1 week Ago By Kyler Emerson
The rain has stopped for now, but many Aldergrove residents are still soaked after the atmospheric river drenched the Fraser Valley on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19 and 20. Nearly a dozen residents along 56 Avenue just south of Highway 1 are still dealing with flooded homes and properties.
Ken Uppal, one of the residents, told The Star that some properties were under five-feet of water by Sunday morning, Oct. 20. He suspects it's, at least partially, due to a blocked culvert in Coghlan Creek from the construction company working on the Highway 1 expansion project, which prevented the excess water from draining.
"They blocked/stopped outlets of all creeks along 56 Avenue [and] 264 Street exit...
this led to severe flooding on 10 farm properties," he said. Earlier this year, a $140 million contract was awarded to BD Hall Constructors Corp. to widen Highway 1 between 216 and 264 Streets for HOV lanes, build a new Glover Road crossing, reconfigure the 232 Street interchange, and replace the railway crossing east of Glover Road.
The Glover Road crossing was completed in May, and construction began on other projects in June, according to the BC government . In an email to The Star, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said its aware of the concerns about flooding "raised by residents of 264 Street interchange." "Staff from the ministry have been in touch with local residents, and its project contractor began looking into the matter this past weekend.
While it’s unclear if construction affected drainage in the area during this past weekend’s heavy rainfall, staff will continue to work with residents to address their concerns." The Star has also reached out to BD Hall for more information. Another resident in the area off 264 Street, who asked their name not be used, said they are landlocked due to the high water surrounding their home.
"House and outbuildings are on higher land, but up to the driveway there's a half-kilometre of water...
at its highest point maybe three feet, since Saturday morning," they told The Star. Their kids and father, who lives with them, were thankfully not home when the atmospheric rain hit, and are staying with friends elsewhere until they can return home. He said the ministry brought in some pumps, but it hasn't drained the water but rather prevented it from rising any further.
Raj Singh, who also lives off 56 Avenue, has flooding in his basement and farm. "I lost my newly planted garlic and honeybees [too]," he told The Star. Langley Township listed 56 Avenue as open for traffic on its website as of Monday morning, Oct.
21. A list of support services is available at its website ..
