Highway 1 still closed from Strathmore to Brooks
Highway 1 traffic has been halted between Brooks and Calgary since Monday evening. Photo courtesy AMA Road Reports.
Highway 1 from Calgary to Strathmore has been reopened after a blizzard blew into central and southern Alberta on Monday, causing a number of highway headaches.
The Trans Canada is still closed from Strathmore to Brooks and a number of transport trucks are lined up in westbound lanes awaiting the reopening of Highway 1. Strathmore RCMP report the highway remains closed mainly due to large snow drifts and vehicles blocking the highway.
Staff Sgt. Kevin Reilly of the Strathmore RCMP says “the main issue is the vehicle traffic that is blocking Highway 1 at Secondary Highway 21″.
RCMP, Alberta Transportation, Volker Stevin and towing companies are working to clear the traffic so the highway can be reopened.
The busy highway was closed on Monday evening after poor conditions, a number of abandoned vehicles, collisions and snow drifts forced the closure of the highway between Stoney Trail and Brooks.
In the late afternoon and into the evening, snow plows were recalled from the roads as conditions were too dangerous for the operators.
In the town of Strathmore, an emergency shelter was set up for those who were stranded by the storm.
Some highways east of Calgary are still closed. Click here to see the AMA Road Reports map to see the road conditions in Alberta.
Anyone heading out on the highways today in southern Alberta should take care to ensure they have a full tank of gas, emergency supplies, emergency equipment and blankets in case they get stuck.