Bridge closes in Saint-Jérôme, Que., as municipalities prepare for flood risk
As Quebec municipalities go on high alert over flooding concerns, the City of Saint-Jérôme has closed a bridge over the rushing Rivière du Nord as a safety precaution.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the city said it is closing the Viau Bridge, located on St-Joseph Street, due to the river’s high flow rate.
“Since the water has reached the bridge deck, this intervention is necessary to ensure the safety of all users,” the statement says.
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The closure took effect as of 9 p.m. Wednesday and will remain in place until further notice.
A detour plan will be implemented and clearly marked in the area. Residents of Sarto and Perreault streets will be able to travel via St-Faustin Street, the city said.
Saint-Jérôme is about 60 kilometres north of downtown Montreal.
Earlier in the day, the city warned that the Rivière du Nord was rising and would continue to rise through the week.
Saint-Jérôme is encouraging riverside residents to remain vigilant and monitor the situation on the city’s website and Facebook page.
(The Weather Network)
The cities of Montreal and Laval, both surrounded by rivers, are also preparing for the worst as water levels rise in the regions.
In a statement, Montreal spokesperson Joanna Kanga said that, so far, no flooding has been reported and the city is continuously monitoring water levels to anticipate any changes.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the City of Laval also says there have not been any emergency interventions so far, but the situation is under constant surveillance.
In nearby Terrebonne, Mayor Mathieu Traversy said that the city was prepared for the risk of flooding.
"For now, we have deployed more inspectors to monitor the rising water levels more closely," he said.
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The story was originally written by and published for CBC News. It contains files from Radio-Canada. Header image courtesy of Simon Martel/Radio-Canada.