London

Highway 402 reopens after flood-related closure

A stretch of Highway 402 near Watford, Ont., is once again open after being closed due to flooding in the wake of record-breaking rainfall, Tuesday.

Highway reopened at 3 p.m. Tuesday after closing in the morning

Provincial police shared this photo of flooding on Highway 402 on Tuesday.
Provincial police shared this photo of flooding on Highway 402 on Tuesday. (OPP)

A stretch of Highway 402 near Watford, Ont., is once again open after being closed due to flooding in the wake of record-breaking rainfall, Tuesday.

Water cascaded over the highway prompting provincial police to close the eastbound lanes at Nauvoo Road and westbound lanes at Kerwood Road about 20 km west of Strathroy. 

"Flooding can obscure the road surface, making it difficult to see potholes and debris,"  said OPP Const. Jeanine Robertson in an emailed statement regarding the closure. "The highway is closed as two feet of rushing water was covering the roadway."

Police asked motorists to find alternate routes and avoid driving on the closed sections of road during the closure. 

The highway has been reopened since just before 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, according to police.