Heavy Snowfall Causes Traffic Chaos in Metro Vancouver

Heavy snow hit Metro Vancouver on Thursday just before the afternoon commute, leading to delays, collisions, skidding and spin-outs on some major routes.

While the snow subsided later in the evening, icy conditions made for treacherous driving conditions. Police closed off a long stretch of Davie Street in Vancouver’s West End, and in New Westminster, drivers were warned that multiple semi-trucks and buses were stuck on the Queensborough Bridge.

Vancouver police also asked drivers to avoid the McGill Street off-ramp on the westbound lanes of Highway 1 because of icy conditions.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services asked people not to drive unless absolutely necessary, especially on hills, writing on social media that firefighters were dealing with several vehicle incidents. As of about 4:45 p.m. PT, the fire rescue service said about 30 vehicles had crashed in the city.

In Richmond, RCMP reported a vehicle collision on Highway 91 east of Nelson Road.

The Transportation Ministry said it was forced to close the southbound counterflow lane of the George Massey Tunnel in Richmond just before 5 p.m. because of slippery conditions that had caused multiple vehicles to struggle with their traction. The lane reopened just before 6:30 p.m. after it was plowed and salted.

In North Vancouver, a transit bus lost traction in the snow on Highway 1 at Mountain Highway at about [insert time].