Residents in the Rural Municipality of Lakeside are breathing a sigh of relief after receiving money through the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) to build up a major trade route threatened by flood water.

A state of emergency was issued last month along seven kilometres of grid road between Quill Lake and Wynyard. It's after flood water rose three to four inches from either side, threatening to wash out the road.

"We refer to it as our land bridge right now. It almost reminds you of a bridge from a mainland to an island," said Kerry Holderness, emergency measures co-ordinator for Lakeside.

"If that ever breached, the ability to be able to fix it and to build it up and to maintain the road would be lost for possibly decades."

Holderness said the road is a crucial trade route for hauling grain and large farm equipment, and the nearest detour is 115 kilometres.

Engineers are finalizing plans and securing enough rock and clay to begin construction this summer.

Holderness said she is happy the provincial government responded to the emergency as quickly as they did.

bmcadam@rawlco.com

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