Edmonton Weather: 80 collisions recorded as stormy snow jammed traffic on city streets Tuesday

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The city of Edmonton activated a city-wide parking ban to clear major highways as the first snow of the season continued through Tuesday.

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At a news conference Tuesday morning, Andrew Grant, the city of Edmonton’s general supervisor of infrastructure operations, said a Phase 1 parking ban It began at 7 pm Tuesday and would remain in effect until the city has cleared major highways, such as arteries and collector roads, as well as highways, bus routes and roads with “No Seasonal Parking” signs.

The city deployed about 80 plow trucks and sanders Tuesday morning, he said, and intended to call in contract graders to support the operation that night. However, he noted, the city has no plans to implement a Phase 2 ban, which is used to clear residential and industrial roads, at this time.

“We want to give residential areas the opportunity to install an ice pack so our crews have something to work with,” Grant said, adding that snow removal crews try to maintain and prepare a two-inch pack in those. areas.

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The city expects the ban to last about 48 hours, but drivers can park in the “Seasonal Parking Ban” zones once those roads are cleared.

Residents can monitor the status of the city’s snow clearance efforts and sign up for alerts on the Edmonton City Website . Those who do not comply, Grant added, will receive warning notices.

For the World Cup qualifying game between Canada and Mexico on Tuesday night, the city prioritized the area around Commonwealth Stadium, Grant said, as thousands of people were expected to attend the game.

Environment Canada removed its heavy snow warning Tuesday, which required 4 to 10 inches of snow in Edmonton, St. Albert and Sherwood Park. Earlier in the day, the agency also warned of reduced visibility from blowing snow that could affect driving conditions as the strong north was expected to hit 70 km / h in the region for most of the day. .

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Between 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday, 80 crashes were reported to EPS, Edmonton police said, including eight crashes and 14 crashes with property damage.

The Strathcona County RCMP warned large truck drivers Tuesday to avoid 17th Street, south of Baseline Road in Sherwood Park, as trucking trucks are unable to traverse the slope due to traffic conditions.

Meanwhile, the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP asked truck drivers to avoid commuter highways and Highway 15 in particular on Tuesday, while the Parkland RCMP said officers responded to numerous collisions on all major highways.

Leduc RCMP also issued a warning to tow truck drivers Tuesday morning, which warned that Highway 2 between 41st Avenue and 611 was unsafe, but that warning was lifted later that day.

RCMP was asking the public to avoid driving unless necessary. For those who cannot avoid travel, the police advise drivers to slow down, travel with the proper fuel, pack an emergency kit with additional winter clothing, and allow additional time to reach their destinations, as some roads are especially frost.

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