It's going slow, but the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure (MHI) is hoping to have Hwy 5. open to traffic this week.A section of the highway approximately seven kilometers west of Humboldt has been closed since July 2 as water from the sloughs that border the road flooded the highway.In June, the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure (MHI) installed rip rap to stop the erosion of the highway and sandbags along the sides to try to prevent the highway from flooding. The water level rose to about a foot deep on the highway, forcing the MHI to close the highway.After closing the highway, they came up with a solution to fix it, so it could be open for traffic again. They came up with a two part solution. The first half is a short-term solution, so the highway can be used again.They are raising the surface of the highway to above the water level, and putting a mud and dust free surface on the road. The MHI was hoping to have the highway open the week of July 19, but complications pushed the date back."Over the weekend (of July 17), I think they had some issues with rain," said Doug Wakabayashi from MHI. "There's still some soft spots in the road that they're trying to firm up, so it might be going into (this) week."Wakabayashi does not have an exact date as to when the highway will open."With the rain and everything I'm reluctant to pin down a date," said Wakabayashi.According to a MHI news release, however, it's hoped the highway will open this week."The fact that they are working in water, that raises some challenges as well. That's part of the reason they still have some soft spots they are trying to firm up," said Wakabayashi.Once crews are finished the short term solution, they will begin working on the long term solution in the fall, which will see highway workers restoring the proper shape to the highway, widening the surface of the road and paving.Last week, there were rumors that the highway would need to be dug up and started over. Wakabayshi stated this was not the fact."We do appreciate the inconvenience this is causing and we are trying to get it reopened as soon as we can," said Wakabayashi.
