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Snowfall turns Castlegar on-ramp into challenge for commercial drivers

Commercial vehicles struggled with an on-ramp between Columbia Avenue and the highway during a recent weather event.
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A lumber truck got stuck going up the ramp between Columbia Avenue and Highway 3 on Thursday

Commercial vehicles struggled with an on-ramp between Columbia Avenue and the highway during a recent weather event.

The snowfall and rain that Castlegar received on Wednesday, Jan. 18, caused problems on the on-ramp leading fromColumbia Avenue to Hwy. 3 the next day. A number of commercial vehicles were forced to stop on Columbia Avenue to put on chains, constricting the roadway, and a truck hauling lumber got stuck on the ramp, blocking it entirely.

“He just got stuck in the heavy slush edge there,” said Const. Andrew Bachmann, who provided traffic control while the vehicle was stuck.

A heavy wrecker was eventually brought in to assist the commercial vehicle up the ramp, but the on-ramp continued to present a challenge for commercial drivers throughout the day.

Contacted about whether or not they knew that there were issues with the ramp during winter conditions, the Ministry of Transportation replied: “The ministry is aware that on occasion, some commercial vehicles heading westbound have difficulties navigating the on-ramp from Columbia Avenue onto Highway 3. During this last weather event on the evening of the 17th and morning of the 18th, the Castlegar area experienced approximately 20 cms of snow followed by heavy rainfall onWednesday evening. This led to compact conditions on highways on most of the southeastern part of the province.

“Compact conditions on on-ramps create additional challenges for commercial vehicle drivers as both the vertical and horizontal alignment changes. Drivers need to anticipate these changes and adjust their driving behaviours and actions accordingly. In some cases, tire chains will be needed and if drivers haven’t correctly anticipated the grade changes, they may have to chain up where they have lost traction, which may not always be in an ideal location. RCMP, Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE), and other policing agencies can issue tickets if the commercial vehicle is not properly equipped for road conditions.”

Emcon Services Ltd. has the contract to maintain the ramp, and ministry maintenance specifications require that the road have no more than 4 centimeters of accumulation before being plowed.

Asked what is being done or will be done to address the issue, the ministry responded: “The local maintenance contractor will continue to plow and sand roads and ramps according to ministry specifications. Snow was recently plowed from the shoulder edges to accommodate the configurations of commercial traffic that require a wider turning radius to utilize the on-ramp.”