Motorists asked to stay off roads in Southern Manitoba

Motorists are being asked to keep off the roads in Southern Manitoba as conditions on provincial highways and roadways continue to worsen.

On Friday afternoon an official Emergency Alert was issued pleading with motorists to stay home as visibility has been reduced to zero in parts of the province. 

Due to the fact there have been numerous accidents on roads and highways, the government is asking motorists to give priority to emergency vehicles who are responding to numerous collisions. 

A Shared Health spokesperson confirmed a Code Orange was called in the Southern Health-Sante Sud at the Ste. Anne Hospital and Bethesda Regional Health Centre, as both sites received patients from a multi-vehicle collision near Ste. Anne. 

A collision just outside the city also triggered preparative steps at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre where a Code Orange Alert – not a Code Orange – was declared. 

A Code Orange within Shared Health is used when preparing hospital staff for a large influx of casualties.

The alert essentially informs staff of the possibility of a Code Orange, with Shared Health Emergency Response Services responding to numerous weather-related motor vehicle incidents across the southern portion of the province. 

“The number of injured and the severity of their injuries is still being determined,” said the Shared Health spokesperson in a statement. “However, we can confirm that a number of patients have been or are in the process of being transported to various hospitals and health centres across the province.”

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure stress that conditions are getting worse and the roads must be clear to ensure emergency responders can do their work, as they too have been challenged by the conditions.

According to information from the province, Highway 1 from Winnipeg to Hadashville, alongside Carberry to Headingley and Brandon are all closed, as wind gusts are expected to reach 90 km/h while gusting.

Winnipeg police say they are helping RCMP deal with traffic closures at the South Perimeter eastbound from Fermor to Plessis at Lagimodiere, as dozens of vehicles are involved in collisions and a serious pile-up.

Environment and Climate Change Canada indicated while visibility inside of Winnipeg is not too bad, open areas and communities around the city are taking the brunt of the weather system, caused by an Alberta clipper. 

“Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions,” explained the Blizzard Warning from the national forecaster. 

“Protect yourself from wind, cold and disorientation by staying sheltered, indoors or with your vehicle. If you become stranded in a vehicle do not leave. The vehicle offers a form of protection from the cold. A single person walking through the snow is harder to find than a stranded car or truck.” 

The Manitoba RCMP also advised residents to stay off of provincial highways due to what it called “extremely hazardous” advising them to avoid all possible travel. 

WPS add that North and South Perimeter are closed and to avoid them at all costs.

More information around highway closures and travel advisories can be found by visiting Manitoba511.