City workers fight against time and weather after significant mudslide
By Kyra Hoggan
City workers are battling the clock, working 24/7, to deal with a mudslide which could create serious problems should the weather decline to cooperate, according to director of Transportation and Public Works Chris Barlow.
The slide has already created flooding issues in the Oglow subdivision of the city, on Bloomer Creek, and the runoff has turned the Zuckerberg lagoon into a murky brown mess … but there is a larger issue concerning city Civic Works. (for the original story, see https://castlegarsource.com/news/flooding-city-causes-safety-concerns-44612#.WS3W79y1u1s )
“The slide itself has stabilized,” said Barlow, interviewed today in situ. “The problem we are dealing with now is that all of the sand, silt and debris has washed into our storm sewer system.
“We need to get this cleared out before the next rainfall. The concern is another slide happening, or the rain hitting this slide and destabilizing it. We can’t let our systems be overwhelmed.”
When asked how long this will take, he estimated a week. When reminded the forecast is calling for rain tomorrow, he said, “I know, that’s why we’re working around the clock to address this.”
Stay tuned to the Source for information as the story evolves.
