UPDATE: Highway 17 and Highway 1 reopened at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday night.
The Patricia Bay Highway was closed between the Swartz Bay ferry terminal and Keating Cross Road following more than 12 collisions in the area caused by winter road conditions.
Pat Bay Hwy from Swartz Bay Ferry terminal to Keating Cross Rd. is currently closed. Poor weather conditions have caused at least 12 collisions today. Stay safe out there & make alternative plans.
— Sidney/N.S. RCMP (@SidneyRCMP) February 11, 2019
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Earlier on Sunday, RCMP had also closed Highway 1 both directions between West Shore Parkway and Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Road to allow for the removal of stuck vehicles and for the passage of snow plows.
A number of motorists were stuck or in ditches on the Malahat as snow piled up on the highway.
MainRoads operations manager Chris Cowley said crews were working to remove vehicles and a jackknifed transport truck blocking the route from snow plows.
RCMP, CVSE, Ministry of Transportation and MainRoads crews were on scene.
Cowley estimated the passage to reopen in two to three hours.
West Shore RCMP confirmed there were at least three cars stuck or in the ditch on the Malahat, some who attempted to cross the mountain pass with summer tires.
The Malahat reopened at approximately 7:30 p.m. There are no injuries reported.
Via @DriveBC - #Malahat #BCHwy1 closed. Plows are heading NB and SB. Check https://t.co/NCVlkn102s for updates on opening.
— BC Transportation (@TranBC) February 11, 2019
Still snowing heavily. #yyj #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/kW7TqSzVLJ
A video taken by Danno Zarek on the Malahat shows snowy, slushy road conditions. Zarek said south bound lanes past Mill Bay were stalled due to the weather in the early afternoon. He spotted some cars in the ditch and others stopped in the road.
An additional 10 to 15 centimetres of snow is forecasted for the region.
nina.grossman@blackpress.ca
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