No quick fixes for Hammonds Plains flooding problems

HALIFAX – The flooding that plagued the Hammonds Plains Road and surrounding areas in Halifax this week following some wet weather is nothing new, but officials say they can’t pinpoint the exact cause.

City spokesperson Jennifer Stairs said the flooding issue can be attributed to multiple factors, including the height of the road and ditch drainage.

The city is responsible for the road and Halifax Water is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure. Roadwork was done a few years ago to help address the issue, but the city says the recent flooding proves the work done was insufficient.

READ MORE: Bedford park shut down due to flooding

Stairs said that for now the problem isn’t going to go away, because fixing it isn’t one of the city’s priorities in its budget.

“At the moment there are no immediate plans to address the problem,” she said. “We will certainly be talking about Hammonds Plains in the years to come, so we would like to look at that as soon as were able, but it’s a matter of resources.”

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Coun. Matt Whitman, who represents a nearby district, said about 50,000 people travel through the intersection of Hammonds Plains Road and Bluewater Drive each day.

“I’m a little bit frustrated that it’s come to this with the situation we had his week, and disappointed that it’s not a number one priority for Halifax or Halifax Water,” he said.

Officials say it will likely be years before the problems are addressed in the area. Whitman said temporary fixes, such as raising the road and clearing the ditches, should be implemented in the meantime.

Businesses in the area say flooded roads can limit access to their shops.

“As long as we continue to get rain it’s going to be frustrating for businesses,” said Alan Archibald.

Sinkholes, some as deep as six feet, have also begun to appear on properties in the area.