Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.
That's the message from the Department of Transportation and Public Works as it issued an update on road conditions following the recent snowstorm the province experienced last week.
"The storm brought a tremendous amount of snowfall over a relatively short time which, combined with high winds, made most roads treacherous for both drivers and emergency services," said Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea.
Snow removal crews from the Department have been working around the clock through the weekend with most main roads now open to two lane traffic. Staff are now concentrating on widening and blowing out snow from roads to re-establish two lane traffic across the Island. Depending upon future weather conditions, most main Island roads should be fully cleared to the shoulders by the end of the week. However, caution still needs to be exercised by drivers on secondary roads where sections with only one lane presently cleared still exist.
Shea advised that, while staff are working to complete the job, drivers should take extra care when traveling on the roads. The banking of large amounts of snow in many locations makes the risk of drifting and reduced visibility concerns for all motorists, particularly around hills and hollows where approaching traffic may not immediately see staff at work. In many areas, roads may be partially opened to two lanes but still have crews working to widen and open the rest of the road. This makes the need for drivers to proceed as if the road were one lane important to ensure the continued safety of both motorists and staff.
"Our staff certainly appreciate the cooperation we've received from Islanders as we work to clear the roads," said Shea. "We would ask that motorists slow down and continue to exercise caution while driving for the next while, especially if further snowfall continues through the week."