By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter with files from rdnewsNOW staff

Dangerous road conditions prompt RCMP to re-route traffic along Hwy 2 near Red Deer

Mar 8, 2019 | 1:02 PM

RED DEER – ***Up-DATE — 32 vehicles and 8 semis were in the ditch between Red Deer and Edmonton on Friday afternoon.  RCMP lifted tow restrictions on that secion of highway at 7:30 Saturdy morning. Heavy snow is still expected in the area.

RCMP are re-routing  traffic from Highway 2, otherwise known as QEII, to an area called “gasoline alley,” in Red Deer, because of hazardous driving conditions Friday afternoon.

 
According to Blackfalds RCMP, a number of vehicles have already left the road because of slippery conditions and poor visibility.
 
Those who are already on the Highway north or Red Deer, can expect delays of several hours because of a collision near LeDuc.
 
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for central Alberta, just north of Calgary all the way to Edmonton, and west from The Canmore/Kananaskis and Rocky Mountain House areas east to Drumheller/Stettler/Fort Saskatchewan.
 
Up to 30 cm of snow is expected in some areas, with 2-5 cm of snow falling per hour.
 
According to AMA, many roads are already completely snow covered, with others partially snow/ice covered. RCMP are asking those who don’t have to travel in or to these areas to refrain from doing so.