All highways in southern Manitoba now open again after storm

The Trans-Canada Highway has reopened early Monday morning, but some travellers still face a tough time on highways after Sunday's storm in southern Manitoba.

CBC News · Posted: Feb 07, 2016 8:54 AM EST | Last Updated: February 8, 2016

Snowy Trans-Canada Highway in Winnipeg

9 years ago

0:58

Traffic begins to move again on the Trans-Canada Highway between Headingley and Portage la Prairie on Monday. The highway was closed Sunday due to blizzard-like conditions.

Traffic around southern Manitoba is flowing a little easier now that all highways have reopened following Sunday's storm.

Blizzard-like conditions reduced visibility in many places Sunday but as the winds eased up and conditions improved, the roads began to reopen late in the day.

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MBHwy1?src=hash">#MBHwy1</a> is OPEN <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rcmpmb?src=hash">#rcmpmb</a>
—@rcmpmb

As of Monday morning, there were only two closures remaining but both are now clear of barricades:

Highway 1 (Trans-Canada) between Portage la Prairie and Headingley.
Highway 2 between Highways 332 and 240 (between Starbuck and St. Claude).

The Trans-Canada reopened by 7:45 a.m. CT and Highway 2 followed suit by 8:30 a.m. CT.

Another major route that had been impacted, Highway 75 from the south Perimeter Highway to the United States border, reopened just after 10 p.m. CT Sunday. The province also opened highways 3 and 23 after road conditions improved late Sunday.

Check the Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation website for regular updates on road closures.

Blowing snow blasts southern Manitoba

9 years ago

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Several Manitoba highways were closed on Sunday after high winds and blowing snow reduced visibility to less than 400 metres in parts of the province.

RAW: Bad weather closes several Manitoba highways on Sunday

9 years ago

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The Trans-Canada Highway west of Portage la Prairie, Man. on Sunday remained open while six other Manitoba roadways were closed due to blowing snow.

Manitoba RCMP reported at least 14 collisions in the province on Sunday, and were warning drivers of numerous stranded motorists and cars in ditches.

The strongest wind gusts Sunday came in at 80 km/h and Environment Canada says the highest snowfall was in Arborg, which had 10 cm.

Winnipeg recorded just 1 cm of snow but the wind created drifts that were much higher.

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rcmpmb?src=hash">#rcmpmb</a> seeing motorists go around barricades to access closed highways. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reallybadidea?src=hash">#reallybadidea</a> <a href="https://t.co/oSMqpPHyFW">pic.twitter.com/oSMqpPHyFW</a>
—@rcmpmb

Truckers and other motorists were left frustrated by Sunday's road closures. Joe Eskenswiller, travelling from southern Ontario to Edmonton, was forced to delay his journey in Headingley, Man., on Sunday around noon after the Trans-Canada was shut down.

"I'll be here a day. Last year this happened quite a bit. Just grin and bear it," he said.

Another truck driver stranded in Headingley, Matt Kauenhowen, said he wished he had stayed home.

"Nothing I can do about it," he said. "Just one of those things I guess. Part of the job."