Flurries and frigid temperatures: Will commuter chaos continue Tuesday?

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) –Below-freezing temperatures and flurries in the forecast have many in the region bracing for Tuesday morning’s commute.

Monday’s afternoon commute was plagued by crashes, closures, spin-outs and stalls.

Icy, unsalted roads created treacherous conditions on Highway 1.

Matt Coppin in the NEWS 1130 Traffic Centre says drivers could be in for more of the same Tuesday if crews don’t de-ice the roads.

“The big problem [Monday] was they just could not get that ice off the highway. It made things so much worse,” he explains. “It just had lane closure, and stalls — problem after problem.”

He adds countless callers described stretches of Highway 1 as “sheets of ice.” The hardest-hit sections were between Abbotsford and Chilliwack and near Burnaby Lake.

Into the evening, callers described roads like skating rinks between Langley and Chilliwack.

Maintenance contractors took to social media to reassure drivers they are working around the clock.

The frigid temperatures forecast for Monday night means melting and refreezing won’t be a concern.

“The saving grace is that it’s already cold, so it won’t have time to defrost. It’s a matter of getting rid of the ice that has already gathered to get to that concrete below.”

Coppin says drivers should allow for extra time and remain slow and steady on the roads.

Tune in for updates from Matt Coppin and the rest of the team at NEWS 1130 Traffic every 10 minutes on the ones.

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