Road Reports

Motorists who are travelling north of Airdrie, on the QEII on Sunday are asked to exercise caution and drive to winter conditions.

While roads are in fairly good condition north of Carstairs towards Didsbury and Olds, there are reports that further North, towards Red Deer there is poor visibility due to fog and blowing snow, as well as shoulder ice and snow buildup.

A multi-vehicle incident on Southbound Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail Southeast has been cleared.

Earlier in the evening the incident was blocking the right-hand lane. Emergency crews were reported to be on the scene but have since left.

There were no details on whether injuries were reported. 

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According to the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) between Tuesday, January 9, and the end of the day on Thursday, January 11, they received more than 10,000 requests for roadside assistance across the province.

"That number continues to climb given the extreme cold. In parts of Alberta, call volume has been as high as nine times the norm for this time of year, with dead batteries being the biggest culprit," The AMA stated.

The Alberta Motor Association's (AMA) estimated wait times for various roadside services in Airdrie can be anywhere from two to eight hours.

On Thursday, towing or winching is estimated at eight hours, while a battery boost is estimated at four hours. However, wait times in Clagary are stretching into 17 hours, with a service advisory having been placed on battery boosting.

Currently, anyone in Calgary needing a tow or winch will wait 17 hours, while a battery boost, lockout, flat tire, or fuel delivery is upwards of 13 hours.

Perhaps one of the most frequently used phrases in the past few days, other than how cold one's nose feels, is the question of where are all the snowplows and road maintenance vehicles. 

There are several different applications that residents can use to track the movement of the vehicles. 

Airdrie RCMP has said that the collision that occurred on Wednesday afternoon just north of the city was due to white-out conditions following the snowplow.

"There were no injuries as a result of the collision," police said. 

Although the collision was cleared after several hours, motorists are asked to remain cautious as residual traffic congestion may continue.

A three-vehicle collision that snarled traffic just North of Airdrie has been cleared.

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, Mounties and other emergency crews were on the scene of a collision between a snowplow, a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle on the QEII, just North of Veterans Boulevard.

While the collision has been cleared, there are reports of heavy residual traffic. There are no details as to the extent of injuries. 

With light snow continuing to fall within Airdrie and the surrounding areas, motorists are asked to plan for winter driving conditions.

Roads within Airdrie are partly covered in snow and some intersections may be slippery. Drivers are asked to give themselves extra space and extra time for their morning commute. 

With snow accumulations forecast up to two centimetres this evening, motorists are asked to remain cautious as gusting winds may produce blowing snow on highways.

Southbound QEII towards Calgary city limits is reported to be in good condition, while roads within the City of Calgary are reported to have some blowing snow as well as partially icy sections. 

Northward towards Carstairs and Crossfield, QEII road conditions are reported as good as well. 

Statistics are showing that January sees an increase in intersection-related collisions.

"One in four collisions on Alberta roads occurs at an intersection, resulting in thousands of dollars in damages, countless injuries and needless deaths each year," the province warned.