Road Reports

The City of Kenora has implemented road restrictions that will take effect Saturday night (March 26, 2022). 

Effective Saturday (March 26, 2022), at 11:59 p.m. reduced road restrictions, will take effect as per the City of Kenora By-law 134-2021 and the Highway Traffic Act R.S.O. 1990, c. H. 8, Section 122. 

This restriction is necessary to protect highways, streets, and roads from damage during mild, wet spring conditions. Signs are posted on each of the impacted roads to notify motorists of the restriction.

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

The City of Kenora is hard at work trying to fill in some of the more major potholes, but more and more keep popping up as temperatures begin to change.

Kenora Mayor, Dan Reynard says he is anticipating pothole complaints, which he says the city has a pothole hotline designed to field those complaints.

**UPDATE 9:41am - The highway has been reopened.

**UPDATE 7:25am - Police are escorting traffic past the tractor-trailer. Traffic is alternating and delays are still to be expected. 

-- Original Story --

Highway 17 is closed in both directions following a morning incident. 

There is a jack-knifed tractor trailer on Highway 17 at Hwy 605 Oxdrift. Drivers are asked to avoid the area. 

There is no estimated time as to when the Highway will reopen. 

Due to road conditions, the Northwestern Student Services Consortium has decided to cancel all buses for Dryden, Vermilion Bay and Sioux Lookout for the second consecutive day. 

There is still a snowfall warning in effect for the region, with snowfall expected to ease around noon. 

Schools remain open. 

Local roads and highways are slick across much of northwestern Ontario today, and the icy conditions caused an early morning collision on Highway 17 this morning near Dryden.

Due to the snowfall overnight, the Northwestern Student Services Consortium has decided to cancel the following bus routes: 

Red Lake/Ear Falls - All routes are cancelled

Dryden/Vermilion Bay - All routes are cancelled

Sioux Lookout - All routes are cancelled

Upsala/Ignace - UP82 is cancelled

Schools remain open. 

There is a snowfall warning in effect for Dryden, Vermilion Bay, Sioux Lookout, Savant Lake, Sturgeon Lake and Eastern Lac Seul. 

Significant snowfall possible tonight into Tuesday night where the region could see snowfall amounts of 15-20 cm with reduced visibility in heavy snow. 

A special weather statement is in effect for Kenora and surrounding areas, where residents can see snowfall amounts of 7 to 15 cm with a risk of freezing rain or ice pellets.

Another blast of wintry weather is on the way.

Environment Canada says 10 to 15 cm of snow will fall across the region between Monday night and Tuesday night. Though, the weather agency notes that 20 cm of snow is possible

Precipitation may begin as rain, freezing rain, or ice pellets Monday night, before changing over to snow by early Tuesday morning.

A special weather statement has been issued for the region.

With temperatures starting to warm up in the area the Kenora OPP is reminding residents to be extra careful when embarking onto the ice.

OPP Provincial Constable, Jason Canfield says when on the ice in a vehicle or snow machine to be aware of water or slush on the surface.

“Be very wary of any kind of areas that look like they may have holes and the snow has disappeared and It looks like there’s a bit of water it usually means it might be right through,” said Canfield.

The City of Kenora says staff with their Roads crews are working tirelessly to clear main streets and priority routes throughout the city after a massive snow-melt on Wednesday, which is still causing slick road conditions and frustration across the community.

“It’s a cliché, but it was a perfect storm,” explained the City of Kenora’s Director of Corporate Services, Heather Pihulak.