Traffic stuck on the Malahat (Photo: Twitter @MichaelRWalsh )
The Trans Canada highway on the Malahat, from the West Shore Parkway to Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road, has now reopened after it was closed for a few hours due to severe winter conditions.
The highway reopened before 8 p.m. after it had been closed for three hours.
Mainroad said a transport truck that was involved in an accident northbound and multiple vehicles spun out southbound. Their plowing trucks were unable to make clearing cycles on the major roadway due to the incidents.
At around 7 p.m. officials said plows are heading north and southbound.
The Malahat was closed following coordination from Mainoad, the RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation.
MainRoads vehicles, tow trucks and other emergency services are on the stretch of road working to make it safe.
“Unless it’s absolutely necessary please stay home,” said Mainroad spokesperson Chris Cowley.
“[Opening the road] depends on current weather, we hope early tonight in a few hours.”
One witness said he was stuck northbound due to a jackknifed truck.
Environment Canada says the winter system hitting the coast Sunday could bring up to 10 centimetres of snow to parts of Vancouver Island by the evening.
More to come — this post was updated at 7:20 p.m.
Julian Kolsut
