Severe weather forced the closure of Highway 63 last Thursday night until late Friday night. Highway 881 was also closed for a period of this time due to vehicle collisions.
With Highway 63 and 881 shut down, Fort McMurray was cut off from the south for more than 24 hours.
When RCMP deemed the road in very poor condition, they reopened the highway with specific restrictions.
ìWhat this means for motorists is that marked police vehicles will be leaving both the north and south ends of the highway at approximately 15 minute intervals, each being followed by approximately 50 vehicles,î Cst. Christina Wilkins stated in a press release. ìThis will be done in attempts to minimize the amount of traffic in any given area of the highway, as well as to set the pace for speed of travel as maintenance crews continue to plow and sand the roadway.î
Even though the RCMP stated the highway was open, they urged motorists not to travel, and to wait for more favorable road conditions.
Lac La Biche RCMP had issued a travel advisory after road conditions deteriorated, and the RCMP responded to more than 60 collisions.
Boyle RCMP was in a similar situation, responding to more than 40 collisions.
Traffic was backed up due to the road closures, and many small communities ran out of hotel rooms to house the overflow of people.
Hotels in Boyle, Grassland and Lac La Biche were full and turning away people Thursday night.
Grassland Motel was turning people away Thursday night because every room was booked.
ìWe have been full since the road closed,î manager Kathy Gostevskyh said. ìWe are busy trying to accommodate everyone.î
