Flooding closes Fresno underpass after heavy holiday rain

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno underpass adjacent Shields and Wishon avenues remained closed Wednesday aft dense rainfall flooded the area, leaving lasting h2o and debris that posed a hazard to drivers.

Traffic cones diverted vehicles distant from the underpass aboriginal successful the greeting arsenic h2o pooled beneath it.

Fresno nonmigratory Jason Valdez said helium didn't recognize however heavy the h2o was until his car got stuck.

"Just came successful and didn't recognize until aft the information of however flooded it was. Started coming up the underpass and got astir 7-8ths of the mode and past conscionable got stuck," Valdez said.

He added that the poorly lit country made it hard to spot the water.

After respective attempts to restart his car, Valdez and his friends concluded the motor whitethorn person been ruined.

Still, Valdez said the mishap wouldn't spoil his vacation plans.

"I'm excited to walk the time with my household and we got immoderate Prime Rib rolling and we're gonna spell eat, so, can't complain, could beryllium worst," helium said.

City officials said the underpass volition enactment closed done the tempest retired of caution.

They did not expect flooding but said the rainfall fell faster and harder than expected.

"We person had truly heavy, aggravated downpour passim the night, passim the morning, into today, and we've had a batch of h2o connected the ground," said Brian Russell, adjunct manager of nationalist works.

Russell said the city's flood power strategy is functioning and ponding basins are acceptable to grip overflow.

He urged residents to wide leaves and debris from yards to forestall clogged drains and roadway flooding arsenic the tempest continues done the holiday.

City officials are reminding people, if you spot immoderate hazards retired connected the road, you tin usage the FresGO app oregon telephone 311 to study them.

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