Police say a portion of Highway 400 near Barrie, Ont., is closed due to “extreme winter weather.”
In a tweet Friday just before 4 p.m., Ontario Provincial Police said Highway 400 was closed between Highway 89 and Mapleview Drive.
“Zero visibility and multiple collisions in the area,” police wrote in a tweet.
“If you don’t need to be on the roads, please stay off,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said in a video. “If you’re stuck on the roads, it’s going to be a slow drive wherever you are.”
He said lake effect snow is causing “essentially zero visibility in many areas.”
“Roads are extremely slippery and treacherous,” Schmidt continued. “Please be careful out there.”
EXTREME WINTER WEATHER – Crash at IBR/400 – #Hwy400 closed between NB #Hwy89 & SB Mapleview Drive #OnStorm Zero visibility and multiple collisions in the area. pic.twitter.com/FdFBCT8RME
— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) February 3, 2023
In an update at around 6:15 p.m., police said work to reopen the lanes had begun.
“This will take time, but I expect closures between #HWY89 and Maple View Drive will be reopened early this evening,” the tweet read.
Schmidt said conditions were “beginning to improve.”
Schmidt said the force is working with the Ministry of Transportation to get plows to affected areas to clear snow from the roads and open the lanes.
“If you are stuck in traffic it will be some time, but hope is on the horizon,” he said.
REOPENING EFFORTS ON #Hwy400 is commencing. This will take time, but I expect the closures between #Hwy89 and Maple View Drive will be reopened early this evening. Thank you for your patience. #OnStorm pic.twitter.com/gdb2cgFWZw
— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) February 3, 2023
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