QEII closure north of Calgary leads to major delays
Posted Dec 2, 2021 12:08 pm.
Last Updated Dec 2, 2021 12:32 pm.
The main road between Calgary and Edmonton was closed to traffic Thursday morning, leading to major backups along Highway 2 for hours.
The QEII was shut down east of Carstairs due to icy conditions and multiple crashes just before 7 a.m.
It’s since reopened but conditions remain slick.
“The road is extremely icy. You can see it, it’s quite a few layers of ice here,” said one caller to CityNews Calgary.
“Highway 2 between Crossfield and Carstairs is an absolute skating rink,” added Shane.
A snow-covered QEII and a long line of vehicles after a road closure along Highway 2 north of Calgary. (Submitted: Tyler Heisler)
Images shared with CityNews show long lines of trucks and vehicles waiting to get by.
Eventually, when vehicles were able to make it through, Shane says semis were visible struggling to make it up a hill.
Conditions on the highway have improved, but at one point, backups were past the Crossfield turnoff.
The province says there remains a mix of conditions in that area.
Varied road conditions across Alberta this morning. QEII btwn Calgary & Edmonton, mix of ptly covered ice and bare & wet pave with rain/snow. Drive to condition. (8:05am) #ABRoads #yyctraffic pic.twitter.com/8nWQtxCu2K
— 511 Alberta (@511Alberta) December 2, 2021
People are being urged to take extra care and to drive to conditions.
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