Severe winter conditions have resulted in the closure of numerous roads across Manitoba, including the prominent Trans-Canada Highway. On Sunday, at least twelve highways were shut down due to poor visibility from blowing snow and hazardous travel conditions.
Closed Roads in Manitoba
Manitoba 511 announced several closures on Sunday morning. The Trans-Canada Highway, specifically the section from Winnipeg to Sidney, is among the affected routes. Additionally, the following highways were also closed:
- Highway 2: from Highway 100 to Highway 34
- Highway 3: from Sperling to Crystal City
- Highway 13: from Highway 1 to Carman
- Highway 14: from Rosenfeld to Highway 75
- Highway 23: from Lowe Farm to Morris
- Highway 26: from St. Francis Xavier to Highway 1, near Portage la Prairie
- Highway 30: from Highway 14 to the U.S. border
- Highway 31: from Highway 3 to the U.S. border
- Highway 32: from Highway 14 to the U.S. border
- Highway 52: from Highway 59 to Mitchell
- Highway 59: from the South Perimeter to St. Malo
- Highway 75: from Morris to Winnipeg city limits
- Highway 201: from Highway 32 to Highway 59
Impact on Hockey Games and Travel
The inclement weather has also affected local sports. Hockey Winnipeg announced a postponement of all games requiring highway travel on Sunday due to the dangerous driving conditions.
Safety Warnings from Authorities
The Manitoba RCMP are urging drivers to respect highway closures. Traveling on closed roads is not only illegal but poses significant risks to drivers and emergency personnel. Authorities advise the public to stay off the roads until conditions improve. For those who must travel, caution is essential due to ongoing weather deterioration.
Earlier in the week, similar conditions led to multiple accidents on the Trans-Canada Highway, with Portage la Prairie police issuing 25 tickets for violations related to closed highways. Offenders may face fines starting at $298 and receive two demerit points on their driving licenses.
Some travelers found themselves stranded, with many forced to spend the night in community centers along Highway 1 as the situation unfolded into the weekend.
