Storms Cause Major Flooding In Commerce City
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4)- Severe storms that rolled through Colorado on Wednesday brought tornadoes, hail and heavy rain. That rain caused major flooding in Commerce City including city hall and a popular park-- on purpose.
City officials began pumping some of the storm water out and into another hold area on Thursday afternoon to keep the risk of flooding to nearby homes to a minimum.
Water filled Fairfax Park near Highway 85 and E. 69th Avenue after heavy rains on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday morning that water was still standing and when more heavy rain moved through the area Thursday afternoon-- that retention area kept filling up.
"Our goal is to keep that (flooding) from happening, we're going to pump until we can't pump anymore," said Commerce City spokesman Steve Ortega.
The area surrounding the park doubles as a retention pond to keep the water from causing more flooding around town.
Officials with Commerce City said the storm drainage system is working as its designed to do.
The heavy rain caused flooding which forced officials to shut down a portion of Highway 85 on Wednesday.
Several roads were still closed on Thursday including Peoria from 96th to 104th and 96th from Potomac to Highway 2.
Officials with Commerce City urged drivers to avoid Highway 85 from 60th to 69th Avenue because that area could also become a trouble spot if heavy rain falls in that area on Thursday.
