Freezing conditions leading to icy roads across Lower Mainland

Drivers in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley are being warned of the slippery road conditions as the plunging temperatures create icy conditions. 

The morning commute Tuesday was especially treacherous for some drivers between Abbotsford and Surrey and first responders were kept busy with several accidents.

Along Highway 1 a car had slipped eastbound east of Clearbrook in Abbotsford and another crash happened westbound, west and Mount Lehman. 

Another incident westbound on the Port Mann Bridge blocked the center and right lanes, leading to heavy delays. 

CityNews spoke with several drivers who reported other close calls as well as dangerous slick and icy conditions on the Sea to Sky near Horseshoe Bay. 

The road may look clear but it’s that slick ice drivers need to be wary of, according to Darren Ell, the general manager of Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting. 

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Ell says overall main routes from the Port Mann Bridge to 264 Street are in good shape as crews clean the on-ramps and clear paths to widen roads.

“Most roads are bare and dry. We have some areas that got some snow accumulation in the fast bus lanes, or left turn slots, or the right turn lanes. We’re working on those as we go,” Ell said Tuesday morning. 

Cold here to stay until Wednesday

Ell says salting the roads isn’t working as effectively in these temperatures so crews are mostly using salt and a ‘salt brine’ which is a mixture of salt and water used to spray on the ice-filled roads.

Depending on the moisture in the subsurface and how the asphalt surfaces are holding up, Ell says this extremely cold condition will have some long-term impacts. 

“As the water gets into the cracks of the fissures in the asphalt, it is going to freeze; it’s going to start loosening up some more asphalt. So I do expect some potholes. But for the most part, the roads are okay.”

To ensure drivers get to their destination safely, Ell suggests their vehicles have good tires and that they have enough fuel and fluids. 

“The other thing I can’t stress enough is do not pass a plow truck on the right-hand side,” he added.  “We’ve had about three trucks that have been hit with people trying to attempt on the right-hand side. The vehicle goes through the snow that’s coming off the plow, loses control and hits our truck. Luckily, so far there has been very minimal damage, but they’ve been hit three times already in this in December. And that’s not acceptable. We need to have people to slow down and be patient and let us do our jobs.”

DriveBC is reminding locals that Highway 3 is closed through the Kootenay Pass because of avalanche control from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday.

– With files from Matt Coppin