Road reopens in Cape Breton Highlands National Park after snow closure
CBC News | Posted: December 22, 2018 10:00 AM | Last Updated: December 22, 2018
Snowdrifts measuring as high as 3.6 metres had closed the road since Tuesday
The North Mountain road in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park reopened to traffic on Saturday after huge snowdrifts measuring as high as 3.6 metres made it impassable for four days.
Efforts to clear the road had been hampered by poor visibility.
"The challenge up there is the actual amount of snow, but also the fact that it's blowing all the time," Rob Howey, the acting superintendent of the park, told CBC Radio's Mainstreet Cape Breton on Friday.
He said the snowdrifts were as tall as, if not taller than, the machines being used to clear the road.
Because of its elevation, the North Mountain road experiences harsher conditions than its surroundings.
"Places that have been getting rain the last month in Nova Scotia, it's all just been snow on North Mountain and it keeps accumulating," said Howey.
He said the amount of snow the mountain has received so far is abnormally high.
While the road has reopened, Cape Breton Highlands National Park advises drivers to keep an eye on road conditions by calling 511 or visiting 511.novascotia.ca.