Access to emergency services a concern for residents as heavy rain damages, closes road

People living in northwest Edmonton say they brought up issues with 137 Avenue to the city years before recent rainfall caused erosion in the area. CTV News Edm

Residents in a northwest Edmonton neighbourhood are frustrated at the city after a portion of road in the community was closed off due to erosion from significant rainfall.

The road closure is on 137 Avenue from Starling Drive to 199 Street as crews work to repair it.

People living in the area say they brought this problem to the city and Epcor in 2023 and that they were told changes would be made to the culvert, but nothing has been done.

“Their slogan is providing more. Well, they didn’t provide more,” said Raf Tenderenda, president of the Big Lake Community League. “They provided negative equity for us, and this is a tangible negative effect on the whole community.”

Residents in the area are concerned that emergency service vehicles will have trouble accessing the neighbourhood.

“It’s taking longer for fire, police and ambulance to get to residents because of this road closure,” said Tenderenda.

Epcor said the recent heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to the embankment and around the pedestrian bridge supports and that closing the road was the safest option.

The utility provider also said it paused a culvert improvement project in 2024 because of future road projects planned for the area.

The stretch of road closed late last week.

Access to the neighbourhood east of Horseshoe Creek will be From Ray Gibbons Drive or 137 Avenue only.

The neighbourhood west of Horseshoe Creek can be accessed by 199 Street and 118A Avenue.