Highway 4 still closed weeks after flooding

Anyone out for a drive — in a Cadillac or otherwise — will have to hit the brakes if they head down Highway 4.

The Village of Cadillac in the southwest is waiting patiently to see one of its main highways to the south repaired.

Highway 4 near the village remains closed after flooding in April washed out part of the road. A detour is still in place for motorists to get around it.

According to the Highway Hotline, the washed-out road affects both directions for about a kilometre beyond Highway 13. All lanes are closed and motorists are asked to be prepared to stop and reduce speed while travelling. No passing is allowed, and signs are in place to guide motorists.

No water is reportedly left behind from the flooding, and the closure is primarily affecting those who live south of town and use the road to travel into and out of Cadillac.

Leo Lacelle runs a service station near the closure. He said he’s seen his business somewhat affected.

“It slowed it down a little bit,” Lacelle said, though he noted that this time of year tends to be slower regardless.

Repairs could be on the way soon, however. Steve Shaheen with the Ministry of Highways said there’s lots of work going on in the area, including short- and long-term repair efforts.

By the end of this week, Shaheen said he expects a temporary bridge to be in place, allowing traffic to flow along the route again in a single lane controlled with traffic lights.

There’s no timeline yet for the long-term fix.

“Engineers want to ensure whatever is designed is sustainable,” Shaheen said.

The damage to the road was a complete washout on one side with significant water damage on the other, he explained.

A detour is planned, and Shaheen asked that drivers reduce their speed in the area and obey signage.

Cadillac Mayor Bryce Evesque said the closure has had a minor impact on the two businesses near it, including Lacelle’s service station.

Evesque said it appears construction will be finished “right away” on the temporary bridge to make the road usable again, and noted that it hasn’t necessarily impacted residents on the north end of town.

“Get at ‘er and get it fixed is my opinion,” Evesque said.