News and Public Media for North Central Florida

Photos: Low-Lying Streets In Gainesville Experience Flooding

According to the Gainesville Police Department, this vehicle and one other were stuck on flooded Northwest Fourth Boulevard in Gainesville Wednesday afternoon. (Walter Harwood/WUFT News)

Rain from Tropical Storm Elsa caused flooding throughout some of Gainesville's low-lying areas Wednesday.

Alachua County spokesperson Mark Sexton stated in a Wednesday press release that residents reported flooding, downed power lines and downed trees throughout the Gainesville area. Northwest Gainesville was particularly inundated with rainfall from Tropical Storm Elsa, and several streets flooded after storm runoff overwhelmed irrigation ditches.

The Meadowbrook Golf Club's retention ponds struggled to contain fast-moving runoff flowing down Northwest 98th Street Wednesday, causing a pond located between Northwest 98th Street and Northwest 39th Avenue to overfill.

A stretch of Northwest 98th Street past Northwest 27th Place was closed as of Thursday morning.

Across Interstate 75 from the Oaks Mall, Northwest Fourth Boulevard experienced several feet of flooding, trapping at least two vehicles after drivers attempted to traverse the swamped street. No one was injured, and the road was still closed as of Thursday morning.

In southern Gainesville, a stretch of Southwest 63rd Avenue that connects Southwest 34th Street and Highway 441 flooded Wednesday, prompting a road closure.

Gainesville police reopened Northwest 34th Street between Hogtown Creek and University Avenue Thursday morning.

A Gainesville Police Department service technician overlooks Northwest Fourth Boulevard Wednesday afternoon. Two vehicles were left stranded after their drivers tried to navigate the flooded street. (Walter Harwood/WUFT News)
An abandoned Toyota RAV-4 on Northwest Fourth Boulevard in Gainesville Wednesday afternoon. A Gainesville Police Service Technician at the scene stated this vehicle and one other got stuck after drivers attempted to traverse the flooded street. (Walter Harwood/WUFT News)
Rain from tropical storm Elsa falls on Meadowbrook Golf Course Wednesday afternoon. Some areas near the golf course experienced sever flooding. (Walter Harwood/WUFT News)
An Alachua County Sheriff Deputy direcs traffic at the intersection of Callison Road and Northwest 27th Place. Callison Road, also known as Northwest 98th Street, is currently closed beyond this point. (Walter Harwood/WUFT News)
Lake Alice, located on the western side of the University of Florida's main campus in Gainesville, spilled onto sidewalks and bike paths Wednesday after rain from tropical storm Elsa increased the water level. (Walter Harwood/WUFT News)
A stretch of Southwest 63rd Avenue that connects Southwest 34th Street and Highway 441 flooded Wednesday, prompting the road's closure. (Walter Harwood/WUFT News)

 

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Houston is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.