Flood wall testing stirs up memories of historic flood in Galt, annual testing Wednesday

A historical picture of the Cambridge flood of 1974, a group of men help a woman carrying a bike through knee-high water.
Historical photo of the 1974 Cambridge flood.

By Christine Clark

Posted Feb 7, 2024 04:40:57 AM.

Last Updated Feb 7, 2024 11:58:59 AM.

2024 marks 50 years since the historic flood in the Galt area of Cambridge, and on Wednesday, annual flood preparations around the Main Street Bridge are set to take place.

That will mean some closures for those of you driving in the area.

Starting around 9:30 a.m. Main Street will be closed between Water Street and Queen Square, as crews inspect the flood wall, take stock of all the parts, and make sure the city is ready for any future floods.

The flood wall system has been in place since 1974, the year water levels rose more than five metres after the spring melt combined with weeks of rainy weather.

Called the worst flood in local history, the Region of Waterloo estimates it caused around $34 million in damage on that fateful May day.

The work on the flood walls Wednesday, is set to wrap up by 2 p.m.

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