Significant rainfall in the Bow Valley is playing havoc with roadways, the railway line and causing unprecedented flooding of Cougar Creek.
Residents who live along the creek have been evacuated by Canmore Fire-Rescue crews throughout the night and the structures along the creek bed are at a significant risk of washing away in the downpour.
Road closures include the Trans-Canada Highway in both directions, Benchlands Trail, Elk Run Boulevard and Bow Valley Trail and access to Eagle Terrace is also closed. CP Rail has also shut down the rail line as the tracks are at risk as well.
Town of Canmore spokesperson Sally Caudill said the mandatory evacuation order has been extended this morning.
“We have already evacuated everyone who lives right along the creek from Elk Run down to the highway, so anyone who backs onto the creek has already been evacuated and we are now extending that by about a 45 degree angle,” Caudill said.
On the east side of the creek 167 through to 172 Moraine Road and 163 Moraine Road to the park are under the evacuation order. Riverstone Road residents from 70 to 87 are also evacuated.
“On that side of the creek those people are landlocked — we have had to close Elk Run Boulevard where the creek flows under and so anybody who lives on the east side is landlocked,” Caudill said. “They need to go to Mountain Munchkins Daycare or the Public Works building.”
On the west side of the creek the evacuation order has been put in place on Silvertip Close and Grizzly Crescent — those residents are being sent to Elevation Place.
There is also concern around the stability of the pedestrian bridge on Cougar Creek and the roadway over the creek upstream.
“Elk Run Boulevard — that bridge is closed there is a lot of concern about the structural integrity of that bridge the pedestrian bridge below there is still hanging on and the Trans-Canada is covered and we don’t know about the extent of damage there, the same with CP Rail,” Caudill said.
