Storm puts brakes on traffic on Saskatchewan highways

Old Man Winter threw up stop signs on Saskatchewan’s highways Monday.

Roads across the western part of the province were closed due to ice, drifting snow and low visibility caused by a major winter storm that blew into the province.

As of 4:30 p.m., the Trans-Canada Highway was closed from Belle Plaine to the Alberta border. The highway initially had been closed from Swift Current to the border at around 11 a.m., but the road closures moved east as the day wore on.

Just before 5 p.m., Highway 11 from Bethune to Saskatoon was shut down, as was Highway 2 between Chamberlain and Moose Jaw.

Shortly after 4 p.m., the Yellowhead Highway was closed from Saskatoon east to the junction of Highway 2.

The Yellowhead also was closed from North Battleford to Maidstone — one of many highways into and out of the North Battleford area that were closed.

At about 2:30 p.m., the Saskatchewan RCMP issued a media release advising motorists to check highway conditions before travelling — and to put off their trips if possible.

About an hour later, the Rosthern RCMP said the southbound lanes of Highway 11 were closed near Hague because of a jackknifed semi. The highway was reopened shortly after 5 p.m., according to RCMP.

The Highway Hotline said travel wasn’t recommended in the Saskatoon area due to zero visibility, slippery sections and drifting snow. The same advisory was in place for the Swift Current region.

Houston Tancowny lives in Swift Current. He was getting ready to leave for work at about 1 p.m., when he took a look outside.

“I don’t see anything. That’s the problem. It’s all white,” he said.

He didn’t feel safe driving to work by himself in his small car, so he made a call.

“My father picked me up in his big truck. We almost got into three accidents on the way here and almost got stuck and now I’m at work. I’m not sure how I’m getting home. It’s not ideal,” he continued.

Craig Hilts is also in Swift Current. He had to make a quick trip to the mall, but it was far from easy.

“I left the house and I couldn’t tell where the cars would be parked or where the sidewalk would be on the left side. I couldn’t tell where the yellow line would be on the right side (of the road),” he said. “I couldn’t see a foot in front of the car.

“Literally, it was like someone put up a white screen around the whole car. I couldn’t tell where anything was. Trying to drive in that was actually a pretty terrifying experience. You don’t know. It’s like, ‘Is there going to be a car right there, or am I driving in the lane where cars are parked?’ You just couldn’t tell where you were.”

Mike Schuba works in Gull Lake, west of Swift Current. He opened the door to take a look when 980 CJME gave him a call, and was surprised at what he saw.

“Oh, wow, man, I can’t even see down the block and I’m in the middle of the block,” he said. “I would say maybe five yards for visibility, if that. You can’t see anything down the street.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Dominick Lucyk