Slick snow stymies Regina drivers

A quick overnight and early-morning snowfall in Regina had drivers dealing with traffic jams, slippery roads and several collisions throughout the city.

Environment Canada meteorologist Mark Melsness said the Queen City was hit with about two centimeters of snow, mostly during a brief period from 5 a.m. to 5:30.

“It was a fairly heavy flurry,” pushed into the city by a cold front that started up north by Meadow Lake and Prince Albert, he said. “It was quite widespread.”

That layer of snow, combined with temperatures hovering around -4 C, made for some slippery, zero-traction roads as drivers headed to work.

The 980 CJME text line received several messages from drivers who were reporting crashes, delays and unsafe roads.

Just before 6 a.m., a rollover on Ring Road near the University of Regina was reported on the textline.

Shortly after 7 a.m., drivers were having trouble getting through the Broad Street underpass by Casino Regina, saying they couldn’t gain any traction while driving northbound.

Texters said there was a three-vehicle crash on Ring Road at the Victoria Avenue Bridge.

And a driver in a blue Ford Mustang was spun around 180 degrees when he tried turning right (north) onto Albert Street from Saskatchewan Drive.

Even the Regina police officer on scene controlling the traffic couldn’t gain much traction as he was gathering up pylons on the road.

Several drivers on highways outside of Regina had similar problems, reporting slippery and icy driving conditions.

Among the areas they included were Balcarres, Francis and Highway 33.