SIOUX LOOKOUT -- There will be a disruption in traffic flow on Wellington Street this summer in Sioux Lookout.
Officials say as a result of flood waters over the Highway 72 by-pass, on May 25, all traffic was directed through Sioux Lookout, which brought all highway traffic down Wellington Street.
The soil saturation and the significant increase in traffic caused significant vibration and loading on the roadway and subsurface infrastructure, which caused the sewer main running under the road to fail.
A temporary repair has been made, according to city officials, but once the lake levels have receded a more extensive and permanent repair will be needed.
Work on Wellington Street is expected to begin on June 27, however, there could be a delay of a few weeks if the by-pass is not fully operational.
The start date will be entirely dependent on the lake levels.
This project is expected to be complete by late September to early October.
According to a release, to address safety concerns with high pedestrian volumes, the Ministry of Transportation will be starting work on a set of lights and a pedestrian crosswalk on the south side of Sturgeon River Road and Highway 72. This project is expected to begin late next week and be complete by early September.
Expect traffic delays, with traffic reduced to one lane during peak time and up to 15 minutes of complete closure in both directions during off-peak hours.