File photo of Whoop-Up Drive in Lethbridge. A single--vehicle collision has caused delays and road damage on Whoop-Up Drive, June 28, 2023. (File photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Collisions cause major delays, road damage in Lethbridge

Jun 28, 2023 | 9:16 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – UPDATE: (1:00 p.m. June 29): The City of Lethbridge said all lanes of Whoop-Up Drive have re-opened and road repairs have been completed.

Original story:

Motorists in Lethbridge may notice slow moving traffic in the city.

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) said it responded to a single vehicle collision on westbound Whoop-Up Drive at around 4:42 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

A second multi-vehicle collision was reported on westbound Highway 3 at the Oldman River bridge about an hour later. As of around 6:15 p.m., police were still reporting delays due to both incident.

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Shortly before 7 p.m., the LPS reported that the westbound lanes of Highway 3 (Crowsnest Trail) were reopen. Eastbound lanes, which had also been impacted, were reopened shortly after.

ROAD DAMAGE

The City of Lethbridge issued an advisory that the incident on Whoop-Up Drive caused significant damage to the asphalt and will require repair before all lanes can be reopened.

As of 9:10 p.m., Whoop-Up Drive remains closed at 5 Street South, but crews have opened a single lane westbound accessible from the Scenic Drive off-ramp.

Motorists are being detoured from 6 Avenue South to 5 Avenue South, via 5 Street South, to access the Scenic Drive off-ramp. From there, a single lane will stay open while repairs are being made.

Map of the open lane on Whoop-Up Drive, June 28, 2023. (Photo: City of Lethbridge)

Motorists using westbound Whoop-Up Drive can anticipate ongoing delays due to the single lane of traffic. The City of Lethbridge said crews hope to have the repairs done by mid-day on Thursday, June 29 so all lanes can reopen. The speed limit along Whoop-Up Drive has been lowered to 60 km/hr.

Eastbound traffic on Whoop-Up Drive is unaffected and the speed limit remains at 90 km/hr.

Officials added that the emergency gates built to flow traffic into the opposite lanes, when needed, will not be opened because a single lane of traffic is now accessible on Whoop-Up and Crowsnest Trail (Highway 3) is open. The gates were constructed to be used when no lanes of traffic were available for an extended period of time (four or more hours). Officials said opening the gates would also limit traffic flow in the eastbound lanes from West Lethbridge into the downtown Thursday morning.

Motorists are encouraged to use Crowsnest Trail as an alternative route and drive with caution.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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