Rising water forced police to close the Edward Street bridge Monday night.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers closed the bridge near Edward Street and Parkway Drive around 10 p.m., eventually re-opening it Tuesday morning.
Police along with Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue closed the bridge over concerns of rising water and debris accumulating underneath.
Police set up roadblocks on either side of the bridge in order to keep both vehicles and pedestrians off the bridge.
The bridge will be evaluated Tuesday in order to reassess the situation.
It’s just one of the precautions police and other city services are taking after massive flooding across the city.
Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs was out of town for a Memorial Day ceremony when he heard the news.
He has since visited the East End and said they are now waiting for pumps to be delivered from Toronto to aid the struggling Atlantic Avenue sewage treatment plant.
Hobbs didn’t know when they would have the plant fully operational again but said they will keep the public updated.
“(The pumps) are on tractor trailers and hopefully they are on the way,” Hobbs said. “(The plant) is still pumping but we’re advising people not to flush their toilets if they can at all possible do it. We dispatched 22 (portable) potties in the East End because we don’t want people flushing their toilets.”
Hobbs praised the work of all the city officials while he was away and added they have done a good job.
With more rain in the forecast, Hobbs said they have to keep a close eye on everything.
“We could have flash flooding so we have to be very careful,” he said. “Right now the ground can’t take anymore. If people can go along with what we’re saying and not flush toilets and not take showers or at least to the very, very bare minimum I think we`ll be alright.”
