The Trans-Canada Highway linking Alberta and British Columbia has reopened after being closed for more than 24 hours because of avalanche hazards and heavy snowfall.

The highway between Lake Louise and Golden in the Rocky Mountains reopened in both directions Wednesday afternoon. It had closed around 6 p.m. Tuesday.

In British Columbia, Highway 1 between Golden and Revelstoke reopened early Wednesday morning. A stretch of the highway near Golden had been closed as early as Tuesday morning.

Traffic was released in clusters once the highway reopened to avoid congestion, said Janet Klock, a spokeswoman for Parks Canada. 

On the Alberta side of the Trans-Canada alone, more than 100 semi-trailer trucks were parked Wednesday morning, waiting to cross into British Columbia.

Vernon, B.C., resident Larry Bishop was waiting inside his van, hoping to get home after a trip to Alberta.

"I go back quite a bit — three or four times a year — and it's happened before for sure, but that's mother nature."

Also in the area, Route 93 south between Radium and Banff reopened Wednesday afternoon, along with Alberta's Route 11. The northern part of Route 93 between Castle Mountain and Jasper remained closed, however.

Thick blanket of snow

The closures were ordered after more than 50 centimetres of snow fell on the area in less than 24 hours.

The thick blanket worried officials because it fell on top of an unstable layer of snow, which could lead to large avalanches.

Klock said helicopters were flying through mountain passes Wednesday morning, dropping explosives near the highway to release snow that had collected and was in danger of forming an avalanche.

More snow in the forecast

There is worrisome weather ahead, with more snow forecast to fall in the Rocky Mountains.

B.C. road officials say there could be more closures in the next two days. As well, gusty winds were expected through the Rocky Mountain's Crowsnest Pass Wednesday.

Meanwhile, strong winds south of Calgary made driving difficult Tuesday night on Highway 2. Police said at least four semi-trailer trucks were blown over between Claresholm and Fort Macleod. No one was hurt.