B.C. government blames traffic congestion, not lack of plows, for snowfall chaos

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation blamed traffic congestion for a lack of snow-clearing that resulted in chaos and gridlock Tuesday on the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges.

Some motorists were stranded for hours on the Alex Fraser Bridge, which had to be closed because of safety concerns, and others had extreme difficulty navigating the Port Mann Bridge.

Commuters who shared their experiences described bridges that became parking lots and said the experience was a nightmare.

“What should have been a 20-minute ride turned into a 10½ hour commute” said Jill Fiddler on her effort to make her way from Annacis Island to Surrey.

Starting after work at 4 p.m., she finally made it home at 2:30 a.m.