UPDATE: In a noon service update, RDN Transit reported that all buses are back to regular routing, with the exception of Route 99 in Deep Bay.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED: With the snowfall overnight and rain this morning, road conditions around Nanaimo are less than ideal.
While Environment Canada ended a winter storm warning at 11 a.m., conditions between Nanaimo and the Duke Point ferry terminal are described as having limited visibility, with winter driving conditions, while conditions between Departure Bay ferry terminal to an area one km north of Nanaimo are described as having slippery sections, according to Drive B.C.
In addition, according to the City of Nanaimo, there have been five motor vehicle incidents between 1:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. this morning.
Officials are advising motorists to be cautious when driving.
“It’s common sense,” said Brad Wood, assistant chief for Nanaimo Fire Rescue. “Take care. Slow down and you’ve got to drive to conditions the roads are in. Even though the speed limit is 50, just because it says 50 doesn’t mean you stay at 50 kilometres an hour when it’s snow and slush.”
Road conditions and the weather are also affecting services throughout the Nanaimo area.
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RDN Transit, buses are running on a regular schedule, but road conditions are preventing service to some areas. According to a social media post, Route 5 downtown-bound will not service Howard Avenue, but there will be routing on Wakesiah Avenue and Second to Pine streets. Route 5, headed away from downtown, will not service Howard, with routing to Second to Wakesiah at Vancouver Island University.
Route 6, headed downtown, will not service Third Street to Howard with routing to Wakesiah to Second to Pine. Servicing won’t be provided on Ninth Street, with routing to Bruce Avenue to Eighth Street, the post said. Route 6 headed away from downtown will not service Ninth, but will use Eighth, Bruce to Fifth Street.
The bus loop at VIU is closed due to fallen trees, which will impact Routes 5, 6 and 40, RDN Transit said.
While all City of Nanaimo parks and recreation programs are cancelled for the day, according to a social media post, all faciliites remain open for public sessions.
According to B.C. Ferries, there are no delays or cancellations currently for the Duke-Point-Tsawwassen and Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay ferry routes.
According to Environment Canada, a high of 7 C is forecast today, with 10 mm of rain and a low of 6 C for tonight.
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