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Province - Snowfall Causes Chaos
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=9e860d31-5584-44d6-b0fc-367770d8bcac&k=73256
Snowfall causes havoc for drivers
Jack Keating and Frank Luba, with files from David Carrigg, The Province
Published: Monday, November 27, 2006
Chaos on snowy roads throughout southern B.C. yesterday is expected to get a lot worse this morning as a cold front turns the slush to ice.
Temperatures were below freezing overnight and are forecast to remain so today, turning highways into rinks.
The message from three Lower Mainland mayors is the same: Stay off the roads if you can.
The weekend snowstorm dumped a whopping 44 centimetres in Abbotsford, up to 20 cm in parts of Vancouver Island, 10 cm in Vancouver and up to 20 cm on the North Shore and Coquitlam.
Vancouver Community College and several independent schools throughout the Lower Mainland have cancelled today's classes. School districts will decide this morning if their schools will open, and parents were advised to check websites or listen for radio announcements.
In Surrey, one person was killed and another seriously injured in a snow-related crash early yesterday at 192nd Street near 97th Avenue. A vehicle slid across the centre line and was slammed broadside by an oncoming tow-truck.
On Highway 99, near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, a dozen people were injured after a seven-vehicle pile-up that included a bus. Most of the vehicles slid out of control trying to avoid the vehicles that had crashed in front of them.
In New Westminster, police closed the intersection of 10th Street and Sixth Avenue after a motorist struck a fire hydrant, spewing water on to the road that then froze.
Late last night, snow-laden trees fell onto power lines and trolley wires in Vancouver and several sections of road were closed due to accidents throughout the Lower Mainland.
In Burnaby, a bus jacknifed on Hastings Street due to icey conditions, causing traffic havoc between Willingdon Avenue and Holdom Avenue.
Police in Abbotsford and Chilliwack last night called for people to drive only if absolutely needed.
"It's the next thing to white-out," Abbotsford Mayor George Ferguson said yesterday afternoon.
"If it keeps snowing like it is, I think we'll have snow that will drift across roads that you won't get through until the snow plows come along."
In West Vancouver, Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones said crews are reaching their limit.
"The crews feel like they are just barely keeping up," she said. "If you don't have to go anywhere, don't. Work from home."
Said Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan: "I think if you don't need to drive, you shouldn't."
He said city staff are working around the clock to clear roads, at about $50,000 a shift.
"It's a full-court press," he said.
Surrey's road crews went into action Saturday night but that didn't help Mayor Dianne Watts, who was snowed in yesterday. She couldn't even get out of her driveway.
"The roads are a mess," she said, advising people not to drive.
For part of the day, buses in Vancouver and Burnaby were avoiding hills, and there were long delays.
About 70,000 homes in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island were without power last night.
"A majority of the impacted customers are in Surrey and Victoria," said B.C. Hydro spokeswoman Elisha Moreno.
Snowfall causes havoc for drivers
Jack Keating and Frank Luba, with files from David Carrigg, The Province
Published: Monday, November 27, 2006
Chaos on snowy roads throughout southern B.C. yesterday is expected to get a lot worse this morning as a cold front turns the slush to ice.
Temperatures were below freezing overnight and are forecast to remain so today, turning highways into rinks.
The message from three Lower Mainland mayors is the same: Stay off the roads if you can.
The weekend snowstorm dumped a whopping 44 centimetres in Abbotsford, up to 20 cm in parts of Vancouver Island, 10 cm in Vancouver and up to 20 cm on the North Shore and Coquitlam.
Vancouver Community College and several independent schools throughout the Lower Mainland have cancelled today's classes. School districts will decide this morning if their schools will open, and parents were advised to check websites or listen for radio announcements.
In Surrey, one person was killed and another seriously injured in a snow-related crash early yesterday at 192nd Street near 97th Avenue. A vehicle slid across the centre line and was slammed broadside by an oncoming tow-truck.
On Highway 99, near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, a dozen people were injured after a seven-vehicle pile-up that included a bus. Most of the vehicles slid out of control trying to avoid the vehicles that had crashed in front of them.
In New Westminster, police closed the intersection of 10th Street and Sixth Avenue after a motorist struck a fire hydrant, spewing water on to the road that then froze.
Late last night, snow-laden trees fell onto power lines and trolley wires in Vancouver and several sections of road were closed due to accidents throughout the Lower Mainland.
In Burnaby, a bus jacknifed on Hastings Street due to icey conditions, causing traffic havoc between Willingdon Avenue and Holdom Avenue.
Police in Abbotsford and Chilliwack last night called for people to drive only if absolutely needed.
"It's the next thing to white-out," Abbotsford Mayor George Ferguson said yesterday afternoon.
"If it keeps snowing like it is, I think we'll have snow that will drift across roads that you won't get through until the snow plows come along."
In West Vancouver, Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones said crews are reaching their limit.
"The crews feel like they are just barely keeping up," she said. "If you don't have to go anywhere, don't. Work from home."
Said Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan: "I think if you don't need to drive, you shouldn't."
He said city staff are working around the clock to clear roads, at about $50,000 a shift.
"It's a full-court press," he said.
Surrey's road crews went into action Saturday night but that didn't help Mayor Dianne Watts, who was snowed in yesterday. She couldn't even get out of her driveway.
"The roads are a mess," she said, advising people not to drive.
For part of the day, buses in Vancouver and Burnaby were avoiding hills, and there were long delays.
About 70,000 homes in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island were without power last night.
"A majority of the impacted customers are in Surrey and Victoria," said B.C. Hydro spokeswoman Elisha Moreno.
Comments
damn, 70000 homes without power, thats gotta suck :x
brace yourself folks. and i say that because i'm majoring global change.