NL

Spring storm forces province to sideline its snowplows

The Department of Transportation and Works advises it pulled its plows off the roads as of 9 p.m., as conditions continued to deteriorate.

Roads deteriorating, says Department of Transportation and Works

The driving conditions, seen here in St. John's mid-Wednesday afternoon, only went from bad to worse across much of eastern and central Newfoundland. (Anthony Germain/CBC)

Wednesday's vicious snow storm has forced the province to remove snow clearing equipment from the province's highways in eastern and central Newfoundland.

The Department of Transportation and Works said with visibility is extremely poor in open areas, it was difficult to clear some roads, and all plows were pulled off duty as of 9 p.m.

The province also asked drivers to use extra caution, or avoid altogether, the TCH from Whitbourne to Port Blandford and the TCH from Eastport to Gander, as well as Route 210 — the northern sections of the Burin Peninsula Highway.

Transportation and Works also said to stay off the Witless Bay Line altogether.

The late April storm that disrupted much of eastern and central Newfoundland has left the highways with heavy drifting and in whiteout conditions.