A long stretch of Highway 400 is closed as provincial police in southwestern and central Ontario urge motorists to refrain from unnecessary travel due to treacherous road conditions.
Road closures due to blinding whiteouts and icy road conditions include all lanes of Highway 400 from the Midland area to south of Sudbury — a distance of about 190 kilometres.
Police in Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth and Dufferin Counties are advising all motorists to stay off the roads due to extremely dangerous driving conditions.
Officials in Owen Sound, Saugeen Shores and Grey Highlands are telling drivers to stay off municipal roads.
Owen Sound Police have closed 8th Street East between 9th Avenue East and 28th Avenue East — the road to the Owen Sound hospital
Access to the hospital can be gained on 10th Street and 16th Avenue East.
All provincial highways and County Roads in Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth Counties are considered closed because they are simply impassable.
Specifically, Highway 6 from Tobermory south to Port Dover, all 350 kilometres of road according to the MTO
Highway 21 is closed from Springmount, just outside Owen Sound to Huron Road 83 near Grand Bend.
Highway 26 is closed from Owen Sound to Blue Mountains.
Highway 10 is closed from Chatsworth to Dundalk
Highway 9 is closed from Harriston to Kincardine
Plows in Georgian Bluffs, Paisley, Wiarton and the Walkerton area have been taken off the roads.
Police and emergency officials in Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth and Dufferin Counties are also having to rescue people who are stranded in dozens of vehicles.
Again, police say stay off the roads
Motorists are reminded to respect the road closure signs that are in place.
Driving on a closed roadway is an offence under the Highway Traffic Act that carries a $110 fine and three demerit points upon conviction.
All motorists are encouraged to check weather and road travel conditions by calling 511or online at www.Ontario.ca/trip for up to date road conditions for provincially maintained highways.
Residents are reminded to ensure that they have following when travelling
– full tank of gasoline
– washer fluid topped up
– warm clothing in including warm mitts and winter boots
– snow scraper
– shovel
– emergency flares
– food
– and most importantly a fully charged cell phone to call for assistance.
And a reminder that the public should refrain from calling police and tying up essential 9-1-1 and communications resources to inquire about road conditions and weather related inquires.
Extreme cold in the Toronto area, where temperatures plunged to about minus 40 Celsius overnight with the wind chill, have caused a rash of delays and flight cancellations at Pearson International Airport.
