Traffic is moving normally again through Whitecourt, Alberta, after a multi-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 43 and 51st Street caused nearly 24 hours of delays for drivers. The collision began affecting traffic on the evening of February 3, 2026, and created stop-and-go conditions for travellers in both directions.
The incident initially forced emergency responders to close all lanes to investigate and clear the wreckage. According to 511 Alberta, the highway was not fully cleared of all delays until the late evening of February 4, 2026; motorists are advised to check 511 Alberta for live road updates.
This intersection has historically been a collision hotspot. A 2022 municipal collision report, as reported by the Whitecourt Star, identified Highway 43 and 51st Street as the most common location for collisions in town outside private parking lots.
The Town of Whitecourt has been working with the province to improve safety along Highway 43 — a corridor that averages about 27,000 vehicles per day — including planned signal upgrades at nearby intersections. This crash follows other winter incidents in the region, including a series of highway accidents reported by EverythingGP earlier this year.
