Road reopens in Cape Breton Highlands National Park after snow closure

The North Mountain road in the Cape Breton Highlands National Parkreopened to traffic on Saturday after huge snowdrifts measuring as high as 3.6 metres made it impassable for four days.

Efforts to clear the road had beenhampered by poor visibility.

"The challenge up there is the actual amount of snow, but also the fact that it's blowing all the time," RobHowey, the acting superintendent of thepark, told CBC Radio's Mainstreet Cape Breton on Friday.

He said the snowdrifts wereas tall as, if not tallerthan, the machines being used to clear the road.

Because of its elevation, the North Mountain road experiences harsher conditions than its surroundings.

"Places that have been getting rain the last month in Nova Scotia, it's all just been snow on North Mountain and it keeps accumulating," said Howey.

He said the amount of snow the mountain has received so far is abnormally high.

While the road has reopened, Cape Breton Highlands National Park advises drivers to keep an eye on road conditions bycalling 511 or visiting 511.novascotia.ca.