Highway 17 closed to eastbound traffic from Manitoba border to Vermillion Bay: OPP

Hundreds ofkilometres of northwestern Ontario highway, were closed for much of Thursday due to poor conditions and a high number of collisions because of an early winter snowstorm, OPP said.

Highway 17 was intially closed Thursday from Shabaquato the Manitoba border; however, at about 4:15 p.m, OPP announced the stretch from Shabaqua to Ignace had been reopened.

Just before 6 p.m. police said the highway had reopenedfrom Ignace to Vermillion Bay.

However, the highway remainedclosed to eastbound traffic from the Manitoba border to Vermillion Bay.

Westbound traffic was being allowed to move between Vermillion Bay and Kenora.

The OPP has also closed Highway 71 between Kenora and Fort Frances.

"We've had a number of collisions through the day, including tractor trailers that have completely blocked portions of the highway," said KenoraOPPConst. RonniGrosenick. "We are asking people to monitor the road conditions in their area and consider delaying any travel until the conditions improve."

When the highway will reopen is unknown, but Environment Canada said the snow falling in the area should taper off overnight..