Hwy 401 closed at Napanee for few hours to remove debris

UPDATE JAN 30: Hwy 401 eastbound between Marysville Road and Hwy 41 will be closed beginning at 1 p.m. today as heavy tow equipment remove the remaining five (5) tractor trailers from yesterday’s multi vehicle crash.
A total of 21 tractor trailers and 12 vehicles were towed from the scene. Many more were damaged but driven from the area.
Motorists traveling on Hwy 401 eastbound this afternoon are asked to follow the Emergency Detour Route (EDR) as the eastbound lanes are expected to be closed for a minimum of three hours.

The County shares this photo on Twitter of the clean up ongoing Wednesday at Hiscock Shores.

West Lake Road Wednesday afternoon in this photo by Michelle Pothier.

Cherry Valley this afternoon in this photograph by Janet Elson

UPDATE: The Prince Edward County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police is advising motorists that driving conditions throughout the County are hazardous due to whiteout conditions and drifting snow. Sections of Highways 33, 62 and 49 are all affected. The OPP is asking motorists to avoid travel in the area unless necessary.

Highway 62 has re-opened. Hiscock Shores road has re-0pened.

In its dispatch at noon today, the municipality asks residents to ensure fire hydrants on their property are visible and accessible.
Recycling trucks have been pulled off the roads. Collection that was missed today is now scheduled for Saturday Feb. 1. Garbage trucks have also been pulled off the roads.

All Prince Edward County schools are closed today.

OPP East share this photo on Twitter, taken at Napanee. Crews are still trying to clear the scene, but will take a few hours to do so. One serious injury.

Motorists are advised to avoid Hwy 401 between Napanee and Marysville as Napanee OPP continues to investigate a multi vehicle pileup that occurred this morning just before 8 a.m.
Greater Napanee Fire Services attended the scene and extricated three people that were trapped inside vehicles that had been travelling eastbound.  One person was removed from a tractor trailer and two from a car.  Fire Services also extinguished the cab of a tractor trailer that was on fire.
Ambulances transported nine people from the scene to Lennox and Addington County General Hospital.  Three of those patients were later transferred to Kingston General Hospital with serious injuries.
A bus was sent to the scene to transfer 19 people to an emergency shelter.  Some had minor injuries but did not wish to go to hospital.
The collision scene occurred over a three kilometre stretch of highway between Napanee and Deseronto.

Several regular and heavy tow trucks have been on scene all day pulling vehicles and tractor trailers from the scene.
Hwy 401 west bound is now re-opened.  Please reduce speed according to road conditions.
It is expected that Highway 401 eastbound will be re-opened later this evening.

Snow expected to accumulate rapidly – about 10 cm per 12 hours. Snow squalls continue to affect highways 401 and 2 as well as other roads, resulting in zero visibility in white outs.

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Consecon Tuesday morning. Photographed by Wade Ennis.

UPDATE: More of the same. Bitterly cold Arctic air mass expected to persist through Wednesday.

Due to heavy snowdrifts and blowing snow, Hiscock Shores Road has been closed to traffic, and will likely remain closed until
Wednesday morning.
Motorists are asked to stay off the roads as zero visibility is common in treacherous road conditions throughout Prince Edward
County.
In a report from the municipality, Ashley Stewart, communications officer, said County Road 33 will not be closed between County roads 1 and 19 as planned late afternoon.
Tonight’s council meeting was cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 30th at 7pm at Shire Hall.
Garbage not collected today is to be collected tomorrow.

“The County is continuing with snow removal efforts but expects delays in servicing some roads and areas,” she said. “Plows are fully mobilized and crews are continuing with snow removal efforts as quickly as possible. Arterial Roads are given priority to ensure
that emergency service vehicles and residents can travel as safely as possible.|”

Snow, more snow and snow squalls are what Mother Nature will bring to Prince Edward County today and overnight.

Morrison Point Road, Tuesday at 1 p.m. Photographed by Dave Cleary

Expect more of what we’ve been having this past week as Prince Edward County again finds itself in another snow squall and wind chill watch.

Environment Canada says squalls will start blasting the Odessa to Kingston area this morning then start action from Napanee to Belleville to Cobourg this afternoon with bursts of heavy snow and blowing snow.

With squalls, motorists should expect travel with low to nil visibilities on Highways 401, 2 and throughout Prince Edward County. Click here for information on roads: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/trip/index.shtml

What the squalls will stir up is almost unpredictable, but Environment Canada predicts County snowfall could be up to 10cms of snow today and an equivalent amount overnight. Wind chills to improve by the afternoon but return to near -30 tonight as a bitterly cold Arctic air mass invades southern Ontario again.

The municipality warns motorists to be wary around the growing snowbanks that can hide oncoming vehicles and people – especially children – from view.
All staff and equipment will be deployed to plow roads and sidewalks with arterial roads getting priority.
A street parking ban is in effect from 2a.m. -6 a.m. and residents are asked not to park on sidewalks to allow for snow removal. Residents are also asked not to shovel snow onto the roads or sidewalks as it hinders plowing efforts. It can also result in a $75 fine.