Friday, February 9, 2007

HWY 556 BETWEEN SEARCHMONT AND HEYDEN TO BE CLOSED

Searchmont, Ont.,

Sault Ste Marie OPP are advising the public that Hwy 556 (Searchmont Hwy) will be closed this morning from 10:30 to 12:00 noon.

The closure will be in the area of Northland Lake Road and Hwy 556. This closure is necessary in order to safely remove wreckage from a logging truck that went into the ditch during a white out yesterday afternoon.

HERE IS WHERE THE TRAFFIC DELAY WILL BE TODAY

If you are headed to Searchmont this morning you may expect at least one traffic delay on the way.

Work crews will be attempting to remove a logging truck trailer from the ditch on Hwy 556 near Northland Lake just south of Searchmont. The driver lost his way in a white out yesterday and ended up in the ditch. Workers with the company are assembling crews to get the trailer out this morning.

Yesterday, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m., officers with the Sault Ste Marie detachment responded to eight weather related crashes north of Sault Ste Marie. One crash between Batchawna and Pancake Bay saw a loaded transport loose his way in the blinding snow and go into the ditch. Tow companies worked most of the day to get the rig out. Blowing, drifting, and blinding snow are believed responsible for the other seven collisions north of Sault Ste Marie.

At one point there were reports of transports getting stuck going up the Mile Hill on Hwy 17 between Heyden and Goulais River. Applications of sand by the Highway Maintenance crews worked to free the trucks.

If you are one of those who absolutely insist on traveling in that kind of weather, make sure you have enough survival equipment and clothing to last hours and hours while you wait your turn for a tow vehicle to get to you.