Monday morning commuters report slippery, snowy roads

A snowy commute Monday landed several Metro Vancouver motorists in the ditch, and others questioning the preparedness of road crews after the B.C. South Coast was hit with a heavy snowfall.

“I’ve seen about half a dozen cars in the ditch and not one plow truck anywhere,” Trent Healy said of his commute from Coquitlam to Aldergrove.

“Don’t drive if you don’t have to, but driving out to the Valley here people have to drive and all of the cities are not pulling their weight at all,” he said.

In Surrey, several crashes were reported during the height of the morning rush hour, including spun-out vehicles along major routes such as Fraser Highway and 16 Avenue.

A vehicle slammed into a powerline on Highway 10 and King George Blvd. after 6 a.m., knocking out power to thousands of BC Hydro customers for several hours.

8:06- Power is out for just over 3,600 customers #LangleyBC #Abbotsford Grid runs east of 240th St to Mt.Lehman Road and north of 18th to 56th Ave. #1130Traffic @CityNewsVAN For the latest @bchydro https://t.co/Cyo6J83cbf pic.twitter.com/IfYppZBRRB

— Ryan Lidemark ???? ????️ (@RyanLmark) December 6, 2021

The City of Surrey says it was prepared for the snow and had 47 trucks out since midnight, which is the average number for a snow event in the city.

“Snow started around 1 o’clock in the morning, the trucks will go back and forth dealing with the different routes that they have and unfortunately sometimes by the time they get back to another area there has been snow on the roads,” City of Surrey Manager of Engineering Operations Ray Kurr said about any complaints from drivers of snowy conditions.

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He says they deal with arterial roads first and will get to the side streets later in the day.

His message: “Give the snowplows some room to do the work that they need to do and take time getting to where they are going, and drive to the conditions of the road.”

This is what is looks like around a good part of the Lower Mainland. Side roads are snow covered. #NorthVan #Snow ⁦@CityNewsVAN⁩ pic.twitter.com/57VjaDtGzH

— Michael Kuss (@Kusswx) December 6, 2021

Darren Ell with Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting, which is responsible for the maintenance of the local provincial highways, also says his crews were ready. He says they brought in extra help ahead of time.

Many drivers called CityNews to say the drive along Highway 99 from Surrey to Vancouver was unplowed. Ell says no routes were prioritized over another, and that Highway 99 was not neglected by crews.

“The trucks have been out there all night long, clearing as required and salting, it’s just unfortunate some people don’t see them,” he said.

The recent snowfall comes just weeks after the province was slammed by a series of atmospheric rivers, leading to damaged highways and supply chain woes.

He says despite the recent flooding, the routes in the Lower Mainland appear to be in good shape and there is no concern about access to fuel or salt this winter.

“We’ve got lots of salt. We have our seasons’ allotment already, and there’s additional shipments available if required to bring more salt in,” he said.

Tire tracks are seen on a snow-covered street in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2021. (Lasia Kretzel, CityNews Photo)

Many drivers took to social media to warn others to be patient on the roads in Metro Vancouver.

“With reduced traction due to snow, many of us will be keeping extra following distance to be able to maintain momentum and have safe stopping distance. Please don’t change lanes in our space,” Truck BC wrote on Twitter Monday.

Request from all truck drivers in Metro Vancouver:

With reduced traction due to snow, many of us will be keeping extra following distance to be able to maintain momentum and have safe stopping distance. Please don't change lanes in to our space@AM730Traffic @CityNewsVAN @CKNW

— TruckBC (@TruckBC) December 6, 2021

Drivers along the Sea to Sky Highway were faced with slick roads as the higher elevations were expected to be hit with more accumulation.

A look at the snow conditions on the Sea to Sky Highway Monday near Daisy Lake south of Whistler (Drive BC)

“Section of Sea to Sky Britannia Beach NB to Murrin Lake — VERY SLIPPERY. Mostly NB is having trouble. Semis and other vehicles are having trouble on the road, many are stopping on the shoulder. Traffic is backing up,” Squamish RCMP wrote on Twitter Monday.

Shortly after, an accident was reported in the area south of Brittania, leading to heavy backups on the Sea to Sky.

#BCHwy99 vehicle incident NB south of #Brittania. Expect major delays. #Squamish pic.twitter.com/W3Ys5j81vj

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) December 6, 2021

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