Snow and ice causing driver woes

LETHBRIDGE- The slick roads had emergency crews and tow trucks working in overdrive.

TNT Towing responded to about 100 calls by Monday afternoon, all related to Old Man Winter.

Chris Johansen with TNT Towing says no major collisions were called in, but that didn’t stop tow trucks from running around the clock, “We responded to a number of boosts, and door unlocks. There was also a number of small crashes and the odd car pulled out of the ditch.”

Within the City of Lethbridge, crews are still working to clear priority one routes. As of midnight on Monday the speed limit was reduced on Whoop Up Drive for driver safety.

The conditions are the same outside of Lethbridge, Volker Stevin has been working throughout Southern Alberta to try get a handle on the roads, But Dean Jetten with Volker Stevin says the blistery conditions don’t look like they will be letting up anytime soon, “We have 85 trucks out there plowing and sanding and our guys are working around the clock to try stay on top of it but first we had the rain, then it froze so there is a lot od ice then snow on top of it.”

The wind also adds to poor visibility, and Jetten says all drivers need to slow down so the plows and sanders can work to clear the roads safely.

“We already had one of our trucks hit on Sunday night. There is a big cloud of snow behind the plows so it’s important drivers slow down and give them room. On Sunday the person who hit our truck drove right into the back.”

With driving conditions expected to remain poor over the next couple of days, crews working within the city and on the highways ask all drivers to slow down and drive with care.