Dozens of Manitoba highways remain closed weeks after storms

Thirty five highways remain closed weeks after torrential rain caused destructive flooding in several Manitoba communities.

Crews continue to assess flood damage and repair roads and highways as conditions allow, after historic precipitation washed away many routes.

Some areas in the Parkland region of the province received more than 200 millimetres of rain between June 6 and July 1.

The majority of road closures are in the Roblin area. A storm at the end of June undid a lot of repair work in the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman after an early June deluge, officials said.

The municipality’s chief administrative officer said 70 areas within the region’s road network require repairs, which will come at a steep cost, but are necessary to keep residents connected to the rest of the province.

“We’re patiently waiting for Highway 10 to open up, but that’s still ways away,” said Lynda Parsons. “We’re probably looking towards the end of August, beginning of September for that.”

Highway 10 is a main vein for residents and agricultural producers, who will soon be preparing for harvest. The highway is closed in four separate areas, which includes multiple roads that connect to it, the province said.

Crews are working on repairs near Swan River, which will give Minitonas-Bowsman residents direct access to the town, Parsons said.

Those repairs could be completed as early as next week.

Canadian Red Cross workers are in Swan River looking for feedback from residents about how to help, including what financial recovery programs would best fit their needs. The Red Cross and province are working together to create the programs, and the Manitoba government has committed to matching dollars raised by the non-profit for flood victims.

“There’s all sorts of information folks are looking for,” Red Cross vice president Luc Mullinder said. “We can’t create those programs without knowing exactly what the folks in the community are going through, so this is a good opportunity to do that.”

About 1,800 Manitobans who applied for provincial disaster financial assistance will soon receive a $500 advance. A provincial spokesperson said cheques were put in the mail on Monday and Wednesday. The remainder of advances will be issued once the province receives necessary information from claimants.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the June storms in Manitoba and Saskatchewan caused more than $728 million in insured damage.

In total, 55 communities remain under flood-related states of local emergency.

Water levels near Brandon were beginning to recede after peaking on Monday, but after more rain Wednesday night, the mayor says the city is anxiously waiting to see how much water flows downstream.

“That’s probably our biggest concern right now, so if the weather just held and we didn’t get any rain over the next little while, the river is receding,” Mayor Jeff Fawcett said.

The city reported Wednesday the Assiniboine River dropped by five inches to 1178.69 feet.

Communities are beginning to take stock of damaged infrastructure as they dry out.

Dauphin’s Vermillion Park, including its campground, was forced to close for the season due to damage caused by overland flooding. Mayor David Bosiak estimated there was about $250,000 worth of damage to the park’s splash pad and washrooms.

“It gets a little bit tiring when you’re spending money year after year, to bring something back to a level it was previous, instead of building better,” Bosiak said. “Those will all be decisions to be made in the future, but they will be made rationally, not emotionally. Many of us in the community are still somewhat emotional. It’s just still too close, and I don’t want to make any decisions that will have long-term implications based on emotion.”

Bosiak is also waiting to hear from officials on the status of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, which was forced to evacuate patients and close during the flash floods on July 1.

Last week, Premier Wab Kinew said the facility may not be able to reopen for a year after floodwater got into the basement and damaged the building, including its HVAC system. Kinew vowed to try and speed up that timetable.

Prairie Mountain Health is still determining the full extent of the damage to the hospital, CEO Treena Slate said in a statement Thursday. She said it was too early to know the estimated damage dollar amount or specific date of hospital reopening.

— with files from The Canadian Press

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca