Highway maintenance crews not ready for snow on the Coquihalla

KAMLOOPS —    The B-C Ministry of Transportation says highway maintenance crews were caught off guard by a snow storm that caused traffic chaos on the Coquihalla highway yesterday.

     The highway was closed in both directions between Hope and Merritt for two-and-a-half hours after a vehicle incident brough traffic to a standstill.

     The ministry says crews prepared according to the forecast, which called for light snow, but a storm cell came through causing compact snow and slippery conditions.

     Adding to the chaos, the province says the onsite chain up lights warning commercial vehicles to add chains while driving on the highway were not activated until mid morning.