Clogged Summit Creek culvert closes Smithfield’s Canyon Road

Portions of Smithfield’s Canyon Road closed early Monday after Summit Creek came up over the road in two different areas. Canyon Road is still closed between 1000 East and Mountain View Road. Smithfield Fire Chief Jay Downs says crews started working to clear two clogged culverts late Sunday night until about 3 a.m. Monday morning.”Summit Creek coming down from Smithfield (Canyon) is blocked and is now going over the road and down the creek,” Downs explains.The creek sent water and debris down Canyon Road until crews could get sandbags in place to divert it back into its channel. Crews were able to alleviate a plug at Meadow Lark Lane and Canyon Road but were not able to clear the plug at approximately 1250 East.”We gullied the sandbags because we can’t get in there to unplug it now,” Downs says. “We’ll just let it run its course until the water goes down and go in there and fix it.”The stream flow does not prevent access for any homeowners. For those who live above 1250 East, they will need to use Upper Canyon Road. “We have to maintain it,” Downs says of preventing further flood damage. “We have to keep continually digging the branches and stumps and stuff out of the bridges so they don’t plug the bridges. We’ve been doing that all day yesterday and today.”Preventive sandbagging has been done further downstream along Smithfield’s 100 North in case Summit Creek has further problems.The swift, cold waters have prompted emergency officials to issue strong warnings for people to stay out of the water, particularly children.

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