Two highways that connect Jasepr to B.C. and Alberta have been shut down after a rock slide and avalanche occurred at the end of the week, cutting off access by two of three routes into the mountain town.
Two highways that connect Jasepr to B.C. and Alberta have been shut down after a rock slide and avalanche occurred at the end of the week, cutting off access by two of three routes into the mountain town.
On Thursday (May 4), an avalanche on Highway 93 North between Lake Louise and Jasper shut down that highway near Mount Hector. The avalanche was triggered by Parks Canada staff conducting routine avalanche control work on Mount Hector and the road was closed at the time.
According to Parks Canada, the avalanche control work "produced a larger result than expected and avalanche debris on the roadway approximately 100 metres long and 15 metres deep has created an extended closure of the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to the Saskatchewan River Crossing."
Parks Canada indicated Friday (May 5) that the closure on Highway 93N will be in effect until further notice in order to remove the snow from the avalanche.
On Friday morning, in the meantime, a rock slide hit Highway 16, which connects Jasper and Jasper National Park to B.C. According to an RCMP press release, Highway 16 west of Highway 93 is impassable due to a rock slide and no injuries have been reported. There is also no estimated time of reopening for either highway.
Motorists are encouraged to check Alberta.511 for updates on the work to reopen both highways.
