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Flooding impacts Highway 16 traffic east of Jasper

Significant rainfall this week has resulted in flooding on Highway 16 just east of Jasper, Alta. COURTESY: Dieter Kepper

Significant rainfall this week has resulted in flooding on Highway 16 just east of Jasper, Alta.

On Thursday, Parks Canada said the area had recently received over 50 millimetres of precipitation and that water pooled on the highway about 10 kilometres east of the townsite.

READ MORE: Rainfall warnings, flood watches in effect in parts of central, northern Alberta

As a result, the highway was only seeing single-lane, alternating traffic on Thursday afternoon.

“We have experts on the scene monitoring and looking at what will be required,” a Parks Canada spokesperson said in an email to Global News.

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Traffic was originally expected to be affected by the flooding until at least 6 p.m. Parks Canada later said the disruption was expected to last until at least midnight.

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On Friday afternoon, an official with Jasper National Park said the affected section of Highway 16 was still seeing single-lane, alternating traffic after emergency repair work over the previous 30 hours.

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Repair work will continue over the next few days and drivers in the area should expect delays until the work is completed, spokesperson Steve Young said.

“Rivers, lakes and streams throughout Jasper National Park have continued to swell over the last two weeks resulting in flooding that significantly damaged the roadway on the morning of July 2,” Young said in a statement.

“Parks Canada apologizes for any inconvenience as a result of this ongoing situation.”

Drivers are encouraged to check 511 Alberta for the most up-to-date road conditions.

Significant rainfall this week has resulted in flooding on Highway 16 just east of Jasper, Alta. COURTESY: Dieter Kepper

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