Flood warning signs needed on Whitemud Drive, councillor says

After 10 people were rescued by boatsfrom Whitemud Drive following heavy summer downpours last month, an Edmonton city councillor wants to see signsto caution people about when the road is about to go under.

"What can we do to develop a warning system so that when those flood events, those rainfalls, start to occur, we can push a button and a sign lights up that says 'Don't use the underpasses?'" Coun. Michael Walters asked. "We don't want a situation where we're rescuing people with lifeboats."

• Massive storm floods Edmonton streets
• Stranded driver rescued on Whitemud after storm

Walters represents Ward 10, whereWhitemud Drive has seenmajor flooding in recent years.

He has requested a report from city staff on the drainage capacity of the city's low-lying roads. In addition to Whitemud Drive, he's looking at the Yellowhead Freeway, Wayne Gretzky Drive, 170th Street and other underpasses that might be at risk of flooding. He's also asking about signs.

Walters said he hasn't heard of major problems beyond the Whitemud. He said when he initially broached the idea to staff, they suggested taking into consideration other potential flood risks as well.

Walters said the amount of rain the city has seen suggests that's a good idea.

He also asked staff to look into ways to improve drainage on those roads, but that information won't be coming back until early 2017.

He noted it would likely be costly to alter the tanks under the roads or the pipes that lead to them.

"Both of those are undesirable pathways, but if there are things we could do, I think we should take a look," Walters said.

Signs, he said, could direct people to avoid low portions of theroads when it rains.

Walters said he hopes to have a warning system in place by next summer's "rain season," and staff have indicated it's possible.

"I think that would be the responsible thing, to hurry up and try to get it done," he said.

"My metric on this is zero people get stranded on the Whitemud in the future, if we can help it."

roberta.bell@cbc.ca

@roberta__bell