Drivers asked to avoid 'unnecessary travel' amid snowfall warnings
Drivers across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley are being asked to avoid non-essential travel this weekend, as potentially record-breaking snowfall threatens to close highways and bridges.
On Friday, much of Southern B.C. remained under a special weather statement from Environment Canada.
“We’ve been monitoring this weather forecast for several weeks now. It’s going to be a fairly significant event for the entire South Coast region,” said Ashok Bhatti, the executive director of the South Coast Region for the Ministry of Transportation.
Periods of heavy snow are expected on Saturday into Sunday morning with total accumulations of 15 to 25 centimetres possible in some areas, while higher elevations may see up to 35.
In a statement, the province’s Ministry of Transportation advised drivers to avoid “unnecessary travel” and prepare for delays and longer commutes if they need to head out on the roads.
“Only travel if you absolutely need to, the conditions will be challenging,” Bhatti said.
Drivers are also asked to ensure their vehicles are equipped with snow tires and be aware of the condition of the roads they’re planning to take.
“Maintenance contractors are proactively applying anti-icing brine, and will plow and sand to manage any accumulation of snow,” the ministry said in a statement.
Bhatti said the ministry’s focus will be on addressing as many areas as possible ahead of the major snowfall, in order to keep the roads as clear as possible.
“We have a list of all the different areas that we know have been challenging during the previous winter events so those areas have become focal points for us,” Bhatti said.
The ministry added that bridges and highways may be closed on short notice, or have lanes reduced, for safety reasons.
In the Lower Mainland, ice technicians will be stationed at the Port Mann and Alex Fraser bridges, activating cable collars as necessary to clear any accumulations of snow.
“Drivers can assist maintenance crews by providing space for them on highways and moving over safely when they see a vehicle with an amber light approaching,” the ministry said.
For the latest information on road conditions, drivers can visit Drive BC’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
BREAKING Hosting Vancouver's FIFA World Cup games could cost half a billion dollars
Hosting seven games in Vancouver during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could cost more than half a billion dollars, according to an updated estimate provided Tuesday.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.