Repairs are underway to reconnect either side of the Trans Canada Highway after a washout severed the province’s main highway artery this week.
Pictures from the scene—about seven km west of Springdale near the Blue Canoe—showed a gaping hole after a substantial portion of the highway washed away in heavy rain and runoff.
Crews have since been able to reopen the stretch to one lane of traffic.
New culverts arrived on the scene yesterday and government officials are hoping to have the road repairs completed by the end of the week.
I've never seen the Waterford river this angry before.#nlwx pic.twitter.com/jG73hX5jPl
— Walter Harding (@WalterH52219486) April 13, 2021
Earlier Story
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is anticipating that repairs to the section of TCH washed out near Springdale will be completed later this week.
Equipment, including a new culvert, is being brought in today.
Damage to the section of highway is extensive, cutting off the west coast from the rest of the island.
The department assessing options to keep traffic moving through the area while repairs are taking place.
(Photos courtesy Moody Roberts)
Earlier Story
Highway crews are on the scene of the washout on the TCH west of Springdale assessing the damage. It’s expected to be some time before the road is repaired or even a temporary solution found
NL 511 is estimating a delay of 12 hours. Updates will be provided as they become available.
Current view of the TCH seven kilometres west of Springdale.
The highway is impassable at this time. #nltraffic https://t.co/Z8I5MRLBBE pic.twitter.com/nKqa5q98Ex
— Transportation and Infrastructure NL (@TW_GovNL) April 13, 2021
The break is about seven kilometres west of Springdale Junction near the Blue Canoe.
That means the west coast is cut off from the rest of the island. There is no alternative route across so that means a disruption in the supply chain.
Meanwhile, Route 391 between Harry’s Harbour and King’s Point has reopened but one section near Devil’s Drop is reduced to one lane.
Outside King’s Point yesterday, drivers were being directed one-by-one over the highway through water that had burst the banks of a local brook and was running across the road.
