Canada/Regina unveils anti-flooding system for Albert Street underpass

The City of Regina will invest $185,000 in a new system to prevent motorists from becoming trapped in the Albert Street underpass during floods.

In the event of a high risk of flooding, a sensor will be automatically activated and a series of newly installed Do Not Enter signs will be triggered.

The system will also cause the traffic lights around the underpass to turn red to indicate to drivers that the road is closed.

City staff will also receive an alert that the system has been activated. This will enable them to intervene more effectively in the event of flooding.

These signs are positioned at the traffic lights at the intersection of Saskatchewan Drive and Albert Street, as well as at the intersections of ^9th Avenue and Albert Street, and North Railway Street and Albert Street.

Saskatchewan Insurance Corporation (SIC) will invest $60,000 in this project.

Solving the flooding problem, however, will require waiting for the start of the Saskatchewan Drive renovation, scheduled for 2027, says the City.

According to the City of Regina, flooding of the Albert Street underpass has been a recurring problem since 1912.

In 2021, Regina City Council deployed wooden bollards to prevent vehicles from crossing the Albert Street underpass during floods, but at least one driver managed to bypass the barriers and got stuck.

Last year, the city used heavy machinery to erect a sturdier barrier to prevent a repeat of the incident. Although this measure was effective, the city council stressed that it was not a viable solution to every flood.

Source: aps.sn/