Coutts border blockade shuts down all traffic again

By The Canadian Press

Mounties advise motorists to avoid the area

Alberta RCMP tweet north and southbound traffic blocked at Coutts border crossing

Feb 8, 2022 | 5:25 AM

Update 7:45 a.m.

5-1-1 Alberta reports some U-S bound commercial traffic is again being allowed past a closure point toward the Coutts border crossing.

Any other access to the area is limited and motorists are advised to use an alternate border crossing at this time.

Mounties reported late last night traffic on Highway 4 towards the border was again being blocked in both directions.

Update 6:45 am

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RCMP said that traffic is now flowing again however congestion remains.

COUTTS, Alta. – Anti-vaccine mandate protesters are once again preventing traffic from passing through the Coutts border crossing in southern Alberta.

Alberta RCMP tweeted late Monday evening that both north and southbound lanes at the crossing on Highway 4 were blocked by the demonstration and asked motorists to avoid the area.

Trucks and other vehicles began parking on the highway near Coutts on Feb. 5 in solidarity with similar protests in Ottawa and across the country over COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers and broader public health measures.

One blockade became two when a second one appeared further up the highway.

The impasse stranded travellers and cross-border truckers for days, compromised millions of dollars in trade and impeded access to basic goods and medical services for area residents.

Last week, protesters agreed to open a single lane in each direction for traffic and so truckers could haul cargo across the border.

(The Canadian Press)