More Flooded Roads Closed in Canton

Canton Police are asking drivers to avoid using the following extremely flooded roads:  Ford, Canton Center, Sheldon, Saltz, and surrounding side streets.

Traffic lights at the intersection just east of I275 and Ford Road are flashing on red, after the signals' control box was swamped. The intersection should be treated as a four-way stop, said Canton Police Lt. Mark Schultz.

He said during the afternoon and early evening nine extra police officers were on duty to help direct traffic and aid stranded motorists.

Stephanie Boytim of Canton was among the stuck drivers.

"I was one of those cars stranded in the water at Canton Center and Ford! Praying my car starts in the morning," she wrote on Canton Patch's Facebook page.

Firefighters also aided in the effort as did the township's Public Works and Leisure Services department employees.

At 10:30 p.m., Schultz began letting the extra police officers go home, with the caveat that they could be called back in around 3 a.m., when more rain is expected.

In the meantime, Schultz said, it would help if people only traveled when necessary -- using extreme caution when navigating water-covered roads.

He said drivers should plan for a messy morning commute. The good news, he said, is that Michigan Avenue did not experience the same flooding seen on Ford Road.

Flooding has forced the closure of several roads in Canton, starting with Sheldon, south of Ford.

Ford Road also is now closed as of about 6 p.m., between Sheldon and Beck roads. Cars in that area, on Ford Road between Sheldon and Morton Taylor, have been spotted floating because of deep standing waters.

The flood warning will remain in effect until 11:30 p.m. Thursday, said Canton Township Emergency Manager Kathy Rich.

She issued a list of road closings Wednesday evening, including those already mentioned and:

• Saltz Road between Sheldon & Morton Taylor
• Sheldon between Savory and Gordon
• Cherry Hill, west of Ridge
• Lotz at Finley
• Lilley at Greenwood
• Southbound Belleville at Yost
• Hanford west of Canton Center

Shultz said Lotz and Ford is also a flooded intersection.

No traffic is allowed on Ford Road between Sheldon and Canton Center, Rich said.

She said many subdivisions are reporting flooded streets, ponds and creeks.

Rich said Canton's public works department is working with police and fire officials on the road closures.

Township public safety officials reported that nearly 4 feet of water had accumulated at the intersection of Ford and Canton Center Road and several vehicles were stalled after drivers attempted to navigate the floodwaters.

The National Weather Service's flood warning for much of Southeast Michigan includes the following counties: Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, Livingston, Macomb, St. Clair, Monroe and Lenawee. 

Rich said sewers are overflowing and people are advised not to drive unless absolutely necessary. She said, depending on the size of the car and the current, just 6 inches of water could move a vehicle.

Rainfall totals around 2 inches had been reported by mid-afternoon, according to the NWS alert, causing much of Wayne County's flooding.

Thunderstorms already in the area are expected to continue well into the evening, according to the NWS. Runoff may cause flooding in low lying areas and "excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas."

In Northville, continuous rain has caused flooding in some areas.

On Seven Mile Road near Silver Springs Road, one lane is impassible for about 10 feet on the Eastbound side, at the base of the hill, where water has collected.

At the plaza near Six Mile and Haggerty roads, Cross Road leading to Ward Church from Haggerty, next to , is blocked off due to flooding.

Six Mile Road, underneath the bridge just east of Northville Road, is flooded causing drivers in both directions to veer closely toward the middle.

Silver Springs Road also has large areas of water collected near the elementary school.

Northville Road is also causing some delays just north of Seven Mile Road, as of about 4 p.m., where pools of water have also collected.

According to school district emails, track practices at and middle schools are canceled.

Canton librarian Anne Heathen used Twitter to alert people that Lilley Road, just north of Ford Road, was impassible and the right lane of eastbound Hanford Road near Haggerty Road was "totally flooded."

Plymouth Township resident Cathy Donaldson commented on Canton Patch's Facebook page that the intersetion of Warren and Canton Center roads was also flooded.