A snowfall covered Waterloo Region and surrounding areas late Friday morning, causing several road closures, including on Highway 401.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported that the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 were closed just past Guelph Line as of 11:30 a. m. following a crash involving two tractor-trailers.
“If you don’t need to be on the roads, this is a great day to stay back, stay home, stay away, and wait for the system to pass,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.
The eastbound lanes reopened around 3 p. m., with one person being taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
There were also significant problems in the westbound lanes of Highway 401, which were shut down at Cedar Creek Road shortly after 11 a. m.
According to OPP, this was due to multiple collisions along with poor weather and road conditions. Minor injuries were reported.
Crews managed to temporarily reopen one lane in the westbound direction to help relieve some traffic stuck on the highway.
“However, that changed when drivers decided not to drive within the confines of the road conditions due to the weather,” West Region OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said. “So we need people to please put your safety as your priority and reduce your speed.”
Sanchuk mentioned that transport trucks were involved in these incidents which resulted in an oil spill.
A special weather statement is currently in effect predicting 10 to 15 cm of snow throughout the day.
Drivers are advised to avoid all unnecessary travel.
Grand River Transit announced a severe weather event as many stops have been closed because of conditions and detours have been set up.
The weather has also led to snow events across Waterloo Region.
In Cambridge, an on-street parking ban begins Friday at 5 p. m., while Waterloo’s starts at 6 p. m.
A snow event will be declared in Wellesley just before midnight, with Kitchener’s snow event starting Saturday at 2 a. m.
Significant snowfall on Friday, March 13 at The Boardwalk in Kitchener. (Erin Anderson/City News Kitchener)
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