Traffic reduced after crews find source of water main leak near Thunder Bay, Ont., polling station

Crews with the City of Thunder Bay have identified the location of a water main leak after days of work on Fort William Road.

The work is happening near an Elections Ontario polling station for the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding. Crews are also up against the clock as a snowstorm is set to touch down in the city late Thursday evening.

"We've been working at it since Monday to determine the source of the leak, and so we can start excavating and repair. We've dug a few holes … to try and narrow down the area where the leak is. It's been a process to get to the point we're at now," said David Warwick, superintendent for water distribution and wastewater collection with the city.

The location of the leak was discovered Wednesday evening, but now crews are looking to identify the cause.

Warwick said Fort William Road near First Avenue will remain reduced to one lane in each direction, however, access to the polling station at Root Community Food Centre is available.

"So [people] have to be traveling south on Fort William Road in order to access the polling station, and when they exit they will have to exit heading south," he explained.

"Be aware that it is a construction site and, you know, there's lots of large equipment and trucks there … as well with the adverse weather conditions coming residents should have more caution when passing the job site."

The hope is to get as much work done in the area before the city is hit with 15 to 25 cm of snow set to arrive by Thursday evening.

"I'm really hoping that we can figure out what the issue is and get repairs done today. After that we'll have to work at putting the road back together. There was also some damage that we found to a 48 inch storm sewer that we're gonna have to repair before we can open the road back up," said Warwick.

The cause of the leak has yet to be determined, but the city said the significant amount of frost on the ground during this time of year can cause the ground to heave and move, which can lead to water main issues.

Thunder Bay and surrounding areas have seen some fluctuating temperatures over the last week, leading to other issues on city roads.

A section of Carrick and Hewitson streets have been closed due to flooding in area, caused by frozen culverts and ice damming.

"So we have equipment steaming frozen culverts as well as excavators and backhoes digging out the ditch and the floodway to kind of clear some of that ice … so the water can get to the river," explained Ian Spoljarich, manager of roads with the City of Thunder Bay.

Spoljarich said graters have been out through parts of the city clearing other intersections and areas with localized flooding following warm temperatures earlier this week.