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Snowfall puts transportation options on hold

City of Powell River caution drivers, cancels bus service until further notice
snow
SNOW DAY: Powell River area road conditions are poor this morning after heavy snowfall that started around 7 am. City of Powell River buses have been cancelled until further notice. Contributed photo

City of Powell River buses have been cancelled until city plows can get ahead of snowstorm accumulation.

Snow that started falling at 7:30 am the morning of Friday, February 3, quickly accumulated on frozen roads, creating slippery conditions for drivers on their way to work. City operations announced at 9 am that morning that buses would stop running.

“We’re on a hold pattern right now until we can get ahead of the game on our road conditions,” said city director of infrastructure Tor Birtig. “The drivers just found it was unsafe to move the buses.”

Birtig said Duncan Street was plowed at just after 9 am and 20 minutes later it was covered in snow and slippery again.

“To stay ahead we’d be running the plow two minutes ahead of all the bus routes,” he added. “That just can’t happen.”

Along the road between Townsite and Westview, cars pulled off the road as they were not able to make it up the hill. Traffic on Wildwood hill was also moving slowly.

The city currently has three plows; all are deployed this morning, said Birtig.

“They are doing what they can,” he said.

Birtig advised drivers to be careful if they are going out on the roads.

Powell River Taxi has also suspended its service until further notice.