A chain-reaction of crashes on the Concordia overpass in Winnipeg caused traffic chaos in the area on Friday morning.

Some 20 vehicles were involved in various fender benders across the southbound hump of the bridge, according to police spokesperson Const. Jason Michalyshen.

Three people were taken to hospital in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

The overpass, part of Lagimodiere Boulevard, was slick from a dusting of snow and temperatures below the freezing mark.

The crashes happened at about 7 a.m. in the southbound lanes, backing traffic up beyond Grassie Boulevard.

Emergency crews shut down both the southbound and northbound lanes of Lagimodiere from Grassie to Almey Avenue for about two hours.

As a result, traffic was heavy on Concordia Avenue and other feeder routes as drivers tried to find detours.

Lagimodiere has since reopened both ways.

Dangerous roads

Police were also called through the morning to crashes at Lagimodiere and Maginot Street, and at Grant Avenue and Roblin Boulevard.

Three cars were also involved in a crash at Maryland Street and Wolseley Avenue and there were reports of vehicles fishtailing on the Osborne Bridge, though no collisions occurred.

And the Manitoba Highways department said sections of the Perimeter Highway as well as highways to the east of the city were particularly bad with ice, snow and slush.

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