Luskville Sector — Following yesterdays Canada Day tornado microburst that left dozens of Pontiac homes damaged, the Municipality was dealt a new blow when another section of Highway 148 was washed out near the Luskville Recreation Park effectively cutting east and west Pontiac off from each other.

The collapse occurred in the eastbound lane on the south side of the highway around midday and there were no reported injuries related to the washout.  Ministry of Transport Québec officials are on scene assessing the damage and have not yet worked out a timetable for the length of the repairs.  Motorists coming from the east-end of Ottawa are being advised to detour north via Highway 5 to Wakefield, then take the 366 through Masham to chemin d’Eardley, continuing towards chemin Eardley-Masham to the 148 in South Onslow, ward 3 in the Municipality of Pontiac.

Drivers coming from Ottawa’s West-end are advised to avail themselves of the new Ferry in Quyon to reach wards 1,2 and 3.  Unfortunately, the very badly warn-out logging road between Pontiac and lac La Pêche is the only northerly route available to detour around the current road closure.  The Municipality has literally been cut in two by a small section of road and the excruciatingly arduous and dangerous detours caused by this closure — the latest in a string of similar road collapses that have plagued the Municipality of Pontiac for several years.

Sources say that the Municipality had known of the potential for problems with the culvert passing under the highway and had brought the matter to the attention of the MTQ again last week.  Coupled with yesterdays tornado storm, Pontiac’s first responders are very busy ensuring the public’s safety and cleaning up the mess brought on by the fierce storm.  Today’s Road closure only adds to Pontiac’s woes.

With the arrival of the summer season, area businesses will no doubt be hurt by the disruptions created by this vital artery being severed once again.

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