Imagine being stuck in a massive traffic jam, only to find out it was caused by a multi-vehicle crash that blocked several lanes of a major highway. That’s exactly what happened earlier today on Highway 1 westbound at Kensington. But here’s the good news: as of 4:50 pm on January 17, 2026, DriveBC has confirmed that all lanes have finally cleared, allowing traffic to flow again. However, this doesn’t mean the chaos is over just yet—drivers should still brace for significant delays as the backlog gradually dissipates.
Callers reported that multiple vehicles were involved in the incident, though the exact details remain under investigation. We’ve reached out to BC Emergency Health Services for more information and will update this story as soon as we learn more. And this is the part most people miss: while earlier reports suggested only the HOV lane was open, it turns out all lanes were blocked except the HOV lane. The highway is now fully operational, but the confusion highlights how quickly misinformation can spread during such events.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Should traffic updates be more precise to avoid public confusion, or is the rapid dissemination of information more critical during emergencies? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
To stay ahead of the curve, tune in to 1130 NewsRadioVancouver (https://vancouver.citynews.ca/listenlive/) every 10 minutes on the ones for live traffic updates. You can also follow us on X@NewsRadioVan (https://twitter.com/NewsRadioVan) or subscribe to Traffic Alerts (https://vancouver.citynews.ca/?ump-screen=signin) for real-time notifications straight to your inbox. After all, in a city where traffic can turn from bad to worse in minutes, staying informed isn’t just convenient—it’s essential.
