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Snow slows traffic on Highway 99

Sunday evening travel on highway requires winter tread
snow_on_highway_99_jfrench
SLIPPERY SITUATION Traffic on Highway 99 in Whistler was reduced to a crawl as the first major snow of the season blanketed the highway and turned it into a skating rink in areas. Photo by John French

The first major snow to the valley in Whistler has turned Highway 99 in a slippery mess. A number of vehicles with poor tread started sliding on the highway north of Function Junction starting at about 3:30 after snow had been falling hard for an hour.

Whistler Fire Rescue and B.C. Ambulance crews responded to a particularly slippery spot just north of Spring Creek while vehicles were having trouble negotiating the hill between Nordic Estates and Alta Vista.

Traffic from Function Junction north is moving but at a very slow pace as emergency crews work to get vehicles moving on the highway as the snow continues to fall with a temperature of -1 in Whistler. The weather forecast is calling for snow through the night and into Monday.

Drive BC, the highway information centre, is recommending the use of winter tires on Highway 99.

The traffic snarl on the highway is putting a damper on the final hours of Cornucopia in Whistler. With highway traffic stalled, those planning to travel this evening are advised to delay the trip until road conditions improve.

The final Cornucopia event is an Asian Night Market planned for the Whistler Conference Centre. The market opens at 7 p.m. and continues until 10 p.m.