Watch: Heavy rains wreak havoc on Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island major road events update as of 2021 November 19 at 4:00 PM: Five days after an 'atmospheric river' blew across British Columbia and left a wake of damaged infrastructure, loss of life and livestock, a number of main roads on Salt Spring Island are still either closed or partial closed to traffic. Here are current photos and video from the main roads of Fulford-Ganges Road and North End Road. Some community members continue to willfully ignore closed road signage and requests from EMCON and Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue not to go around or remove barriers. At the washout area between Blackburn Road and Horel Road on Fulford-Ganges Road numerous vehicles were observed to be driving around closed road signs to make their way past the still very high waters of Blackburn Lake. It appeared the caution tape had been torn down, the barrier moved and the Road Closed sign had been driven over and bent out of shape before it was put back up by a passerby who had to unbend the frame of the sign to get it stand somewhat upright.

North End Road, Single lane alternating traffic. Expect delays.

Fulford Ganges Road, in both directions. Washout between Blackburn Road and Horel Road W. Road open to local traffic only. Next update time Sat Nov 20 at 7:00 AM PST. Last updated Fri Nov 19 at 4:09 PM PST. (DBC-35213)

FULFORD-GANGES ROAD. Washout between KITCHEN RD and DUKES RD. Single lane alternating traffic. Expect delays. Next update time Sat Nov 20 at 7:00 AM PST. Last updated Fri Nov 19 at 4:06 PM PST. (DBC-35298)

Isabella Point Road, in both directions. Washout between Musgrave Road and Roland Road. Road closed. Estimated time of opening not available. Assessment in progress. Road construction work. Emergency vehicle access only. Local traffic only. Next update time Tue Nov 23 at 7:30 AM PST. Last updated Fri Nov 19 at 6:56 AM PST. (DBC-35214)

Salt Spring Island major road events update as of 2021 November 17 at 7:30 AM:

North End Road , in both directions. Washout between Acheson Road and Fairway Drive. Road closed. Estimated time of opening not available. Assessment in progress. Emergency vehicle access only. Next update time Wed Nov 17 at 12:00 PM PST. Last updated Tue Nov 16 at 7:13 PM PST. (DBC-35215)

Fulford Ganges Road , in both directions. Washout between Blackburn Road and Horel Road W. Road closed. Estimated time of opening not available. Assessment in progress. Next update time Wed Nov 17 at 12:00 PM PST. Last updated Tue Nov 16 at 7:11 PM PST. (DBC-35213)

Isabella Point Road, in both directions. Washout between Musgrave Road and Roland Road. Road closed. Estimated time of opening not available. Assessment in progress. Emergency vehicle access only. Next update time Wed Nov 17 at 12:00 PM PST. Last updated Tue Nov 16 at 7:12 PM PST. (DBC-35214)

Salt Spring Island major road events update as of 2021 November 15 at 10:38 AM:

Locals awoke this morning to an unprecedented amount of rain and rain damage all around the island. Numerous reports of road hazards from overflowing ditches, streams and lakes were making conditions hazardous and have caused lasting damage that is still being assessed.  Drivers are cautioned to go very slowly if you do need to travel especially while passing low lying areas where water is passing over the roads.

Blackburn Lake was flooded above and over Fulford-Ganges Road making passing conditions difficult. All up and down Fulford-Ganges Road shoulders and ditch areas have suffered tremendous damage from washouts caused by very high volumes of water that appear to have overwhelmed culvert and ditch capacities.

In town, numerous areas are flooded and in particular the area along Hereford Avenue into the back of the United Church Meadow has extensive flooding. Local business Switchboard Cafe has also been badly impacted by significant flooding, watch video and see the photos below for the extent of the flooding there.

Power outages are being reporting in the North end of the island. Crews are attending.

The forecast is calling for the heavy volumes of rain to begin subsiding later this morning and into the early afternoon.

Heavy rains have also caused a landslide which has closed North End Road in both directions.

See photos and video taken from around the island this morning below:

November 15, 2021 10:38 AM