Road Reports

Love may be in the air, but so is blowing snow, making for a not-so-sweet Valentine’s Day commute. Slippery sections, ice-covered shoulders, and reduced visibility affect major routes around Calgary, giving drivers a not-so-sweet surprise this morning.

Two separate motor vehicle collisions impacting traffic for Airdrie motorists have been cleared.

One collision occurred on the southbound ramp from Highway 2 (QEII) to Highway 566 near Balzac. Motorists were advised to expect congestion and potential stoppages.

​​​​​​Blowing snow and icy roads are creating dangerous driving conditions along the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Highway, prompting a warning from the Didsbury Fire Department.

Emergency responders are urging motorists to slow down and use extra caution as they deal with multiple collisions.

"With blowing snow and icy road conditions, please take extra caution if you have to travel today. Emergency personnel are dealing with collisions on QEII. Give us room to work, and please slow down," the Didsbury Fire Department stated on social media.

The unrelenting cold that has gripped Airdrie is set to continue this week, with wind chills that could cause frostbite in minutes.

The mercury is expected to drop to -31°C by tonight, and the wind chill will make it feel like -40°C. Monday morning will bring no relief, with the same bitter wind chill before a slight warm-up to -13°C in the afternoon.

The QEII Highway was shut down overnight and into Saturday morning after a multi-vehicle collision involving a tanker truck near Township Road 362, just north of Innisfail.

Related Stories:

• Update: QEII shut down near Innisfail – Airdrie commuters may have travel plans snarled

A multi-vehicle collision involving a tanker truck on Friday afternoon previously shut down the QEII Highway in both directions near Township Road 362, just north of Innisfail. However, as of Saturday morning, the northbound lanes had reopened and just before 11 a.m., both the southbound and northbound lanes had fully re-opened.

A motor vehicle collision on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (QEII) southbound lanes east of Crossfield has been cleared.

Drivers were previously warned of lane closures, no-passing zones, and significant traffic congestion. 

Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon. 

A previous collision heading northbound on Eastlake Boulevard has been cleared. 

Despite the snow tapering off on Wednesday night, the frigid temperatures have made roads slick - especially at intersections. Motorists are urged to drive to conditions. 

Earlier this morning, a collision occurred on the 40 Avenue Overpass, which has since been cleared.

Meanwhile, more than 600 collisions have been reported in Calgary since Monday morning, prompting police to remind drivers to adjust to winter conditions.

Airdrie residents planning to visit Kananaskis in June will face major closures and restrictions as the region is locked down for the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit, which will take place from June 15 to 17.

The RCMP's Integrated Safety and Security Group will implement strict security measures, including a controlled access zone, roadblocks, and a heavy police presence. Some closures will start as early as March and extend into July.

What will be closed

An earlier morning collision snarled traffic for Airdrie motorists on Thursday morning has been cleared.

According to motorist reports, the collision occurred in the eastbound lane on the 40 Avenue Overpass heading towards Airdrie.

Motorists are asked to exercise caution as the snowfall of the past days has made roads slick, especially on bridge decks, overpasses, and on and off ramps.