Flash flooding shuts down part of Woolwich Street in Guelph

There was dry, hot weather in Waterloo Region on Thursday but it was a different story in Guelph, where sudden heavy rain caused some traffic disruptions.

“I was a bit surprised when our dispatch called me to say the road was closed due to the rain and flooding,” said Constable Mason Melitzer with the Guelph Police Service.

Melitzer said the weather was pretty calm for most of the morning, but all of a sudden, significant rain started coming down.

The rainfall only lasted about an hour and while most of the impacts were minor, part of Woolwich Street had to be closed temporarily.

“The reason it flooded is because it’s currently been ripped up for repaving,” Melitzer explained. “It doesn’t happen often, I think just due to the road being so uneven and unlevel, that’s what resulted in that flood happening.”

Melitzer said Guelph Police already had two officers stationed at the scene to assist with directing traffic around the roadwork.

Once the street flooded, they pivoted and helped facilitate the road closure to the public.

“We’re still allowing transit and emergency vehicles through until the water is cleared out,” said Melitzer.

Police are urging the public to always drive according to weather and road conditions.

Woolwich Street was closed between Speedvale Avenue and Division Street for several hours because of the flooding. It reopened shortly before 4 p.m.