Route 5 opens after flooding

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A deluge put a big dent in the commute along Route 5 on Tuesday morning, as the region remain soaked from a wild September storm.

You can understand why south towns commuters were frustrated.

No one likes to be inconvenienced.

That's what happened to thousands of motorists who were forced to take alternate routes into Buffalo when a portion of Route 5 was closed.

Regional Spokeswoman for the State DOT, Susan Surdej said, "Obviously at the DOT, the last thing we want to see is commuters stuck in traffic. It was an event of nature."

The State DOT closed Route 5 between Lake and Ridge after more than 3 1/2 inches of rain fell over the Buffalo area in a 24 hour period.

The heavy rain resulted in a five foot rise in the lake level.

"We had an unusual rainfall event when we had a couple inches of rain in a short period of time and that caused the lake level to rise which caused Blasdell Creek to rise which affected our drainage. Our drainage had no where to go," Surdej explained.

She also said, "It doesn't happen frequently but it 's a low lying spot and when Blasdell Creek backs up, it affects the drainage on Route 5."

The road closure came at a tough time for south towns commuters, who are already inconvenienced by several State DOT projects on Route 5.

The good news is the pavement project near Woodlawn is nearing completion.

The Outer Harbor Parkway project at the foot of the Skyway is moving along too.

In mid October, south towns motorists will be diverted back to Route 5.

Surdej said, "It will allow us one more construction season to get to the heart of the project which is to reconstruct Fuhrmann Boulevard and make it a parkway and opening access to Buffalo's waterfront."

The flooded pavement along Route 5 receded by mid morning.

Both lanes re opened by 10:30 a.m. with little evidence of the flood.