Chatham-Kent public works snow plow operators have made progress on area roads having cleared approximately 50 per cent of municipal roads across the municipality as of 9 pm Saturday.
Several roads in the Dover Township, Thamesville and Ridgetown areas are among those still unmoved, stated a media release. Road crews continued to work throughout the night and into Christmas day.
“There is currently over 150 vehicles stuck in the snow within the municipality,” Chatham-Kent police said in a media release on Christmas day.
The police service is still urgent drivers to remain home and not to travel due to the currently weather conditions.
“If you attempt to travel on the roads the chance of becoming stranded remains very high,” police said. “Emergency crews will have significant difficulty reaching stranded motorists and there may be delays of several hours.”
Individuals whose vehicles have been towed by the Chatham-Kent police can call 519-436-6600 ext. 222 to find the location of their vehicle.
Highways 40 and 401 have reopened but police and municipal officials still urge extreme caution when traveling due to the potential of changing weather conditions overnight.
Visit https://511on.ca/ for official Ministry of Transportation road information.
More than 130 stranded motorists were processed through the Ridgetown and Tilbury arenas, municipal officials said, adding no individuals spent the night at these facilities.
Caseworkers are at the Tilbury and Ridgetown arenas on Christmas Day.
A state of emergency was declared Saturday, and the municipality remains under a significant snow event status. A municipal-wide ban on parking vehicles on streets that began at 2 pm Saturday, due to the weather conditions, continues until Tuesday 2 pm
The ban allows more efficient clearing of roads to enable emergency vehicles to have access where needed, municipal officials said.