Road Reports

Users of lake water in the Red Lake community are warned of possible contamination of their water service.

The Municipality of Red Lake says users of lake water are advised that as a result of an overflow of sewage to Howey Bay, water users are advised of potential microbiological contamination, including E-coli and other potential pathogens.

It didn't take long for access to Red Lake to be closed off once again. 

Due to flooding, Highway 105 from Vermilion Bay to Highway 609 is fully closed due to water all over the road. Drivers are asked to avoid the area. The highway is fully closed also 20 kilometers south of Red Lake due to the washout. 

After being closed for over two days the Municipality of Red Lake and the Ministry of Transportation confirmed on Monday night (May 9, 2022) that Highway 105 at Caribou Creek had been repaired and is re-opened. The highway was fully open for only a couple of hours. 

Traffic signal work is taking place in parts of Kenora Wednesday (April 20, 2022), which could cause delays for some motorists. 

The City of Kenora, says Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the following sections will be closed to all traffic at various times:

It looks like winter isn't quite over yet as Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for the Kenora, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout areas in preparation for a large dump of snow. 

The agency is saying 25 to 40 cm of snow is expected as a strong low-pressure system is expected to track over northwestern Ontario beginning Wednesday afternoon through until Friday morning.

Along with the snow, strong wind gusts leading to widespread blowing snow are expected along with near-zero visibility in heavy snow and blowing snow.

The City of Kenora continues to turn its attention to the growing amount of potholes around the city.

The spring-like temperatures seen in recent weeks have melted a fair amount of the snow in and around Kenora, which in turn has begun exposing many potholes on roadways.

Kevin Gannon, Director of Engineering and Infrastructure says crews are doing the best they can to address the priority areas within the community.

Residents are in for some slick roadways tomorrow.

Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement calling for a low-pressure system with heavy snowfall into tomorrow morning. Up to 15 centimetres of snow mixed with rain is possible, with reduced visibility expected.

The statement is in effect across the region as of the time of writing.

This winter has been one to remember. As of April 5, the Kenora area has received 238 cm of snow starting from October. The average for those months combined is usually roughly 145.5 cm.

Drivers are asked to avoid Veteran's Drive from Third Street South to the Harbourfront roundabout tomorrow morning, as the roadway will be closed from 5 a.m until 12 p.m. 

The City of Kenora says crews with CP Rail will be conducting vegetation maintenance work on the railway bridge north of the roundabout tomorrow, and only buses and emergency vehicles will be allowed through. 

The sidewalk will also be closed. Drivers are asked to use alternate travel routes.

Northwestern Ontario will experience another burst of winter as we can expect up to 10cm of snowfall.

A special weather statement is in effect for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls, Morson, Dryden, Vermilion Bay, Ignace and English River. 

The snow will begin Tuesday night and will continue into Thursday morning with total snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm, with locally higher amounts possible.

Though snow is still on the ground and the threat of snow is possible people may want to start thinking about when they will remove their winter studded tires.

Ontario mandates that studded tires can only be used in Northern Ontario between September 1 and May 31 each year, as the studs can cause damage to roadways.

Studded tires are not allowed in Southern Ontario unless you’re visiting from out-of-province or a resident of Northern Ontario.

Due to the extremely cold winter and the over 200 cm of snow the area received the Lake of Woods Ice Patrol isn’t expecting an early thaw on the lake this spring.

Tim Armstrong from the LOTW Ice Patrol says the current conditions currently on the lake are very similar to what was seen in 2018.

“We had a similar amount of winter cold this winter and in 2018 so the numbers look similar and satellite photographs look similar, said Armstrong. “I’d say we’re roughly on track to do a spring-like 2018.”