​Highway 21, from Kincardine to Port Elgin, still closed as crews clear massive snow drifts

Highway 21, from Kincardine to Port Elgin, remains closed as of 9 p.m. Saturday, as road crews continue to work clearing massive snow drifts from the roadway.

The latest snowstorm blew in Thursday night, bringing high wind and causing severe blowing and drifting snow.

At 10 p.m., Thursday, the South Bruce OPP reported Highway 21 was closed, from Amberley to Port Elgin, due to poor road and weather conditions.

Other roadways, including Bruce County Road 23, from Lorne Beach Road to Bruce County Road 20, were closed Friday, but were re-opened later that day.

Friday morning, the school buses were cancelled in Kincardine, Ripley and Walkerton, and the schools were closed.

The Municipality of Kincardine reported that the municipal administrative centre was closed, as was the Underwood Community Centre. The Davidson Centre remained open, but the pool was closed and programs were cancelled.

By Saturday morning, with Highway 21 still closed, from Amberley to Port Elgin, the municipality stated in a Facebook post, that while it is frustrating to have the roadway closed for this length of time, there are a few things that people need to realize about the time required to clear massive snow drifts from this section of road:
 

• Highway 21 is a provincial roadway so the province has crews that work to get this cleared
• These crews work 24 hours per day in shifts on main roads, such as Highways 21 and 9
• Bruce County and the Municipality of Kincardine (or any of the municipalities that these highways pass through) do not clear these roads
• Drifts like these cannot be cleared by a plow; they require industrial blowers that cut away at the banks just like you would with your own snow blower or shovel and a heavy pile of snow – a chunk at a time until it’s gone; plows will come through once the drifts are removed
• You may see a portion of the road and think it’s fine, but just up the road may be a different story
• These crews are working hard and if it’s work you’ve never done, yourself, it’s hard to fully understand what it takes to get the job done

At 5 p.m., Saturday, Highway 21, from Amberley to Kincardine, was re-opened.

For those who decide to travel, keep your headlights and tail-lights on and clear of snow and do not drive on a closed road.

Remember to keep your speed down. “If you see snow, go slow.”

For up-to-date road/weather information, visit: www.brucecounty.on.ca/road-conditions.php or call Bruce County Roads at 1-866–266-7569, option “2”. For Ontario highways – visit 511on.ca.”

-- photo courtesy of the Municipality of Kincardine