The Red River Floodway gates south of Winnipeg are shown on Friday, October 11, 2019. (CHRISD.CA FILE)
WINNIPEG — The gates of the Red River Floodway have been lowered after river levels have decreased in recent days.
The province raised the gates October 9 amid an abundance of unseasonal precipitation fell in Southern Manitoba. It was the first time in history the Floodway was activated so late in the season.
While the Red River continues to drop, the province advises water levels could rise again because of ice buildup. At 10:08 a.m. Friday, the Red River at James Avenue downtown measured 743.11 feet, 15.54 feet above its normal levels.
Without ice buildup, the river could drop to around 14 feet at the time of freeze-up, which is the highest on record for this time of year. On the other end of the scale, ice buildup could see the Red River increase from 16 feet to as high as about 18.5 feet.
As the Floodway gates have been lowered, traffic can resume along Courchaine Road between Turnbull Drive and St. Mary’s Road (Highway 200).
