Traffic

A winter storm is anticipated to hit Jasper and Banff National Parks and bring as much as 15 centimetres of snow.

Police confirmed that several members of the public have been given warnings, but no charges have been laid as of Monday (Aug. 26).

“At the moment, we have the resources that we need to action the wildfire while supporting the field unit with the reopening of the 93 North and Highway 16.”

Parks Canada has fully reopened the Icefields Parkway, also known as Highway 93N, to through traffic as of 7 a.m. Friday (Aug. 23).

Travellers and truckers can now use Highway 16 through Jasper National Park 24/7.

Motorists will not be allowed to stop or exit off Highway 16 while travelling through Jasper National Park. There will be no washrooms or refuelling options, and motorists must obey all posted speed limits and signage.

"Incident staff are working to develop plans to reopen Highway 16 when it becomes safe to do so. More information will be shared when the situation changes."

Police also issued 1,679 traffic safety violation tickets, writing up 780 motorists for exceeding the speed limit, 31 for distracted driving and another 34 for the improper use of vehicle safety restraints.

Police say the cause of the explosion is unknown at this time.

"In 2023, the Alberta RCMP removed 7,707 impaired drivers from provincial roadways, an average of 21 impaired drivers per day."