‘Extreme winter conditions’ prompt highway and bridge closures, warnings to drivers
Posted January 12, 2020 8:59 pm.
Last Updated January 13, 2020 5:18 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A blast of wild weather Sunday evening prompted closures on Highway 1 and the Coquihalla.
The province warned drivers to avoid all unnecessary travel in the Lower Mainland.
Highway 1 was closed between Chilliwack and Hope, while the Coquihalla was closed between Hope and Merritt for several hours.
The Lions Gate Bridge has reopened to traffic in the West Vancouver lane as of 11:15 p.m. TransLink has also resumed bus service on all routes that use the bridge.
The RCMP has asked NEWS 1130 to urge people to stay off the roads altogether. Police said they encountered extreme difficulties in attending to the numerous crashes that had been taking place across the Lower Mainland this evening. Authorities asked that — in particular — drivers avoid the bridge decks, as they became extremely slippery due to the snow and freezing conditions.
If you’re are not prepared for challenging winter driving conditions, please avoid any unnecessary tra
vel on the roads in the Lower Mainland. See below for a view of the south end of the #CassiarTunnel. Crews are out working hard trying to keep up. #YVR #VancouverBC pic.twitter.com/hoVWkVB66c
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) January 13, 2020
Extreme winter driving conditions and incidents affecting all our major bridges (#LionsgateBridge #PortMannBridge #IronworkersMemorial) and creating challenging conditions and heavy delays. Please avoid all unnecessary travel please be prepared. #YVR #SurreyBC #NorthVanpic.twitter.com/757YjLcb2S
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) January 13, 2020
@NEWS1130 @AM730Traffic Current situation on the Port Mann eastbound – Surrey lanes pic.twitter.com/w8mD7ZLPCS
— KAP Magnuson (@kentapmagnuson) January 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/dollystevens70/status/1216582038729347072
@AM730Traffic @NEWS1130 nobody was ready for this… van sitting in the middle of the cut, can’t move. pic.twitter.com/iWgz18Uy5K
— Olivia Gharakhanian (@oliviaghar) January 13, 2020
@AM730Traffic @NEWS1130 @NEWS1130Traffic Lions Gate bridge is totally shut down. pic.twitter.com/FnC6xKMDSV
— incognitofooty (@incognitofooty) January 13, 2020
#BCHwy99 #LionsGateBridge, we are trying to plow and keep this clear, but vehicles are refusing to move over for the plows. Please work with us to get everybody home safely pic.twitter.com/4DdbkJ3oMx
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) January 13, 2020
Callers to NEWS 1130 reported stalled and spun out cars on streets, bridges and highways throughout the region.
There were also multiple reports of crashes and vehicles in ditches.
CRASH – #Coquitlam – Multi-vehicle pileup on Westwood Plateau, NB and SB blocked.
— CityNews Vancouver Traffic (@CityNewsTraffic) January 13, 2020
Multiple reports from listeners said steep hills proved to be challenging for buses and cars in Burnaby and Coquitlam.
Snow is really coming down in Burnaby (I tried to go for a walk) and the roads are nasty; whiteout conditions. Both the 129 and 136 can't go up the hill leaving Holdom Station @NEWS1130 @TransLink #BCStorm #SnowfallWarning pic.twitter.com/IoKBbRZZtg
— Wendy Fang (@Ice_calibr29) January 13, 2020
One caller reported seeing a semi seemingly knocked on its side by the sheer force of the wind in the Fraser Valley. Another reported a snowplow spun out in North Vancouver.
Plows in Vancouver were evidently experiencing difficulty.
Looks like the snowplows can't even deal with this #vancouversnow @CBCVancouver @NEWS1130 @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/lO5eqNlUAg
— Emma (@EmmaSnek) January 13, 2020
I think this Google Map traffic view is a pretty good summary of the Lower Mainland right now. If you don't have to travel – stay in! @NEWS1130 @BT_Vancouver @CityNewsVAN #Vancouver #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/p0yu7tyrqN
— Chad Harris (@ChadHarrisTV) January 13, 2020
Stay tuned for the latest traffic updates on NEWS 1130.
