puntledge River past 17th street bridge the traffic is at a stand still with nowhere really to go. Without being able to cross these three important bridges the Comox Valley comes to a halt. Personally I’ve lived here for many years and I’ve never seen the river cresting up Ryan Rd towards Superstore, a few thousand yards away from the river, which is lazy and meanders along when not having tantrums, like today. For the last few hours the traffic outside our third floor apartment is stopped, because there’s no place to go. In order to cross the river, you’d have to drive a good twelve miles up the Island Highway and cross over at Miracle Beach.
Currently the 17th St Bridge is OPEN, but you have to turn right and head into Comox, the conenctor towards superstore is closed.
This happened in 2009 as well (the original date of the post above).
Flooding towards Ryan Rd is not several thousand yards (that would equal a few KM’s, which would put flooding literally on Ryan Rd Hill).
In 2009 Ryan Rd, around 711 was underwater. This also occured in around 1998 (Can’t recall the exact year, but I do recall seeing a car floating down Puntledge Rd at the time!)