The safety of the travelling public is at the core of Mainroad’s planning and preparation for any weather event. Prior to a snow forecast, crews are pre-treating Service Area roads and highways using brine and/or salt which was the response earlier this week in preparation of yesterday’s forecasted event.
During winter operations, Mainroad deploys about 40 pieces of equipment across the Lower Mainland Service Area including over 100 crew plus mechanical support who work tirelessly to patrol, treat, and clear roadways.
However, we rely on the travelling public to be prepared for the unpredictability of winter and to drive to the conditions. Tuesday’s storm mixed with heavy congestion created a gridlock traffic situation which was worsened by motorists that were not prepared for winter driving conditions, causing many incidents and stalls. The volume of gridlock prevented Mainroad crews from having full access to roads and bridge decks to perform winter maintenance.
Leading up to the next forecasted event this Friday, December 2nd, and throughout the winter season, Mainroad would like to remind everyone to be prepared. This means, before heading out, check Drive BC as well as local traffic & weather reports and avoid driving when conditions are poor. Secondly, prepare your vehicle with snow tires, a full tank of gas or a full charge, and an emergency kit.
To learn more about how you can prepare for the winter driving season, visit www.shiftintowinter.ca and Mainroad’s winter operations FAQ’s.
Our 24-hour communications and dispatch office will pass on all observations and concerns to our crews when contacted. See an issue on Lower Mainland Highways? Give us a call!
