Trans-Canada Highway reopens, some schools closed due to winter conditions

Road conditions at Highway 1 and 332 in Manitoba are seen on Jan. 8, 2025. (Manitoba511.ca)

Sections of the Trans-Canada Highway have reopened after poor winter driving conditions forced their closure early Thursday. However, several schools have been closed for the day.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Thursday, the province closed Highway 1 from the Perimeter Highway to Portage la Prairie. It was reopened shortly before 7:30 a.m.

“These closures are due to poor winter driving conditions, due to blowing snow,” the province said in an advisory.

Despite reopening the highway, the province did warn of frost and ice coverage on stretches of the road.

The conditions also prompted the closure of Highway 2 from the Perimeter Highway to Starbuck, which was also reopened hours later. This has also led to the closure of Starbuck school, according to the Red River Valley School Division. It said buses will be affected in Oakbluff as well.

The Prairie Rose School Division also closed schools in Region B for the day. This includes Ecole St. Eustache, Institut Collegial St. Paul’s Collegiate, and St. Francois Xavier Community School, as well as the colony schools in Barrickman, Bon Homme, Iberville, James Valley, Lakeside, and Waldheim.

The Franco-Manitoban School Division said it expects delays on several bus routes Thursday morning due to freezing rain.

“To all our parents, students, and staff driving to one of our schools, please drive with caution,” an email from the division reads.

More details on road closures can be found on the Manitoba 511 website.