It was been a tough day on the roads for drivers in the London area.
Police blocked the eastbound lanes of Hwy. 401 between Iona Rd. and Union Rd. in Elgin County Wednesday afternoon after a multi-vehicle collision. The highway was closed to traffic until just before 11pm.
Hwy. 402 was also closed in both directions from Hwy. 401 to Kerwood Rd. due to extreme weather. The Ministry of Transportation says the highway was reopened around 10pm.
A crash involving three tractor trailers closed the eastbound lanes of Hwy. 401 between Veterans Memorial Parkway and Dorchester Rd for several hours. Those lanes re-opened just after 3pm.
The OPP also closed Hwy. 4 between Exeter and Clinton, as well as Hwy. 8 between Seaforth and Goderich but they have since reopened.
Officers responded to countless stranded drivers along the highways and county roads Wednesday morning.
"The roads are a mess," OPP Constable Lori Houghton said on Wednesday morning. "It's very difficult to be able to distinguish the lanes on the highway and visibility is poor in spots. With streamers like this, it's challenging because you might have a spot that's fine and then suddenly you can't see 2 inches in front of you."
If you are stranded and unharmed, police say it could be a while before someone comes to help you.
"It's not safe right now for us to pull those vehicles out of the ditch, so if you happen to be one of those motorists who is driving too fast for the conditions or are not properly equipped and find yourself in the ditch, it may be some time before we are able to get your out. Your car is just a car and a life is not worth it," notes Houghton.
Environment Canada issued a snow squall warning in London-Middlesex and Elgin County for most of the day on Wednesday. The warning ended just before 9pm.